1. Russian Revolution

2. 1800’s Russia still 90% agricultural –Almost unaffected by the Industrial Revolution 80% of population is serfs Czar is an AUTOCRAT (unlimited power)

3. DecembristsDecembrists 1825, soldiers who fought against Napoleon saw enlightened ways in Western Europe Wanted a written Constitution Began a revolt in December Revolt put down by Czar No Constitution

4. Reforms of 1861 New Czar agrees to make some reforms Freed the serfs –Gave ½ the land to the nobles –Gave ½ the land to peasants in the form of a “Mir”, communal property of a peasant community. –Not enough land to eat, and b/c of taxes, still tied to land, so basically still serfs –Reforms not enough and last czar before start of Russian Revolution blown-up with a bomb!

5. Autocracy returns The next czars returned to autocratic rule. 85% of Country is still rural despite… between 1860 and 1871, population of cities increased by 45% Still in 1914 Russia is WAY behind W. Europe in terms of industrialization No Unions or labor laws, so workers are in horrible straights

6. Cruelty under Autocracy Non-Russians oppressed “Dangerous” –Anyone who questioned the czar –Speaking a language other than Russian –Practicing anything except Russian Orthodox

7. Anti-Semitism Begins Jews MOST tormented –Forced to live in Jewish “regions” –Schools closed to them –Laws actually encouraged prejudice –Police and Soldiers WATCHED as Jewish homes, stores and synagogues were looted and destroyed

8. Czar Nicholas II Coronation Speech: “I will maintain the principle of autocracy just as firmly and unflinchingly as it was preserved my unfortunate dead father.”

9. Revolution of 1905 Russia lost the Russo-Japanese war and Russians became angry 200,000 workers went to czar’s palace: –Better working conditions –More personal freedoms –Elected national legislature Guards shot 500-1000, “Bloody Sunday” Nicholas II agrees to a Duma (legislature) Three months later dissolved it!

10. Hemophilia The Curse of the Last Russian Royals

11. Rasputin

12. World War I Nicholas II entered WWI, major factor in his downfall. By end of 1914, 4 million Russian soldiers were killed, wounded, or taken prisoner. 1915 Nicholas II moves to the front to raise Moral Leaves country in hands of czarina Alexandra and Rasputin By 1917 conditions are desperate

13. Desperation of 1916-17 Food and fuel in short supply Inflation Soldier’s have been drafted and are deserting Strikes occur Rumors that czarina is spying for native country, Germany Nicholas II abdicates the throne

14. Provisional Government Led by Kerensky Began splitting large estates and giving land to peasants MAJOR ERROR: stayed in WWI –Didn’t want to back out on allies –Russians angry –Soldiers desert more rapidly for the land being handed out to peasants

15. Royal Family is Assassinated

16. Lenin Leads Revolutionary Gov’t.

17. Revolutionary Groups Mensheviks Focused on the plight of the peasants Revolution was only an idea, not a reality for a long time. Marx idea could not work in Russia because not industrialized enough, not enough proletariat, too many peasants.

18. Revolutionary Groups Bolsheviks Lead by Lenin Believed in Marx ideas Believed that small population of “workers” could still lead the revolution Planned on a “Dictatorship of the Proletariat”

19. Stalin vs. Trotsky Under-dog Quiet, not well-known Obvious successor Feared to become dictator

20. USSR Stalin becomes a dictator Command Economy –Five Year Plans Industrial Agricultural Totalitarian Rule

21. The Cold War vs. Industrial Race turns into Arms/ Military Race Democracy vs. Communism