1. 30.1-Revolutions in Russia
Student Objectives
Describe the autocratic methods of Alexander III and the economic changes of Nicholas II.
Explain the crises that paved the way for the March Revolution and the end of czarist rule
Summarize the Bolshevik Revolution and its outcome
Analyze the success of Lenin’s reforms

2. Alexander III’s Autocratic Rule
1881-Alexander III took over as czar of Russia
Stopped all reforms of his father
Continued with autocracy
Employed harsh measures
Censorship on letters and documents
Secret Police
Siberia
Oppressed other national groups
Russia as only language
Violence against Jews
What is autocracy? How did Alexander III continue an autocratic rule?
2. How did Alexander oppress other national groups with language and violence against Jews?

3. Industrialization in Russia & Revolutionary Movement
Russia rapidly industrialized from
Still lagged behind other nations
Nicholas II took over in 1894-new plan to industrialize more
Foreign investment & Raised Taxes
Grew problems in Russia
Bad working conditions, low wages and child labor
Strikes organized to fight injustice
Revolutionary movements grew- believed in Karl Marx and Communism
Workers (proletariat) would rule the world
Two revolutionary groups emerged
Mensheviks-moderate
Bolsheviks-radical
Bolsheviks led by Vladimir Lenin
Good personality-also ruthless
Forced to flee to W. Europe-kept in contact with other Bolsheviks waiting for his return and for revolution
What was Nicholas II’s plan to industrialize for Russia? How did this grow problems with the Russian people?
Remind yourself of the major ideas of communism from chapter 25. What does communism advocate for and what are its major beliefs?
What were some of the positives that led to Lenin becoming popular with the Bolsheviks? Why was he forced to flee to W. Europe?

4. Crises at Home and Abroad
Crises paved way for revolution
Russo-Japanese War (1904)
Russia broke agreements with Japan over Korea and Manchuria
Japan attacked Russians in Manchuria- news of losses sparked unrest at home
Bloody Sunday (1905)
200,000 workers brought petition to palace asking for better working conditions
Soldiers told to shoot at workers- thousands injured and died
Led to other strikes and protests throughout country
Nicholas created Duma-dissolved quickly
World War I ( )
Russia unprepared to enter war
Continually defeated by Germans
First year-over 4 million Russian casualties
Nicholas moved headquarters to war front
Wife ran government
Ignored Key advisors
Allowed the Rasputin to make key decisions
Rasputin murdered in 1916
Soldiers left war effort
On home front-people wanted end to war
What happened at Bloody Sunday? How did this lead to the creation of the Duma and why was this dissolved quickly?
What were some of the reasons why the Russians were unable to compete against the Germans?
Why did Nicholas’ wife listen so much to the Rasputin? How did this create so much more issues for Russia in the war effort?

5. March Revolution March 1917-riots throughout Russia
Soldiers sided with rioters
Czar Nicholas II forced to leave his throne
Him and his family executed-end to Romanov dynasty
Provisional (temporary) government established
Decided to continue to fight in WWI
Many upset-development of Soviets- councils of workers, peasants, and soldiers-huge influence
Germans arranged Lenin’s return to Russia
What were some of the demands and rallying cries made by the rioters during the March Revolution?
What was the major issue the provisional government dealt with? What were the soviets that were established in its place?
Based on WWI, why would the Germans be interested in getting Lenin to return to Russia?

6. The Bolshevik Revolution
Lenin and Bolsheviks gained control of Soviets across country
Huge support-”Peace, land, and bread”
Armed factory workers (Bolsheviks/Red Guards) stormed palace
Provisional government gone
Lenin & Bolsheviks in Power
All farmland to be given to peasants
Control of factories
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Humiliating for Russians
Bolsheviks developed enemies at home-led to Civil War
White Army-very diverse group
Red Army led by Leon Trotsky
Red Army crushed opposition
Not without death of 14 million Russians and famine
Led to state-controlled society
What do you think was specifically meant by Lenin and the Bolshevik’s rallying cry of “Peace, land, and bread?”
How was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk humiliating to Russians?
How was the White Army “diverse”? What were some of the issues of the Russian Civil War?

7. New Russia War and Revolution destroyed economy
Lenin set up New Economic Policy (NEP)
Delayed plans for state-controlled economy
Peasants allowed to sell surplus products
Small factories and businesses still allowed to be under private ownership
Allowed for Russian economy to recover
Country renamed to Union of Soviet Social Republics (USSR)
Keep nationalism in check
Give honor to soviets that helped start Bolshevik Revolution
Renamed party Communist Party
Created constitution based on socialist and democratic principles
Not true-result was dictatorship of Communist Party-not proletariat
Why was the NEP different from the original ideas for the Soviet Union economy?
Why was Russia renamed the USSR? What was the goal in doing so?
How do you think the USSR was unable to actually uphold a truly Communist Revolution? What instead developed in its place?