The Russian Revolution

Early 20 c : Russian Social Hierarchy

GaponGapon "Sire!" "We workers, our children and wives, the helpless old people who are our parents, we have come to you, Sire, to seek justice and protection. We are in great poverty, we are oppressed and weighed down with labors beyond our strength; we are insulted, we are not recognized as human beings, we are treated like slaves who must bear their lot in silence. And we have suffered it, but we are being driven ever deeper into beggary, lawlessness and ignorance. Despotism and arbitrary rule are strangling us, and we are suffocating. Sire, our strength is at an end! The limit of our patience has been reached: the terrible moment has come for us when it is better to die than to continue suffering intolerable torment."

Bloody Sunday January 22, 1905

Gregori Rasputin

An Enemy Rasputin’s influence over the royal family was seen as a threat to Russia. Nobles plotted to kill the madman.

“You Cannot Kill Me” He was fed cakes laced with cyanide. (no effect) He was shot at point blank range in the chest. (lived) Shot and clubbed. (lived) Wrapped up and thrown into the river. (?)

The Death Rasputin died of drowning. When his body was found, it was untied, with water in his lungs.

Why did it occur?

Problems: The monarchy could not govern effectively. Nicholas II was believed to have been under control of his wife and Rasputin. Workers strike in Petrograd (St.Petersburg)

Nicholas II abdicates.

The Provisional Government Led by the Constitutional Democrats (social revolutionaries) Mensheviks- moderate revolutionaries Bolsheviks- radical, violent revolutionaries

Alexander Kerensky Leader of the provisional government Prime Minister of Russia Moderate

V.I. Lenin Leader of the Bolsheviks Worked against the provisional government Promised people “Peace, land, and bread”

Staged a coup Unsuccessful Lenin fled to Finland His 2 nd in command, Leon Trotsky arrested.

After their return… Led an armed revolt against the provisional government The P.G. called for elections to be held to settle the matter.

The votes are in… The social revolutionaries appear victorious over the Bolsheviks Regardless, the Bolsheviks seize power led by the Red Army.

Bolshevik regime Nationalized private property and land. Factory workers put in charge of factories. Church property became state property. Withdrawal from World War I

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk Lenin believed WWI only benefited capitalists. Russia gave up Poland, Finland, Baltic States, Ukraine, and money

Civil War Fought between the Red Army and the White Army. White Army got allied support. However, Lenin and Trotsky won.

The Assassination of the Romanovs