The Russian Revolution Revolution in Russia was a main reason it dropped out of the WWI in 1918 Revolution in Russia was a main reason it dropped out of the WWI in 1918 Events as far back as the early 1800s led to the final explosion in 1917 Events as far back as the early 1800s led to the final explosion in : Russia was ruled by a czar : Russia was ruled by a czar Czar = Emperor or King, usually passed down by family heritage Czar = Emperor or King, usually passed down by family heritage For most of the 1800s czars caused widespread problems in Russia For most of the 1800s czars caused widespread problems in Russia Czars and a small portion of society lived well, but most were poor Czars and a small portion of society lived well, but most were poor Czars treated peasants ruthlessly, exploiting (taking advantage) them for their own gains Czars treated peasants ruthlessly, exploiting (taking advantage) them for their own gains Throughout the 1800s secret revolutionary groups formed, including one that assassinated Alexander II in 1881 Throughout the 1800s secret revolutionary groups formed, including one that assassinated Alexander II in 1881

Alexander III takes over In 1881, Alexander III took over for his father as czar In 1881, Alexander III took over for his father as czar Alexander II tried to make changes in Russia, but his son put a halt to reforms Alexander II tried to make changes in Russia, but his son put a halt to reforms Anyone who questioned Alexander III, Russian Orthodox religion, or spoke a different language than Russian was targeted Anyone who questioned Alexander III, Russian Orthodox religion, or spoke a different language than Russian was targeted Alexander III wanted to halt any chance of revolution so he censored (reviewed/edited) all written materials, including private letters Alexander III wanted to halt any chance of revolution so he censored (reviewed/edited) all written materials, including private letters His secret police carefully watched over anyone suspicious. Students were closely monitored His secret police carefully watched over anyone suspicious. Students were closely monitored Threats were killed or sent to Siberia Threats were killed or sent to Siberia

Alexander Attacks Minorities Alexander III made Russian the official language of the empire Alexander III made Russian the official language of the empire The use of other languages was forbidden especially in schools The use of other languages was forbidden especially in schools Jews became one of the main targets of Alexander Jews became one of the main targets of Alexander Jews could not buy land or live with other Russians Jews could not buy land or live with other Russians Universities could only accept a small # of Jewish students Universities could only accept a small # of Jewish students Pogroms broke out in Russia Pogroms broke out in Russia Pogroms=organized violence against Jews Pogroms=organized violence against Jews Police and soldiers did nothing as Russian citizens looted & destroyed Jewish homes, businesses, & synagogues Police and soldiers did nothing as Russian citizens looted & destroyed Jewish homes, businesses, & synagogues

Russia Tries to Industrialize Nicholas II became czar in 1894 Nicholas II became czar in 1894 He pledged to remain strict, like dad He pledged to remain strict, like dad However, the world was changing and Russia had to adapt However, the world was changing and Russia had to adapt Russia saw a rise in factories, but still lagged behind the industrial nations of western Europe Russia saw a rise in factories, but still lagged behind the industrial nations of western Europe Through higher taxes & foreign investments, Russian industries began to build up Through higher taxes & foreign investments, Russian industries began to build up By 1900, Russia was 4th largest steel producer in the world By 1900, Russia was 4th largest steel producer in the world In 1904, the Trans-Siberian Railway, the largest continuous line, was completed In 1904, the Trans-Siberian Railway, the largest continuous line, was completed This connected European Russia with ports in the Pacific This connected European Russia with ports in the Pacific

Industrialization Leads to Revolution The quick industrialization of Russia made the people even more upset The quick industrialization of Russia made the people even more upset With more and more factories came more problems With more and more factories came more problems Citizens worked in poor conditions for little pay Citizens worked in poor conditions for little pay They weren’t allowed to join unions to collectively negotiate for better conditions They weren’t allowed to join unions to collectively negotiate for better conditions Child labor was widespread Child labor was widespread The gap between the rich factory owners & poor workers was wide The gap between the rich factory owners & poor workers was wide Some people started thinking more and more about a revolution Some people started thinking more and more about a revolution

Marx Ideals lead Revolution The group that wanted revolution followed the ideas of Karl Marx The group that wanted revolution followed the ideas of Karl Marx Marx believed that in industrial societies, the workers would eventually overthrow the czar and factory owners Marx believed that in industrial societies, the workers would eventually overthrow the czar and factory owners The workers would then rule together splitting the cost of production & profits The workers would then rule together splitting the cost of production & profits This form of economy is called communism This form of economy is called communism In 1903, Russian Marxists split groups In 1903, Russian Marxists split groups Mensheviks- wanted to get as many people as possible in the revolution Mensheviks- wanted to get as many people as possible in the revolution Bolsheviks- wanted only the committed few who were willing to sacrifice everything for change Bolsheviks- wanted only the committed few who were willing to sacrifice everything for change

