The Russian Revolution: Tsars, Communists and Mad Men

Tsar Nicholas Romanov II (The Last Emperor of Russia” Russians become tired of harsh rule by the Tsar and his family. Tsar Nicholas II and his family lived the life of luxury while their people starved and died. Nicholas II refused to provide for the military in WWI because it would cut into his personal spending of money. Russia will lose more lives than any other country. In 1917, a rebellion in Russia begins with the people against the government, the people are led by Vladimir Lenin the leader of the Bolsheviks In 1918, while hiding for their lives in a secret location, the Romanovs are asked to sit for a family portrait – this was a trap and everyone was killed. Everyone except one of the daughters

Grigori Rasputin A peasant at birth, worked his way into Russian upper society by claiming to be a “magic faith healer” Very trusted and protected by the Romanov family and given permission to do almost anything he wanted as long as he protected the Tsar He saved the life of a royal child (giving her aspirin to prevent clotting) and his legend grew as a healing witch doctor During WWI he “advises” the Tsar on how to manage the military with horrific results Assassination attempts start in 1914 and fail until finally he is killed in 1916

The Rise of Communism Marx and Engels In 1848, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels published the Communist Manifesto, which called on workers of the world to overthrow and kill anyone that got rich at the expense of the workers. He suggested that everything should be equal amongst the people so that no one rises above the other, and through equality of every resource the poor will become the powerful. This led to the creation of the communist party in Russia Vladimir Lenin Russia's successful communist revolution was not the result of Vladimir Lenin's charismatic leadership. Though born into a wealthy middle class in 1870, Lenin became involved in worker and revolutionary politics while at university, and eventually became a prominent Marxist intellectual who wrote books and pamphlets criticized the capitalist order. Lenin's charisma would in 1903 help him become leader of the Bolsheviks, the radical faction in Russia's communist party that would ultimately establish communism in Russia in 1917. He will later order the death of the Tsar’s family and assume control of the government. The October Revolution In February of 1917, a revolution in Russia overthrew the Tsar and installed a temporary government led by the several parties including the communists. Lenin, in exile in Switzerland at the time, returned to Russia and with his status and charisma helped start a second revolution, known as the October Revolution, which overthrew the moderate democratic government and put the Bolsheviks in power. Lenin has orchestrated the entire event and now rules Russia with an Iron fist. Lenin and Stalin Josef Stalin had worked for the Bolshevik Party for almost 20 years before being named Lenin’s under-secretary. Once in the powerful position, Stalin begins to disagree with Lenin and suggests that more harsh tactics should be used to control the people and strengthen the party. Lenin now feels threatened by Stalin and begins to criticize him in public. The two have a major fall out and control of the party is questioned. Lenin dies in 1924 and as his final act of insult, Stalin organizes Lenin’s funeral before taking control of the communist party.