1. The Russian Revolution 1917

2. Pre-Revolutionary Russia
Tsar Nicholas II – last Romanov ruler of Russia
Pre-Revolutionary Russia
Autocracy (means rule by one person)
Secret Police used against enemies of the Tsar
Russo-Japanese War (1905) – defeat led to political Instability

3. SOCIAL
Although there was no more serfdom, life for peasants was difficult
Russia was not very industrialized, compared with the rest of Europe

4. Role of Rasputin
A mystic who “healed” the czar’s son who had hemophilia
Huge influence over royal family, bad reputation rubs off on royals

5. WWI: The Last Straw Russian Army ill-supplied
TOTAL WAR = people starving at home
Urban people form “soviets” – small revolutionary councils

6. The Two Revolutions of 1917 Peace, Land And Bread!
February Revolution – Food riots lead Tsar to abdicate
October Revolution – Communists (known as Bolsheviks) take control w/ military coup. Exit War. (Treaty of Brest-Litovsk)
Lenin’s April Thesis

7. Lenin New Ruler of Russia
Lenin = Bolshevik (a Russian Communist) Wanted a “vanguard” to lead the revolution
Communism could be forced by the vanguard, even without urban factory workers

8. Results
Civil War in Russia until early 1920s – Commies versus everyone
New secret police: CHEKA (NKVD/KGB)
Communist rule in Russia (U.S.S.R.) from

9. Lenin’s Rule NEP – New Economic Policy
some capitalistic components (example: farmers could sell their crops)
Big, important industries were nationalized (owned by gov’t) (examples: trains, steel production)
Goal: Industrialize Russia
Lenin’s death – power struggle. Stalin wins.