Causes of the Russian Revolution Economic Peasant Majority Food and Fuel Shortages Striking Workers Inefficient transportation systems Political Enormous losses in WWI Autocracy Weak and ineffectual leaders Spread of Marxist ideas Charismatic leaders such as Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky Social Extremes in classes Deprivation resulting from WWI Peasants’ desire for land

Czar Nicolas II and Alexandra Rasputin

Workers Unite Under Lenin

Key Events in Russian Revolution 1914 – WWI begins 1917 – March: Revolution forces czar to abdicate. Provisional government formed April: Lenin returns to Russia November: 2 nd Revolution leads to Bolshevik takeover 1918 – March: Treaty of Brest-Litovsk signed July: Civil war between Reds and Whites begins; czar & family executed 1921 – March: Communist government victorious

Bolsheviks Take Over

1924 – Death of Lenin Trotsky Wanted to promote worldwide revolutions, help other countries Fled to Mexico in 1929, was eventually assassinated by Stalin’s men in 1940 Stalin Wanted to focus efforts on own country & internal affairs Became General- Secretary of Communist Party Gained control around 1920

Stalin’s 5 Year Plan Goals: 1.) stamp out small scale private enterprise tolerated under Lenin’s New Economic Policy 2.) to catch up w/ the advanced capitalist countries in industrial/military power 3.) to squeeze out of the peasants the capital needed for industrialization 4.) to prevent the growth of an independent class of “capitalist” peasants.

Five Year Plan Features Forced industrialization on agrarian country, wanted to convert economy from agricultural to industrial More workers – forced unskilled laborers to work More raw materials – destroyed environment More/Larger factories – buildings expanded Negative incentives for workers Quantity over quality – bad quality, no competition Stress importance of industrial; not consumer goods “evolution” not gradual Mandated type of crops & prices Small farms were joined together to form large farms

Reign of Terror/Great Purge Anyone who did not show absolute obedience to the Communist Party or Stalin was sent to a labor camp, deported, or killed – especially directed against the Kulaks (better off peasants) Responsible for the deaths of 15 million people