1. The Russian Revolution
Part 1: Russia before the revolution

2. 19th century Russia (1800s) Vast Empire Stretched to California!
12 time zones!
Believed the ideas of the French Revolution were bad
Very conservative!
Western Europe saw Russia as backwards, barbaric, and a cultural wasteland.
Military giant
Lots of men
Defeated Napoleon

3. Tsar (Czar or Tzar) Word was law! Absolute power Hereditary Autocracy
No checks or balances against Tsar’s power.
People had NO power.
Hereditary Autocracy
Family rule (like monarchy)
Based on religion
“God’s representative on earth.”
Women could inherit.

4. Nicholas I (1825-1855) Worried about small things
Ex. Buttons on uniforms
Had older brother but neither wanted to be Tsar.

5. The Decembrist Revolt (1825)
Liberal Nobles
Wanted a Constitutional Monarchy.
Took advantage of confusion between Nicholas and Constantine.
Idolized the ideas of the French Revolution.

6. The Decembrist Revolt Cont.
3,000 members in “secret society.”
Go to Tsar’s palace to complain.
Nicholas wanted to talk.
The person he sent to talk was killed.
Nicholas brings in artillery
Kills of the Decembrist.
Hangs and arrests the remaining Decembrists.

7. The Decembrists: A very early cause to the Russian Revolution
The Decembrists failed b/c no public support.
Decembrists scare Nicholas
He sits in on questioning of rebels to figure out what is wrong.
Decides that bad actions were derived from bad ideas (The French Revolution)
Censors EVERYTHING (bad move).
Looked for codes in music, books, etc.
Ridiculously large secret police.
Decades of political repression.
Continued to stall industrialization and progress.

8. Alexander II (r )
Ended serfdom (slavery of Russians) in 1861.
Helped industrialization
Way behind.

9. Nicholas II Russo-Japanese War
Japan crushes Russia
Rapid industrialization intensifies the bad working and living conditions.
Workers look for reform.
The last Tsar

10. Bloody Sunday 1905 Russian Revolution begins!
Demonstrators asking for improved working conditions
Mowed down by Royal Army.

11. October Manifesto Nicholas II caves
Promises a constitution in the October Manifesto.
Promises a parliament called the Duma.
Sort of stops revolution
Tsar still all powerful.
Stolypin
Brought in to reform agricultural system.
Wanted Peasants to own land.