1. The Russian Revolution -Key Concepts-

3. 1. Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and Pre-Revolution Russia Ruled from 1894-1917 Ruled from 1894-1917 Last Romanov tsar of Russia Last Romanov tsar of Russia –Had ruled since 1613 Assassinated by the Red Army (Communist, army) during the Russian Revolution Assassinated by the Red Army (Communist, army) during the Russian Revolution

4. Pre-Revolutionary Russia Only true autocracy left in Europe Only true autocracy left in Europe No type of representation in political institutions No type of representation in political institutions Nicholas II became Tsar in 1884 Nicholas II became Tsar in 1884 Believed he was the absolute ruler anointed by God Believed he was the absolute ruler anointed by God Revolution broke out in 1905 Revolution broke out in 1905 --Russo-Japanese War (1904)

5. Tatiana, Anastasia, Alexei, Maria, and Olga

6. 2. The Revolution of 1905 The creation of a discontented working class The creation of a discontented working class Poor peasant population in Russia Poor peasant population in Russia No individual land ownership No individual land ownership

7. 2. Revolution of 1905 (cont) Russia industrialized on the backs of the peasants Russia industrialized on the backs of the peasants Tremendous historic land hunger among peasants Tremendous historic land hunger among peasants RESULTS: RESULTS: –Real winners of the 1905 Revolution: Middle Class --Constitutional Democratic Party (Cadets) --Duma

8. 3. Conservatism Continues: 1905-1917 Tsar paid no attention to the Duma Tsar paid no attention to the Duma Duma harassed and political parties suppressed Duma harassed and political parties suppressed Nicholas was personally a very weak man/ruler Nicholas was personally a very weak man/ruler Tsar became increasingly remote as a ruler Tsar became increasingly remote as a ruler

9. 4. Alexandra: The Power Behind the Throne Even more blindly committed to autocracy than her husband Even more blindly committed to autocracy than her husband The influence of Rasputin over Alexandra The influence of Rasputin over Alexandra Origins of Rasputin ’ s power Origins of Rasputin ’ s power Scandals surrounding Rasputin served to discredit the monarchy Scandals surrounding Rasputin served to discredit the monarchy

10. Alexis: Alexandra ’ s Son with Hemophilia

11. 5. World War I: “ The Last Straw ” War revealed the ineptitude and arrogance of the country ’ s aristocratic elite War revealed the ineptitude and arrogance of the country ’ s aristocratic elite The Russian “ Steam Roller ” The Russian “ Steam Roller ” Corrupt military leadership and contempt for ordinary Russian people Corrupt military leadership and contempt for ordinary Russian people Average peasant has very little invested in the War Average peasant has very little invested in the War

12. 5. World War I (cont) Poorly supplied troops Poorly supplied troops Result: Chaos and Disintegration of the Russian Army Result: Chaos and Disintegration of the Russian Army --Battle of Tannenberg (August, 1914) Mismanagement of a wartime economy Mismanagement of a wartime economy

13. 6. The Collapse of the Imperial Government Nicholas leaves for the Front— September, 1915 Nicholas leaves for the Front— September, 1915 Alexandra and Rasputin throw the government into chaos Alexandra and Rasputin throw the government into chaos Alexandra and other high government officials accused of treason Alexandra and other high government officials accused of treason

14. 6. The Collapse of the Imperial Government (cont) Rasputin assassinated in December of 1916 Rasputin assassinated in December of 1916 Refusal to receive assistance of the Russian Middle Class Refusal to receive assistance of the Russian Middle Class Complete mismanagement of the wartime economy Complete mismanagement of the wartime economy

15. First, Rasputin’s would-be killers gave the monk food and wine laced with cyanide. When he failed to react to the poison, they shot him at close range, leaving him for dead. A short time later, however, Rasputin revived and attempted to escape from the palace grounds, whereupon his assailants shot him again and beat him viciously. Finally, they bound Rasputin, still miraculously alive, and tossed him into a freezing river. His body was discovered several days later and the two main conspirators, Youssupov and Pavlovich were exiled.

