Russian Revolution
1917 Russia out of WWI due to problems at home & lacked industrialzation March food riots = St. Petersburg (changed to Petrograd) – “Down with the Czar (Nicholas II) Soldiers joined the revolt Abdicates throne (300 years Romanov (ff) dynasty)
1917 (cont.) Provisional gov’t (temporary) Supposed to build new one Made up of middle class Problems: 2 groups of revolutionaries − Mensheviks (lrg group = white Russians) − Bolsheviks (Red Russians)
1917 (cont.) Both groups had same plan: Out of WWI Give land to peasants Workers control factories Summer 1917 – Vladmir Lenin returned took control of Bolshevik party (exiled b/c of ideas)
1917 (cont.) Citizens liked Vladmir’s slogan “Peace, Land, and Bread” Took power to restructure Russia for his goals November – Bolsheviks take over gov’t Election coming up & Bolsheviks won minority of seats
1918 New assembly met “L” & Bolsheviks attack Congress Dislike in democracy “L” takes over Russia & pushes his ideology (communism) Loyalists/middle class liberals/moderates join against Bolsheviks
1918 (cont.) Fought 3 years “Reds” win Russia under Lenin = “fear state” Anti-religion tight restrictions against church Royal Family – death “Cheka” – Secret Police
1918 (cont.) Many old Bolshevik followers flee Russia 1921 – white army defeated First results: Russia devestated Gov’t took grain = starvation & production fell
Lenin’s Plan Communism “Perfect State” Couldn’t follow M/E’s plan = Russia too poor New Economic Policy to rebuild Russia 1928
Lenin’s Plan (cont.) New political, economic, and social change: Divided into regions called “republics” (USSR) Nobility & church = lost influence Equality of men & women Lured Russians into thinking more freedom than under Czars