Russian Revolution 1917

Political Causes The Romanov Czars

THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION I. The Background: - The Romanovs ruled Russia for over THREE centuries - All absolutist kings: - Ivan the Terrible, Peter the Great, Nicholas I, Alexander I, Alexander II and Alexander III

II. Alexander III - wanted to establish a uniform Russian culture; he oppressed other national groups A) Strict measures against Jews and Polish peasants 1. Made Russian the official language

ALEXANDER III 2. Forbade the use of minority languages in schools 3. Extremely punitive against the Jews - couldn’t buy land OR live amongst other Russians - organized violence against Jews (called:pogroms) - no protection under the law

An American Tail – About Russian Migration to NYC!!! Did you know that Fivel was a little Jewish mouse from Russia? Watch the clip…the cats are the Russians.

CZAR NICHOLAS II - AN ERROR MADE !!! III. Nicholas Maintains the Status Quo A) He wanted to preserve the legacy of Czarist Russia - refused to bend to his changing times (also preoccupied with family issues) B) Economic Changes - Nicholas helped Russia catch up to its peers with the

NICHOLAS’S ECONOMIC PLAN - growth of heavy industry, particularly steel - also the commisioning of the Trans Siberian Railway - the world’s longest continuous rail line.

Czar Nicholas’s Ill Fated Reign! 4 Peasants want land 4 Nobles unhappy 4 No problems have been solved since Revolution of Russians want a new government 4 Watch the CLIP of Czar Nicholas II

Short Term Problems 4 Germans destroyed them in battle 4 People have no faith, blame Czar for the war 4 Government has a monopoly on food (military) 4 All industry going towards war 4 Peasants hoarding food, people starving

Other Problems

The Revolution Begins The Evils of Capitalism

THE BOLSHEVIKS REVOLUTION IV. The Bolsheviks Revolution A) Industrialism Leads to Unrest - the workers were poorly paid - unions were outlawed - the gap between the rich and the poor was enormous - In 1917, the moderates took control by setting up a Provisional Government and

Bolshevik Revolution ► First in February 1917, workers strike  Czar is overthrown  Duma (Russian legislature) takes over Russia ► Second in October 1917 ► Theme: “Peace, Land, and Bread”

THE BOLSHEVIKS REVOLUTION -replacing Czar Nicholas II - Nicholas II had abdicated the throne when his troops no longer followed his orders a) they didn’t ease the needs of the peasants b) they didn’t pull out of WWI

THE BOLSHEVIKS REVOLUTION B) The October Revolution - They intended to create a Marxist or Communist State - the Bolsheviks and Russian peasantry overthrew the Provisional Government - Led by Vladimir Lenin -became the 1st dictator of Russia

Vladimir Lenin ► Leader of the Bolshevik party  Socialist Revolutionaries ► Claims he will “save Russia!” ► He arrests the Duma and takes control of Russia ► Russians unhappy, they don’t want communism

New Government Communism

THE NEW COMMUNIST STATE V. New Rules for All Russian Citizens - Lenin felt that the officials of the Russian government knew what was best for the people - Believed that strong leadership was necessary to secure natural rights

Russian Civil War ► From ► Bolsheviks (Reds) vs. Mensheviks (Whites) ► 15 million Russians were killed ► Countries (like the U.S.) sent troops and supplies to the White army to stop communism ► Bolsheviks won, Lenin becomes dictator Watch the clip – linked to The picture