Russia in WWI Czar Nicholas II of the Romanov Dynasty went to the Eastern Front to oversee Russia’s activities in WWI. His wife Czarina Alexandra was left in charge of the country. –Had 4 daughters and one son, Alexis. Had hemophilia. –Blood does not clot.

Czar Nicholas II

Czarina Alexandra

Rasputin In Siberia, a monk named Rasputin made himself famous as a prophet and healer. –Was believed to be a very holy man. Alexandra invited him to her home, the Winter Palace in Petrograd. During the visit, Alexis (son) injured himself. –In danger of bleeding to death. Rasputin somehow stopped the bleeding.

Rasputin

D

Alexandra quickly named Rasputin as her advisor. –Gave Rasputin control over Russian gov’t. Rasputin began to ruin the government. Russian nobles wanted Rasputin gone. –Plotted to assassinate him. Poisoned, beaten, shot, stabbed, drowned. Rasputin was dead, but the damage to the gov’t was done.

Start of Revolution Czar Nicholas II came home from the war to starving people. Czar tried to use army to crush rebellion, but army joined rebellion. Czar was forced to step down, and Romanov family was placed under house arrest. A temporary gov’t took over, but were unable to do the job.

October Revolution Vladimir Lenin was living in exile in Switzerland. –Anti-Czar writer who was kicked out of Russia. –Saw his chance to bring Communist rebellion to Russia. Lenin snuck back into Russia and formed the Bolshevik Party. –Communists. Lenin and Bolsheviks took over temporary gov’t.

Vladimir Lenin

Civil War Many were not happy to see the Bolsheviks in power. –Nobles, royalists, people who supported the Czar. Led to a civil war. –Bolsheviks – Communists - Reds –Mensheviks – Royalists – Whites. War lasted 2 years, with 4 million dead. Bolsheviks won, and Lenin is now in control of Russia.

The New Russia Lenin ordered the execution of the entire royal family. Renamed the Bolsheviks the Communist Party. Moved the capital from Petrograd to Moscow. Changed the name of Russia to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. –USSR, Soviet Union.

Anastasia

Moscow

Lenin had a stroke in 1923, and died in Two possible successors: –Josef Stalin. Communist Party official; knew all the dirty secrets of Communist leadership. –Leon Trotsky. Leader of Red Army, best choice to succeed Lenin. Both fought for control. –Stalin won. Assassinated Trotsky in Mexico City.

Lenin’s Tomb

Joseph StalinLeon Trotsky

Stalin took power and began to reorganize the economy. –Created Collective Farms – took over all private land and forced peasants to work on huge farms. Did not work. Farms did not produce and at least 10 million starved. –Started Five-Year Plans – Major programs to increase industrial production. Forced workers to work in any job available, not what they were trained for. Soviet economy increased, but at tremendous cost.