Unit 7 – Imperialism through World War I Lesson # 4 – Russian Revolution

Agenda Notes on Russian Revolution Notes on Russian Revolution You Think You Think Gallery Crawl Gallery Crawl Lenin v. Marx Lenin v. Marx

Page 55 Bell ringer What were three key points that Karl Marx makes in the communist manifesto? What is communism? How does communism affect laborers? Objective: Analyze the impact of the writings of Karl Marx on Russian society Attach Homework Lenin’s Economy & Lenin’s Government Reading and Questions (if not completed in class) Page 56 Attach guided notes: Conditions in Russia Page 57 Attach Station A Thursday, May 1

While the fighting is going on in Europe… What about Russia? Never able to fully help the Allied Powers Internal struggles and eventually…a revolution!

Peasants Russian peasants lived in poverty and faced constant food shortages due to the lack of land to cultivate. Most of the arable (farmable) land belonged to the nobility. Redistribution of this land would alleviate many of the peasant's problems.

Conditions of Russia Conditions of Russia Russia had a very small number of wealthy people who owned much of the land. Much of Russia was dissatisfied due to hunger and little wealth. Czar Nicholas II went into WWI hoping that it would raise nationalistic pride in Russia.

WWI leads to Revolution World War I created conditions within Russia that helped trigger a revolution. The war created conditions for revolution for three reasons…..

Cause # 1 - Death Almost 2 million Russian soldiers died during WWI. YOU THINK: How would this lead to revolution? Cause # 1 - Death Almost 2 million Russian soldiers died during WWI. YOU THINK: How would this lead to revolution?

During the war, Czar Nicholas II went into battle with his troops, leaving his wife at home to rule the country. YOU THINK: How would this lead to revolution? During the war, Czar Nicholas II went into battle with his troops, leaving his wife at home to rule the country. YOU THINK: How would this lead to revolution? Cause # 2 – Royal Family

Russia was doing poorly in the war which was costly leading Russia into a depressed economy. YOU THINK: How would this lead to revolution? Russia was doing poorly in the war which was costly leading Russia into a depressed economy. YOU THINK: How would this lead to revolution? Cause # 3 – Economics

Revolution A major cause of the Russian Revolution of 1917 was the existence of sharp economic differences between social classes. The nobility was living a wealthy lifestyle while many peasants and farmers were starving to death and standing in bread lines.

DEFINE! What is a Bourgeoisie? What is a Bourgeoisie?

DEFINE! What is a Proletariat? What is a Proletariat?

Gallery Seat You will have 2 minutes for each upcoming slide. You will have 2 minutes for each upcoming slide. Identify the following: Identify the following: 1. Who they are (description of their social class) 1. Who they are (description of their social class) 2. Are they Bourgeoisie or Proletariat? 2. Are they Bourgeoisie or Proletariat? 3. Proof of answers to # 1 & 2 3. Proof of answers to # 1 & 2

Gallery Seat The Tzar Nicholas II came from a family, the Romanovs, that had ruled Russia for over 300 years. Much of the success that kept the Romanov Family in power for so long was how much economic power they gained through acquisition of land and their marriages to other wealthy nobles or royals in turn accumulating wealth in the form of land or other forms of inherited property. By the time Nicholas had come into power the family was extremely wealthy. It is estimated that the family was worth 30 billion dollars in todays standards and controlled 10% of the worlds landmass. The Tzar Nicholas II came from a family, the Romanovs, that had ruled Russia for over 300 years. Much of the success that kept the Romanov Family in power for so long was how much economic power they gained through acquisition of land and their marriages to other wealthy nobles or royals in turn accumulating wealth in the form of land or other forms of inherited property. By the time Nicholas had come into power the family was extremely wealthy. It is estimated that the family was worth 30 billion dollars in todays standards and controlled 10% of the worlds landmass. Proletariat or Bourgeoisie? Proletariat or Bourgeoisie?

Gallery Seat Russian aristocracy drifted further and further away from the people over which it ruled. Russian nobles owned most of the land and capital. They were extremely wealthy and enjoyed luxuries common people could not afford. Not only did nobles have economic power they had political power. Many served in the government. In these positions nobles were able to influence policies that benefitted their investments. Nobles also served in most of the high-ranking military positions. Nobles served as officers, which gave nobles military strength. Russian aristocracy drifted further and further away from the people over which it ruled. Russian nobles owned most of the land and capital. They were extremely wealthy and enjoyed luxuries common people could not afford. Not only did nobles have economic power they had political power. Many served in the government. In these positions nobles were able to influence policies that benefitted their investments. Nobles also served in most of the high-ranking military positions. Nobles served as officers, which gave nobles military strength. Proletariat or Bourgeoisie? Proletariat or Bourgeoisie?

Gallery Seat The army took many skilled workers and the stresses on those remaining in factories grew as the war progressed. Those who were left behind to work the factories, mostly women, had to endure harsh work environments. Working conditions in Russia were terrible, employees worked eleven-hour days under awful conditions. Factory positions were dangerous and backbreaking. There was little concern for the health of the workers. Factory workers became restless, not only did they have to work in difficult environments, many couldn’t afford basic necessities. Many workers took to the streets demanding an increase in wages and better working conditions, the development of an 8-hour workday, and affordable bread. Proletariat or Bourgeoisie? The army took many skilled workers and the stresses on those remaining in factories grew as the war progressed. Those who were left behind to work the factories, mostly women, had to endure harsh work environments. Working conditions in Russia were terrible, employees worked eleven-hour days under awful conditions. Factory positions were dangerous and backbreaking. There was little concern for the health of the workers. Factory workers became restless, not only did they have to work in difficult environments, many couldn’t afford basic necessities. Many workers took to the streets demanding an increase in wages and better working conditions, the development of an 8-hour workday, and affordable bread. Proletariat or Bourgeoisie?

TIME FOR A QUIZ… Use the sheet provided.

Quiz: True or False 1. Russian peasants faced constant food shortages. 2. Factory workers were treated poorly 3. There was a drastic difference in wealth between social classes.

Quiz: Short Answer 4. On your own, take five minutes to answer the following question: Which of these economic systems would most appeal to the Russians? CapitalismCommunismMercantilism Be sure to explain why and use the documents from the gallery crawl to support your reasoning.

The October Revolution in Petrograd overthrew the Russian Provisional Government and gave the power to the local soviets dominated by Bolsheviks The Russian peasants supported the Bolsheviks in the 1917 Revolutions mainly because the Bolsheviks promised to redistribute the land owned by the nobility. The Bolsheviks were a socialist group led by Vladimir Lenin The October Revolution in Petrograd overthrew the Russian Provisional Government and gave the power to the local soviets dominated by Bolsheviks The Russian peasants supported the Bolsheviks in the 1917 Revolutions mainly because the Bolsheviks promised to redistribute the land owned by the nobility. The Bolsheviks were a socialist group led by Vladimir Lenin

Communism The Bolsheviks eventually became the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Communism-- a totalitarian system of government in which a single authoritarian party (a political party with total control) controls state-owned means of production.

Lenin’s Economy Read pp in the textbook and answer questions about Lenin’s Economy and Government Did Lenin’s Government Policy align with capitalist or communist ideas? Explain giving an example from your textbook.