Revolutions in Russia 14-1 part 1

Unrest-do not write Czars oppressive rule and ruthless treatment leaves people unhappy – Army officer revolt 1825 – Student revolt 1881 Alexander II assassinated

Alexander III Runs Autocracy – govt. where one has total power – Enforces strict censorship Private letters Teachers report students

Pogroms Alexander III wants uniform Russian culture – Can only speak Russian – Jews become main target Cannot buy land or live amongst Russians Pogroms – organized violence vs Jews

Sergey Witte Wants to move country forward economically – Builds up steel industry – Has Trans-Siberian Railway built– worlds longest continuous railroad European Russian now connected to Pacific Ocean

Revolution Movement Industry grows – people unhappy – hard work, child labor, low wages – gap between rich & poor grows Revolutionary movements grow with Marxist ideals

Russian Marxist Two groups – Mensheviks – wanted broad base of supports – Bolsheviks – wanted small # of committed people willing to sacrifice everything Led by Vladimir Ilyisc Ulyanov (LENIN)

Russo-Japanese War Dispute over Korea & Manchuria – Russia breaks treaties – think Japanese are beneath them and can be defeated easily – Japanese win war – embarrassment for Russia

Bloody Sunday 200,000 workers carry petition to Czar’s palace for better working conditions, freedoms, and elected govt. – Nicholas II not there so generals order soldiers and police to fire on crowd – unarmed people die

Duma Nicholas II forced to reform – creates Duma – Russia’s first parliament – later disbanded and future Duma’s had no real power

Russia - WWI Enters war unable to handle economic and military costs of war Have weak generals and soldiers poorly equipped – 4 million killed/wounded/prison er after 1 yr

Czarina Alexadra She’s left in charge as Nicholas II is at front Listens to Rasputin instead of advisors

Rasputin Self-described “holy man” who is there to help heal Alexandra’s son He makes political decisions, opposes reforms, and puts friends in powerful positions – later murdered for this

WWI Problems Troops morale down – mutiny and desertion occur At home food, fuel, and supplies low – Prices inflated because of this

People Want Change