Russian Revolution CH 11.5

Russian Czars Russian Czars were autocrats with unlimited power. Czars owned railroads, industrial plants, and millions of acres of Land. They used their wealth to build palaces & to lavishly entertain guests. The royal throne was encrusted with more than 870 diamonds and hundreds of other precious jewels.

Czars had Absolute Power They controlled nearly half the peasant population. There was no parliament or court system to question their decisions. They could appoint and dismiss all government ministers. The Czar commanded the army and headed the Russian Orthodox Church. “The czar is a father, his subjects are his children, and children ought never to question their parents.” Czar Nicholas I

March Revolution Unrest Deepens Nicholas Romanov II ~ Czar of Russia Weak and ineffective leader fails to solve Russia’s basic political, economic, & social problems. Elected Duma has no real power to make changes Moderates pressed for a constitution and social change Nicholas blocked attempts to limit his power Revolutionaries plotted to over throw the Tsar Made up of Marxists and the proletariat (workers)

March Revolution Impact of WWI Factories could not produce enough supplies Transportation system broke down By 1915 many soldiers didn’t have riffles or ammunition 2 million casualties in just 1915 Nicholas takes charge of the “front” Military disaster Alexandra is left in charge of domestic issues Alexandra relies on the advice of G. Rasputin (self proclaimed “holy man”)

March Revolution Czar Steps Down March 1917 Disasters on the front, low fuel and food brought the monarchy to collapse. Workers went on strike Women marched for bread Duma politicians establish a provisional government Begin to prepare a constitution War with Germany continued Bolsheviks (radical socialist group) take charge

Lenin & the Bolsheviks Brilliant Revolutionary Lenin's View of K. Marx Read the works of Karl Marx & participated in student demonstrations Spread Marxist ideas among factory workers along with other socialists Lenin's View of K. Marx Lenin adapted Marxist ideas to fit Russian conditions Called for an elite group to lead the revolution, used the name “Bolshevik” meaning majority Lenin Believed only revolution could bring about needed changes “Long Live the world-wide Socialist revolution!” V.I. Lenin

Bolsheviks Rise to Power Provisional govt’s mistakes Led by A. Kerensky Failed to end the war and deal with land reform Growing numbers of troops mutinied and peasants seized land Bolshevik takeover Nov. 1917-Red Guard attacked & overthrew the Provisional Government Workers are given control of factories and mines New Flag w/ hammer and sickle symbolized the union between workers and peasants

Civil War Opposing Forces Civil war raged for 3yrs. Between the “Reds” and the counterrevolutionary “Whites”. White armies were made up of tsarist imperial officers “Allies” supported the Whites fed the Communist distrust of the West. War under Communism Used terror against the “Whites” & to control their own people Cheka (secret police) & forced labor camps are created “War Communism”- Banks, factories, & railroads are taken over Under Trotsky Red army is turned into an effective force 1921- Communists defeat their “foes”

Building the Communist Soviet Union New government same problems 1923 Lenin renames Russia to Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) Constitution w/ both democratic & socialist ideas is created Elected legislature, citizens the right to vote (18yrs.), all production belonged to workers & peasants. However Communist Party (NOT the people) had control (just as the Russian tsars did).

Building the Communist Soviet Union Lenin’s New Economic Policy (NEP) Allowed for some capitalist ventures, small businesses were allowed to reopen for private profit peasants could hold small plots of land & sell extra crops Govt. still controlled banks, foreign trade, & large industries By 1928 food and industrial production were back to pre-war levels. Stalin takes over 1924 Lenin dies Chief contenders Leon Trotsky & Joseph Stalin Stalin outmaneuvers Trotsky and assumes control of USSR