Vladimir Lenin The leader of the Bolsheviks was Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov The leader of the Bolsheviks was Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov He changed his name to Vladimir Lenin He changed his name to Vladimir Lenin He had a likeable personality, but he was ruthless He had a likeable personality, but he was ruthless This helped him rise to lead the Bolsheviks This helped him rise to lead the Bolsheviks However, in the early 1900s Lenin was forced to flee Russia to avoid arrest by Czar Nicholas However, in the early 1900s Lenin was forced to flee Russia to avoid arrest by Czar Nicholas Despite the fact that he was out of the country, Lenin maintained contact with the Bolsheviks Despite the fact that he was out of the country, Lenin maintained contact with the Bolsheviks He was just waiting right time to return He was just waiting right time to return

Russia in Crisis Between Russia faced many problems that weakened the czar Between Russia faced many problems that weakened the czar In 1904 Russia went to war with Japan over who would have imperial control in Korea & Manchuria In 1904 Russia went to war with Japan over who would have imperial control in Korea & Manchuria Everyone including the Russian soldiers expected an easy victory Everyone including the Russian soldiers expected an easy victory However, they were repeatedly losing battles, causing unrest at home However, they were repeatedly losing battles, causing unrest at home In January of 1905 workers & families went to Czar Nicholas’ Winter Palace In January of 1905 workers & families went to Czar Nicholas’ Winter Palace They wanted better working conditions, more freedoms, and an elected legislature They wanted better working conditions, more freedoms, and an elected legislature Nicholas was not there, but his generals ordered soldiers to fire into the crowd Nicholas was not there, but his generals ordered soldiers to fire into the crowd About 1000 unarmed people were killed About 1000 unarmed people were killed The event became known as “Bloody Sunday” The event became known as “Bloody Sunday”

Russia Enters World War I Bloody Sunday caused strikes & violence throughout Russia Bloody Sunday caused strikes & violence throughout Russia Nicholas was forced to create the Duma, Russia’s first parliament Nicholas was forced to create the Duma, Russia’s first parliament Nicholas didn’t want to share power. He sent the Duma home in 10 weeks Nicholas didn’t want to share power. He sent the Duma home in 10 weeks Other Dumas would come back, but none would have any power to make changes Other Dumas would come back, but none would have any power to make changes In 1914 Nicholas made the decision to enter World War I In 1914 Nicholas made the decision to enter World War I Russia was unprepared, lacking military training & supplies Russia was unprepared, lacking military training & supplies Soldiers were dying in huge #’s at the hands of superior German machine guns Soldiers were dying in huge #’s at the hands of superior German machine guns At home, food and fuel were scarce, along with increasingly high prices At home, food and fuel were scarce, along with increasingly high prices

The Legend of Rasputin While Nicholas was away rallying troops his wife Czarina Alexandra was running the govt. While Nicholas was away rallying troops his wife Czarina Alexandra was running the govt. She ignored the czar’s advisors, instead listening to the mysterious Rasputin She ignored the czar’s advisors, instead listening to the mysterious Rasputin Rasputin claimed to have healing powers Rasputin claimed to have healing powers He seemed to help her boys symptoms of hemophilia, so Alexandra let him make political decisions He seemed to help her boys symptoms of hemophilia, so Alexandra let him make political decisions He opposed change and gave powerful positions to friends He opposed change and gave powerful positions to friends Several attempts were made on Rasputin’s life, but he survived, making him a legend Several attempts were made on Rasputin’s life, but he survived, making him a legend Rasputin was finally killed after he was shot several times & thrown in the river Rasputin was finally killed after he was shot several times & thrown in the river Rasputin told czarina that if he died she would lose her son/throne within 6 months Rasputin told czarina that if he died she would lose her son/throne within 6 months

Fall of the Romanovs & Czar Rule Rasputin’s prediction came true Rasputin’s prediction came true In March 1917, women textile workers led a citywide strike, with other rioters soon joining In March 1917, women textile workers led a citywide strike, with other rioters soon joining Soldiers obeyed orders to shoot rioters, but soon joined them and shot at their own officers Soldiers obeyed orders to shoot rioters, but soon joined them and shot at their own officers On March 16, 1917 Czar Nicholas II was forced to step down On March 16, 1917 Czar Nicholas II was forced to step down Nicholas’ family, the Romanovs, had ruled as czar for over 300 years Nicholas’ family, the Romanovs, had ruled as czar for over 300 years He and his family were executed a year later He and his family were executed a year later

The Bolshevik Revolution The Duma established a temporary or “provisional government” The Duma established a temporary or “provisional government” The man placed in charge, Alexander Kerensky continued to fight WWI The man placed in charge, Alexander Kerensky continued to fight WWI Angry peasants formed soviets, which often had more power than the provisional govt. Angry peasants formed soviets, which often had more power than the provisional govt. Soviets= local councils made up of workers Soviets= local councils made up of workers Germany wanted Russia out of the war, so they secretly sent Lenin back in Germany wanted Russia out of the war, so they secretly sent Lenin back in In November 1917, armed factory workers called the Bolshevik Red Guards stormed the Winter Palace In November 1917, armed factory workers called the Bolshevik Red Guards stormed the Winter Palace Within hours the Bolshevik Revolution was over & Vladimir Lenin was in power Within hours the Bolshevik Revolution was over & Vladimir Lenin was in power