1 / 15

Russian Revolution

Russian Revolution. Essential Understanding.

dawn-austin
Download Presentation

Russian Revolution

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Russian Revolution

  2. Essential Understanding • Czarist Russia entered World War I as an absolute monarchy with sharp class divisions between the nobility and the peasants. The grievances of workers and peasants were not resolved by the Czar. Inadequate administration in World War I led to revolution and an unsuccessful provisional government. A second revolution by the Bolsheviks created the communist state that ultimately became the U.S.S.R.

  3. Essential Questions • Why did Russia erupt in revolution while fighting in World War I? • How did communism rise in Russia?

  4. Setting the stage for Revolution • Long chain of Czars’ Autocratic rule • Government censors written criticism; secret police monitor schools • Non-Russians living in Russia are treated harshly • Jews become target of government-backed pogroms (mob violence) • In 1894, Nicholas II becomes czar, continues autocratic ways, was blinded to changing conditions of the times

  5. Russian Economic situation • Number of factories in Russia doubles between 1863 and 1900 but Russia still lagged behind Western Europe • In 1890s, new plan boosts steel production and becomes 4th largest producer of steel; Trans-Siberian Railway started – over 5000 miles long • Industrialization breeds discontent over working conditions, wages • Growing popularity of Marxist idea that the proletariat(workers) will rule • Bolsheviks—Marxists who favor revolution by a small committed group • Vladimir Lenin—Bolshevik leader—an excellent organizer, inspiring leader

  6. Uber-bad decision-making • The Russo-Japanese War • Defeat in Russo-Japanese War (fight over Korea, Manchuria) of early 1900s causes unrest in Russia • Bloody Sunday: The Revolution of 1905 • In 1905, 200,000 workers march on czar’s palace to demand reforms • Army fires into the crowd, killing several hundred • Massacre leads to widespread unrest; Nicholas forced to make reforms • The Duma, Russia’s first parliament, meets in 1906 • Czar unwilling to share power; dissolves Duma after only 10 weeks

  7. The last straw • World War I • Heavy losses in World War I reveal government’s weakness-weak generals, poorly equipped soldiers • No match for German army; in first year 4 million soldiers killed, wounded or taken prisoner • Nicholas goes to war front; Czarina Alexandra runs government • Czarina falls under the influence of Rasputin—mysterious “holy man” • Nobles fear Rasputin’s influence, murder him • Army losing effectiveness-soldiers mutinied, deserted, or ignored orders; people at home hungry and unhappy

  8. The March Revolution • First Steps • In March 1917, 200,000 workers strike in Petrograd (St. Petersburg); soldiers refuse to fire on workers and even join them • The Czar Steps Down • March Revolution—protests in Petrograd become uprising; Nicholas abdicates throne • Dumaestablishes provisional, or temporary,government • Soviets—committees of Socialist revolutionaries—control many cities • Lenin Returns to Russia • In April 1917, Germans aid Lenin in returning from exile to Russia

  9. The Bolsheviks take control • Bolsheviks in Power • In November 1917, workers take control of the government • Lenin gives land to peasants, puts workers in control of factories • Bolsheviks sign treaty with Germany; Russia out of World War I • Civil War Rages in Russia • Civil War between Bolsheviks’ Red Army and loosely allied White Army (Czarists, democrats, socialists that didn’t like Lenin – barely cooperated with each other) • 1920 - Red Army, led by revolutionary leader Leon Trotsky, wins three-year war that leaves 14 million dead

  10. Save us Vlad, Save us • New Economic Policy • In March 1921, Lenin launches New Economic Policy; has some capitalism mainly for peasants and small businesses • NEP and peace restore economy shattered by war, revolution • By 1928, Russia’s farms, factories are productive again • Political Reforms • Lenin creates self-governing republics under national government • In 1922, country renamed Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.) • Communist Party—new name taken by Bolsheviks from writings of Marx

  11. Stop stallin’, it’s Stalin • A New Leader • Trotsky and Stalin compete to replace Lenin when he dies • Joseph Stalin—cold, hard Communist Party general secretary in 1922; was Georgian • Stalin gains power from 1922 to 1927 • Lenin dies in 1924 – still on display in Moscow • Stalin gains complete control in 1928; Trotsky forced into exile, millions die under his rule

  12. Evil Mustaches

More Related