1. The Russian Revolution

2. Russian Revolution – one of the most important consequences of WWI
This revolution would have far-reaching consequences for the rest of the world
Overview

3. Roots of Revolution Russian Czars ruled as autocrats (absolute rulers)
Used secret police and strict censorship
Majority of Russians were serfs
Illiterate and bound to the land
Small group of nobles owned the serfs and enjoyed vast wealth
Social conditions kept the country economically underdeveloped
Roots of Revolution

4. Roots of Revolution Crimean War 1854-1856
Russia trying to protect Orthodox Christians
Russia lost
Czar Alexander II liberated the serfs in 1861
Introduced an elected assembly and other reforms
Assassinated by Russian Revolutionaries shortly afterwards
All attempts at reform stopped
Later Czars returned to policy of harsh repression
Serfs became landless peasants paying rent to former owners
Roots of Revolution

5. Roots of Revolution Russian nationalism influenced Russian rulers
Their empire was identified by their autocracy, Russian nationality, and the Russian Orthodox Church
Russification of Slav states in the Balkans
Protectors of these states
Roots of Revolution

6. 1900 – Russian Empire stretched from Eastern Europe to Pacific Ocean
Still considered backward country
Peasants and factory workers in poverty
Landowning nobles had wealth and leisure
No democratic reform
Secret revolutionary societies formed among the educated elite
Road to Revolution

7. Revolution of 1905 Russia defeated in Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905)
Bloody Sunday
Troops trampled unarmed demonstrators in St. Petersburg
Revolutions broke out around the country
Peasants seized lands, workers demonstrated and went on strike
Czar Nicholas II created the Duma
Elected legislature
Only the very wealthy could vote for members
Revolution of 1905

8. February Revolution – March 1917
Russia was ill-prepared to World War I
Widespread defeats and food shortages
1917 – Food riots broke out in cities all across Russia
March 1917 – troops refused to fire on striking workers
Czar Nicholas abdicated the throne; leaders of Duma declare Russia a republic
Refused to withdraw from war and could not win support of the people
February Revolution – March 1917

9. February Revolution – March 1917
Alexander Kerensky prominent leader of provisional government
Instituted parliamentary rule based on western liberalism
Supported religious and other freedoms
Resisted major land redistribution expected by peasants
February Revolution – March 1917

10. October Revolution – November 1917
Vladimir Lenin returned to Russia from his exile in Switzerland
Germany sent him back hoping to close to Eastern Front
Follower of Karl Marx
Bolsheviks (Lenin’s supporters) promised “Peace, Bread, and Land”
Seized power in second revolution November 1917
October Revolution – November 1917

11. To prevent nationalism from spreading among Russia’s many ethnic groups, the country is organized into several smaller republics with a central government in Moscow.
Bolsheviks renamed to Communists and changed the name of the country to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R) or Soviet Union
World’s first Communist country
USSR

12. When Lenin seizes power in November 1917, he offers Germany a truce
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1918) ends Russia’s participation in World War I
Loses the Baltic States, Finland, and Poland that emerge as independent nations after the Treaty of Versailles is signed
War threat on the Eastern Front is eliminated for Germany, which moves its forces to the Western Front and mounts one last unsuccessful attempt to overrun France
Russia leaves WWI

13. Soviet Union Under Lenin
Bolsheviks convinced world revolution would happen
Lenin added new ideals to Marx’s Communist vision
Small group of party leaders would lead country to Communist equality
“Temporary dictatorship” needed
Several internal and external groups attempted to reinstate provisional government
Redistributing land to peasants and nationalization of industry sparked major protests
Worker groups called soviets take over the factories
Soviet Union Under Lenin

14. Civil war between the “Reds” [Lenin’s supporters] and the “Whites” [wanted to return to Czar rule] erupted
Several powers, including the US sent support to the Whites
The Red Army had more support from peasants and workers
Lenin was willing to promote army officers from humble backgrounds and troops believe they were fighting for a new regime.
Leader of Red Army Leon Trotsky helped regained stability
Lenin murdered Czar Nicholas and his family
After two years, the Reds came out victorious
Widespread famine that follows leads to over 15 million Russian deaths before the White Army is defeated
Russian Civil War

15. Lenin’s New Economic Policy
Economy in shambles, peasants no longer growing food afraid government would seize it
1921 – New Economic Policy “N.E.P” – some private ownership permitted on a small scale in manufacturing and agriculture
Policy seemed to be working when Lenin died in 1924
Lenin’s New Economic Policy

16. Death of Lenin Lenin died suddenly in 1924
No clear path for leadership succession
Major struggle between lieutenants behind closed doors
Leon Trotsky was a favorite to succeed, but in the end Joseph Stalin won
Ruled from 1927 until death in 1953
Death of Lenin

17. Stalin ignored international communist revolution to focus on “socialism in one country”
Focused on strengthening Russian industrialization and agriculture
Russia continued to remain isolated from the rest of the world
Stalin settled in as old style authoritarian Russian ruler
Aftermath