The Romanov Dynasty

Decline of the Romanovs  Alexander I—autocratic ruler Chose to not end serfdom Decembrist Revolt of 1825 after Alexander’s death oArmy officers from Napoleonic Wars with ideas from the enlightenment oWanted constitution that would grant rights-- failed  Nicholas I— Oppressive to serfs Limited education including nobles Loss in Crimean War

Alexander II—Nicholas’ son –Abolished serfdom 1861 –Creation of Mirs –Discontent led to his execution Alexander III—rejected any reform because of what happened to Alexander II –Autocratic –Censorship, secret police, Russification, pogroms against Jews

Nicholas II Rapid urban growth encouraged industry –Doubled number of factories but Russia still lagged behind Trans-Siberian Railroad 1904 Inability to enact needed reforms for most people Rise of kulaks [landlords who owned 9/10 of arable land] 1905 Russo-Japanese War

1905 Bloody Sunday –Riots and strikes swept cities –Looting and burning of nobles homes –Troop mutinies –October Manifesto 1905 Freedom of the press, speech, assembly Duma created Revolution ended Unpopular—oppressive –1914 entered into WWI Showed weakness of Czar and army Goes to front in 1915 allowing Rasputin increased influence inflation

The Russian Duma, or parliament, created in 1905 by October Manifesto

Rise of Social Democratic Party 1903 split of Marxists Mensheviks moderate Bolsheviks radical Rise of Lenin Ruthless, organized Fled to avoid arrest

Rasputin Siberian Monk Alexis’ health Influence over the Tzarina Assassinated by aristocrats December 1916

Provisional Government- March-November 1917 Alexander Kerensky Duma War continues Soviets [councils formed] Had more power than provision gov’t in most areas Czar abdicates—1 year later executed March Revolution 1917

Lenin - “Land, Peace, and Bread”

October Revolution 1917 [November in West ] Communists take over Confiscate church lands Farmland distributed to peasants Nationalize banks Takes control of the merchant marine Kerensky flees to Paris

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk 1918 Leon Trotsky Harsh terms Loss of 300,000 square miles and 50 million people Loss of iron and coal resources Anger among Russian people Now allies enemies of Russia

Civil War RedsWhites 14 million die in struggle and resulting famine Similar to French Revolution in that it used violence and terror to control the people

Soldiers pledging allegiance to the Communist party after the Revolution. Communist Party’s goal is worldwide spread of revolution

War Communism Marxist principles—entire economy under state direction Resulting in decline in Russia’s economy New Economic Policy (NEP) “temporary compromise with capitalism”

1922 U.S.S.R. Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

1924 Death of Lenin Struggle for Power Leon Trotsky Joseph Stalin others 1929 Trotsky exiled Stalin = one man rule

Stalin

5 Year Plan Set impossibly high quotas Limited consumer goods therefore shortages Appealed to nationalism Financed by collectivization

Collectivization Suppress the kulaks Mechanize agriculture

We will keep out kulaks from the collective farm

Purges

International Affairs Admitted to League of Nations 1934 Franco-Russian Alliance 1935 Russo-Czech Alliance 1935