Revolution and Nationalism

Revolutions in Russia C. 30 S.1 In 1881 revolutionaries frustrated by slow change in Russia, assassinated czar Alexander II. Alexander III takes over in 1881 and halts all reforms in Russia, ruled by AUTOCRACY- absolute power. Many political prisoners killed or sent to Siberia, Jews were especially targeted.

Russia Industrializes Russia becomes the fourth largest producer of steel in the world The longest railroad in the world is completed (The Trans-Siberian Railway) Laborers are treated poorly and forced to work long hours, under harsh conditions, for little pay or food. Revolutionaries in the labor movement wanted PROLETARIAT-workers would rule the country The Bolsheviks- revolutionaries willing to sacrifice everything for change. Led by a ruthless organizer VLADIMIR LENIN.

Crisis In Russia and Abroad Events that sparked the Revolutions The Russo-Japanese War – late 1800’s Russian losses in Manchuria sparked unrest Bloody Sunday, ,000 Workers petition czar Nicholas II for better working conditions. He orders soldiers to fire, killing many and wounding 1,000. WWI- over 4 million killed, missing, wounded, over 1 million killed. Weakened the country even further. RASPUTIN- “The Holy Man”…ummmm. No! The March Revolution ,000 starving workers took to the streets, “Down with the czar.” “Down with the war” at first soldiers shot them..then sided with them

Nicholas II “Read all about it..Czar Nicholas II abdicates the throne! He and his family are killed one year later! 300 years of the Romanovs rule is over! Down with the czar!” ---July 1918

Provisional Government Provisional Government- temporary government. Led by Alexander Kerensky, he favored staying in WWI. The Russian people did not and he lost support. Soviets- local workers, peasants, and soldiers who wanted more land and better conditions; were formed and opposed the new government. Lenin (who had been exiled for many years) returns to Russia to lead the Bolshevik Revolution.

“Peace, Land, and Bread”

Russian Revolution and Civil War Bolshevik territory, Oct Territories lost (Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, 1918) Bolshevik uprisings, 1917– 1918 White Russian and Allied attacks, 1918–1920 Bolshevik counterattacks, 1918–1920 Major civil war battle areas, 1918–1920 Boundaries of Russia, 1922

Lenin and the Bolsheviks gain power November 1917 armed workers storm Kerensky's palace and seize control. Lenin gives farmland back to the peasants and orders factories to be run by the workers Signed a truce with Germany and pulled Russia out of the war Many Russians mad with the terms of the treaty, not everyone liked Lenin

Civil War in Russia White Army Red Army Many different groups that did not get along No real leadership Some wanted the return of czarist Russia, some just did not like Lenin Supported Lenin Led by Leon Trotsky Won the 2 year war Over 14 million Russians died from the battles, disease, and famine.

The USSR and Communist Party Lenin restores order in Russia The economy slowly recovered In 1922 the country was changed to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) to honor the Soviets The Bolsheviks renamed their party the Communist Party- described a classless society that would rule when workers took over. Theory from Karl Marx Essentially a dictatorship

Marx vs. Lenin Karl Marx Lenin History was the story of class struggle. The struggle Marx saw was between capitalists and the proletariat, or the workers. The proletariat’s numbers would become so great and their condition so poor that a spontaneous revolution would occur. The revolution would end with a “dictatorship of the proletariat”—the communal ownership of wealth. History was the story of class struggle. The struggle Lenin saw was capitalists against the proletariat and the peasants. The proletariat and the peasants were not capable of leading a revolution and needed the guidance of professional revolutionaries. After the revolution, the state needed to be run by a single party with disciplined, centrally directed administrators in order to ensure its goals.

Joseph Stalin becomes dictator Lenin Suffers a stroke in Stalin a ruthless leader wants to rule the Communist Party Lenin dies in 1924 but said right before he died, “Comrade Stalin..has concentrated enormous power in his hands, and I am not sure that he always knows how to use that power with caution.” Stalin will rule the USSR with ABSOLUTE POWER.