16. 7. The March Revolution Origins: Food riots and strikes Origins: Food riots and strikes Duma declared itself a Provisional Government on March12th Duma declared itself a Provisional Government on March12th Tsar abdicated on March 17 th Tsar abdicated on March 17 th Very Popular Revolution Very Popular Revolution

17. 8. Soviet Political Ideology More radical and revolutionary than the Provisional Government More radical and revolutionary than the Provisional Government Most influenced by Marxist socialism Most influenced by Marxist socialism Emulated western socialism Emulated western socialism Known as “Bolsheviks” Known as “Bolsheviks” Lenin = founder of Bolshevism Lenin = founder of Bolshevism

18. 9. Founder of Bolshevism: Vladimir Lenin His Early Years His Early Years --Exiled to Siberia in 1897 Believed in Class Struggle and Revolution Believed in Class Struggle and Revolution Moved to London in 1902 and befriended Leon Trotsky Moved to London in 1902 and befriended Leon Trotsky Believes in the dictatorship of the proletariat Believes in the dictatorship of the proletariat

19. 9. Lenin (cont) Key role of the Party in the revolution Key role of the Party in the revolution -- “ Dictatorship of the Proletariat ” Bolsheviks split from the Russian Socialist Party in 1912 Bolsheviks split from the Russian Socialist Party in 1912 Character of the Bolshevik Party Character of the Bolshevik Party --Joseph Stalin --Pravda

20. 10. Death of the Romanovs March 1918: Nicholas II had abdicated throne March 1918: Nicholas II had abdicated throne July 1918: Romanovs are murdered by the Red Army in Yekaterinburg (east of Moscow) July 1918: Romanovs are murdered by the Red Army in Yekaterinburg (east of Moscow)

21. 11. Vacuum of Leadership in Russia Petrograd Soviet dominated by Mensheviks Petrograd Soviet dominated by Mensheviks Failure of the Provisional Government Failure of the Provisional Government Workers refusing to work and soldiers refusing to fight Workers refusing to work and soldiers refusing to fight Peasants were expropriating the land outright Peasants were expropriating the land outright Power was literally lying in the streets of Petrograd Power was literally lying in the streets of Petrograd

22. 11. Lenin Steps into This Vacuum Amnesty granted to all political prisoners in March of 1917 Amnesty granted to all political prisoners in March of 1917 Provisional Gov’t falls, Lenin establishes Communist state Provisional Gov’t falls, Lenin establishes Communist state A tremendously charismatic personality A tremendously charismatic personality “ Peace, Land, Bread ” “ Peace, Land, Bread ” “ All Power to the Soviets ” “ All Power to the Soviets ” Bolshevik party membership exploded Bolshevik party membership exploded Consolidation of Bolshevik power Consolidation of Bolshevik power

23. 12. The November Revolution The events of November 6 1918 The events of November 6 1918 All private property of wealthy was abolished and divided among the peasantry All private property of wealthy was abolished and divided among the peasantry Largest industrial enterprises nationalized Largest industrial enterprises nationalized

24. 12. November Revolution (cont) Revolutionary army created with Trotsky in charge Revolutionary army created with Trotsky in charge -- “ Red Army ” Bolshevik Party renamed Communist Party in March of 1918 Bolshevik Party renamed Communist Party in March of 1918 The Treaty of Brest- Litovsk negotiated with the Germans The Treaty of Brest- Litovsk negotiated with the Germans

25. 12. November Revolution (cont) Humiliating Treaty would be nullified since all of the west was on the verge of revolution Humiliating Treaty would be nullified since all of the west was on the verge of revolution Civil War fought between 1917-1920 Civil War fought between 1917-1920 -- “ Reds ” versus “ Whites ” Complete breakdown of Russian economy and society Complete breakdown of Russian economy and society

26. 13. Interpreting the Russian Revolution The official Marxist Interpretation The official Marxist Interpretation --The importance of a permanent international revolution Function of Russian History and Culture Function of Russian History and Culture Imposed Revolution on an unwilling victim Imposed Revolution on an unwilling victim A Social Revolution A Social Revolution