1. Russian Revolution

2. Aim: What was the History of Russia?

3. GEOGRAPHY OF RUSSIA
Steppes-plains (like African Savannahs) – easy to invade, think Napoleon
Siberia”Gem in the Rough” –natural resources
Lack of Warm Water Ports- Until Who?
Harsh Winters-never invade during the winter.

5. Early History
Byzantine Influence- Eastern Orthodox Church
Kievan Russia (1019)Decline of Kiev
MONGOL INFLUENCE
CZARIST RUSSIA
PETER THE GREAT/ CATHERINE THE GREAT

6. AIM: What were the Causes of the
RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

7. St. Petersburg and Peter the Great

8. Overview Structural weaknesses within Russia Revolution of 1905
October Manifesto
Russia
Revolutions of 1917
Civil War

9. Economic Weaknesses Backwards
top 1% controls majority of Land & wealth
bottom 85% = peasants
Landless & extremely poor
Typical Noble Estate
Russian Peasants

10. Economic Weaknesses Govt. Modernization Program: Raised taxes
Borrowed money
Hired foreigners to run factories
Workers paid low wages
extremely poor conditions
Women Textile Workers

11. Political Weaknesses Autocratic ruler Ignorant to Russia’s problems
No personal freedoms
Govt. opposition not allowed
Political divisions
Intelligentsia
Nobility
Political parties
Tsar Nicholas II

12. Russian Government Before Revolution
Monarchy: The Czar (Tsar)
Until 1905 the Tsar's powers were unlimited.
Russia had no constitution,
no political party system to check the Tsar's power
A strong secret police which terrorized the people.

13. Royal Background Nicholas I
Created the first secret police in Russia, brutal leader, response to revolt of army officers in 1825

14. Czar Alexander II
He implemented important reforms, notably the abolition of serfdom,
In 1867, he sold Alaska and the Aleutian Islands to the United States.
Killed by the Revolutionary Group: The People’s Will

15. Czar Alexander III
Alexander III's reign was during an industrial revolution in Russia .
His reign was harsh, against revolutionaries and other liberal movements.

16. Social Weaknesses Citizens = internally divided:
Only ½ population = Russian
Desires:
Minorities—independence
Nobility—gradual reform
Intelligentsia—can’t agree
Workers—better conditions
Peasants—land reform

17. Revolution of 1905 Causes: Russo-Japanese War 1904-05
Worker discontent

18. Bloody Sunday January 9, 1905 Peaceful demonstration of workers
Demands:
end to war
formation of a constituent assembly
Troops open fire on workers
Father Gapon

19. Bloody Sunday Result: widespread riots & strikes (spring-summer)
Radicals organize workers into ‘Soviets’
October—nation paralyzed by 10 day strike
Tsar agrees to make changes
Demonstration at the winter palace in
St. Petersburg

20. October Manifesto Russia’s first constitution Results:
Establishes the ‘Duma’
Grants some civil liberties
Results:
Divides opposition
October Manifesto in practice:
Had little power
Tsar could veto decisions & dismiss members at will
Duma

21. Russia 1906-1916 Prime Minister 1906-11 Worker’s Movement
Cracked down on revolutionaries
Introduced agricultural & educational reforms to help peasants
Assassinated
Worker’s Movement
Strikes waned
Strikes & riots increase
Peter Stolypin

22. World War I Tsar enters war with hope of unifying nation
Army suffers defeat after defeat
Morale decreases
Desertions increase

23. World War I 1916 Nicholas II takes over Army
Weaknesses of govt. further exposed
War increases suffering & discontent
Revolution is near

24. Rasputin Nicholas II leaves country to command army
Tsarina in charge of gov’t
Heavily influence by Rasputin, ‘the Holy Man’
given power to make governmental decisions
Dislike by nobility—murdered

25. March Revolution 1917 Strikes & bread riots break out in Petrograd.
Soldiers, sent to restore order
Ordered to shoot rioters, instead, shoot the officers and join rioters

26. March Revolution 1917 Abdication of Tsar Nicholas II
Orders the dismissal of the Duma
Instead the Duma forms a Provisional government.
Next day - March 15, 1917 abdicates

27. March Revolution 1917 Provisional Government
Led by Kerensky – a moderate socialist
Goal: political not social revolution
Called for free elections to form a constituent assembly
Allowed freedom speech, press, assembly, & religion

28. March Revolution 1917 Govt. is weak & unorganized
opposed by Petrograd Soviet
Further weakened by WW I
Increased discontent by populace

29. Petrograd Soviet 1917 Competes for power
Extremely well organized & supported
Increases power w/failures of provisional govt.
Lenin returns from exile

30. April – October 1917 April 23 Lenin calls for power to the soviets
Rallies behind the slogan: “Peace, Land, Bread”
Lenin’s Speech

31. AIM: WHAT WAS THE BOLSHEVIK REVOLUTION?

32. April – October 1917
July 3-5, increased support from sailors, workers, & peasants.
Lenin—October 24
Call to power speech
Demands action now

33. October Revolution 1917 Bolsheviks launch successful coup
Establish the ‘Cheka’
Political opposition banned
Confiscate church property
Treaty of Brest-litovsk March 1918
Assassination of Tsar & his family July 16, 1918

34. Civil War War Communism (1917-1921)
Lenin: “Dictatorship of the Proletariat”
Bolsheviks focus on maintaining power
Red Army (Bolsheviks) led by Trotsky vs. the Whites (socialists, nationalist, liberals)

35. War Communism ( )
Nationalize industry, banks, & forbid strikes
All men under 50 drafted
Result:
famine, worker revolts, political divisions
Leaves Russia w/out industry, transportation, & trade.

36. NEP New Economic Policy 1921 Goal: increase food production
Introduce incentives:
Small factories, businesses, & farms allowed to return to private ownership
Large factories, banks, railways, & communication kept under state control
Result: huge success
Soviet Union (USSR) established 1922