1. RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

2. A forcible overthrow of a government Reason for Revolution in Russia
What is a Revolution?
A forcible overthrow of a government
Reason for Revolution in Russia
Long-term social unrest in Russia explodes a revolution and ushers in the first Communist government.

3. Czars
Autocratic rule
Labels anyone who questions the absolute power of the czar as dangerous.
Censored published materials, documents, and private letters
Secret Police or Spies monitored both secondary schools and universities
Made Russian the official language
Organized violence and humiliation of Jews

4. Industrialization Factories doubled 1863-1900
Industrialization upsets Russians because of harsh working conditions, miserably low wages, and child labor

5. the Bolsheviks small Marxist group wanted to change life in Russia
leader = Vladimir Lenin
goal = overthrow czar
Excellent organizer, inspiring leader, and ruthless
Vladimir Lenin  wanted to establish a Communist social system, “in which there would be no economic classes & no private property

6. the Bolsheviks
if czar was overthrown, industrial workers could govern Russia

7. Russia & WWI
Czar Nicholas II hoped war would unite Russia & stop talk of revolution
patriotism increased rapidly
@ start of war, Russia had 6M soldiers  people rushed from across country to join the army

8. Russia & WWI Russia was not ready for war Russia lacked:
factories/supplies
transportation system
modern equipment
competent military leaders
Factories were unable to produce ammunition & other supplies quickly enough for the huge army
Transportation system was weak, making it hard to move troops & equipment to right right times
Equipment (weapons, etc) was outdated
Military leaders = poor quality
 “officers advanced on basis of personal connections” (nepotism)

9. Conditions Worsen 1915  Nicholas II took command of Russian military
if Russia failed in WWI, so would Nicholas II
Nicholas II wasn’t qualified to lead army
but he led it because if Russia failed in the war, he knew he would lose his country

10. Conditions Worsen food & other goods grew scarce
peasants grew desperate
Nicholas II went to war
left Czarina Alexandra in charge (unpopular)
Alexandra took advice from Grigory Rasputin (corrupt/immoral)
Russian army had been doing badly before Nicholas II took over
an offensive was defeated  soldiers lost faith in leaders & army seemed doomed
Czarina was unpopular with the people of Russia
to make matters worse, she relied on Grigory Rasputin, a “self-proclaimed holy man” for advice.
Rasputin was seen as corrupt & immoral by many Russians, especially because most of the political appointments & military actions he gave advice on were disastrous

11. Revolution Begins March 8, 1917  Petrograd, Russia
unhappy citizens marched
police & soldiers were sympathetic
the Duma (Russia’s legislature) defied Nicholas II
March 15, 1917  Nicholas II forced to abdicate(resign, step down)
Petrograd was the capital at the time
citizens marched in Petrograd
the police & soldier disobeyed orders to shoot the rioters
Nicholas II ordered Duma to disband, but they disobeyed
Nicholas II’s family was murdered by ??

12. Temporary Government Duma established temporary government
Aleksandr Kerensky was leader
many Russians didn’t like this government
Bolsheviks wanted basic changes
Lenin was still leader
Kerensky’s government wanted to continue fighting against the Central Powers
many Russians disliked this because it was a big burden on the country
Lenin returned to Russia in April 1917  he had been out of the country because of his revolutionary ideas
Germany helped Lenin return because they hoped he would stir up Russia & weaken their effort in the war

13. Bolshevik Revolution
mid-1917  Kerensky’s government still fighting Central Powers in WWI
Russian army was weak & collapsed
November 1917  Bolshevik Red Guard attacked Kerensky’s government
Red Guard was made up of Bolshevik factory workers

14. Bolshevik Revolution
Kerensky’s government didn’t put up much of a fight
Lenin established radical communist program
private ownership = illegal
land redistributed to peasants
nearly bloodless struggle
Private ownership of land, livestock, factories, etc. was illegal

15. After the Revolution Lenin wanted to end involvement in war
Leon Trotsky was sent to negotiate with Central Powers
Russia lost much land to Central Powers because of lack of strong military
Trotsky was a top Bolshevik official

16. Civil War some Russians disliked the negotiations & their results
opponents of Bolsheviks = “White Army”
army leaders
political opponents
wealthy Russians
*France & United States supported White Army
they didn’t like losing land/power/wealth
France & US supported Whites, probably because they feared the increasing power of a communist system
**Why might wealthy Russians dislike a communist system?
**Remember, a communist system gathers all resources & redistributes them equally

17. Civil War Ends Red Army vs. White Army late 1920  Bolsheviks triumph
fighting & famine cost millions of lives
late 1920  Bolsheviks triumph
1921  New Economic Policy: plan permitting some capitalist activity
Red Army = Bolsheviks/communists
White Army = opponents
Lenin established a New Economic Policy
 effected farmers especially (encouraged food production)
 helped restore economy
**What do you think about that? A communist country using a capitalist plan to get back on its feet & then disregarding it? What does it say about communism? Does it say that communism isn’t a good enough plan, if it can’t start from scratch?

18. the Soviet Union 1922  economy begun to improve
1922  Russia reunited with neighboring lands that had belonged to Russian Empire
became Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) or Soviet Union
Soviet Union will remain until 1991