Russian Revolution “Workers of the World Unite!”

Causes of the Revolution People were unhappy with the rule of the Romanov Czars Most people were poor peasants (serfs) Aristocrats had all of the power Peasants/serfs had to pay taxes and were uneducated Peasants had few rights and privileges The IR had not spread to Russia

Causes of the Revolution Russo-Japanese War was a humiliating defeat WWI brought great suffering to the Russian people Russia was unprepared for the German attack in 1914 Gov’t was weak and ineffective There were shortages of food, fuel, and housing Russian armies were defeated in battle – nearly 2 million died

The Revolution of 1917 Shortages caused riots and strikes Soldiers sent to stop the protests sided with the protesters Aristocrats and educated people joined the revolution against the czar Czar Nicholas II resigned from power Bolsheviks (Communists) took control of the gov’t and signed a peace treaty with Germany Nicolai Lenin became the first dictator of Communist Russia Communists organized the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)

Results of the Russian Revolution Communist gov’t took control of land, factories, mines, banks, and railroads Communist Party was the ONLY political party allowed in the Soviet Union Economy improved under the communists Bolsheviks thought the Russian Revolution would inspire other revolutions Communist gov’ts set up in Europe and Asia after WWII An early goal of communism was to end capitalism