The Russian Revolution

Causes of the Russian Revolution

1. Oppression of the Romanov Czars Romanov family ruled Russia Absolutely with total power Kept individual rights to a minimum People get tired of having no individual freedom

Nicholas II and w/family Anastasia Nicholas II and w/family

2. Industrialization of Russia As Russia industrialized in the late 1800s, workers were abused The gap between rich and poor widened The majority of Russian people were poor workers Czar Nicholas II did nothing to help the workers by way of reform

3. Russo-Japanese War 1904 Russia took on Japan for control of Korean Peninsula Embarrassing loss to the Czar (major upset) People begin to lose faith in his leadership

4. Bloody Sunday:1905 Revolution Workers and their families marched on Nick’s Winter Palace in St. Petersburg to protest poor working conditions, low wages, and an elected legislature One of Nick’s generals panicked and ordered open fire on the crowd killing and wounding over 1,000 (many were women and children)

Bloody Sunday Cont’d As a result Nick created Russia’s first Parliament called the Duma

5. World War I Nick refused to pull Russia out of the war Russia suffered the most casualties and people blamed Nick (kind of like Pres. Bush w/ Iraq, he is losing support as more men die)

6. Royal Ties to Rasputin A “fake” priest who claimed to have mystic powers Was befriended by Nick’s wife Alexandra because she believed he could help their son Alex who had hemophilia Was running the country through Alexandra while Nick was away conducting WWI Rasputin was despised by Russian people

7. The Bolshevik Movement Started by VI Lenin as an answer to Nicholas’ weak leadership Organized workers, soldiers, and farmers into groups called Soviets Spread Karl Marx ideas of communism Wanted to create a society where all people were equal – no rich and no poor Will ultimately overthrow Nicholas from power and turn Russia into a communist state