Warm Up- Thursday 12/7 In your opinion, what was the biggest cause of WW1? Why? What countries were in the Triple Alliance? The Triple Entente? What countries were the Central Powers? What countries were the Allied Powers? What is one reason why the US joined WW1? How was WW1 different than other wars before it?

A Country Falls Apart as the World Fights Russian Revolution A Country Falls Apart as the World Fights

Background on Russia In 1800’s, Russian empire stretched from Europe to Pacific Ocean Very diverse, over 60 nationalities and 100 languages spoken Agricultural economy based on feudalism

Background cont… Peter the Great made absolute monarchy for the Romanov Dynasty 90% of Russians = farmers 80% = serfs (people permanently obligated to a landowner)---biggest problem in Russia 1861 serfs freed, Russia least developed country in Europe

Czar Nicholas II Final Russian Czar (ruled from 1894-1917) His son (Alexei) had hemophilia, relied on a mystic healer named Rasputin to keep his son alive Russian people believed Rasputin had WAY too much influence over Romanov family

Socialism Many Russians turned to the idea of Socialism- government takes control of the economy and protects workers and farmers Two socialist groups Mensheviks- develop industry and working class before socialist revolution Bolsheviks- want to use force to bring Socialism immediately

1905 Riots and strikes erupted across Russia with people demanding change Soviets- established by industries (Workers, peasants, and soldiers) to hear workers’ problems Czar Nicholas II responded by creating a duma- national legislature with elected officials and creating a constitutional monarchy

World War I Absolutely destroyed Russia Morale was low No food 25% of soldiers had no weapons 76% of army killed or wounded People blamed Czar and Rasputin for problems (Rasputin was controversially murdered)

March Revolution March 8-12, 1917- Riots begin The army not only refuses to stop the rebellion but joins in March 15- Czar Nicholas II abdicates, ending 300 year Romanov dynasty (whole family murdered in 1918 by revolutionaries)

Provisional Government Created and run by Alexander Kerenski (leader of the Duma) Rivaled by the Soviets, who wanted an immediate withdrawal from WWI, land to peasant, and control of factories to the workers Provisional government did not withdraw from WWI and the government and Kerenski began to lose support

Bolshevik Revolution Radical Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, thought this meant time was good to seize power Promised “peace, land, and bread” with Soviets as a model for the new government November 1917- led a coup d’etat called the Bolshevik Revolution Claimed absolute power and got rid of the Duma and created a socialist government Russia exits WWI

Communists Call themselves Communists after Karl Marx’s ideas (equal society with no need for government) Want to spread communism to the world March 1918- sign a peace with Germany wherein they give up lots of land and 1/3 of population (land that would be used to create new countries in Treaty of Versailles)

Everything is Awesome in Russia

Russian Civil War Fought from 1918-1921 between Communists (Reds) and Democratic Leaders of Duma (Whites) Allies supported the Whites because they needed Russia to come back and join WWI Red leaders Lenin and Leon Trotsky used force to defeat the democrats

Lenin Fixes Country In 1921 he introduced New Economy Policy (NEP) NEP permitted some capitalist activity Peasants could sell food at profit Tried to encourage badly needed food production Russia reunited with several neighboring lands and become Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)—dominated by Communist leadership

Communist Control Used “war communism”- direct control of industry and food supply, executing czar and his family, arresting and murdering political opponents Lenin had a plan to revitalize Russia, however he died in 1924 Trotsky and Josef Stalin fought for control of Russia, Stalin won Stalin announced 5-Year Plan to bring agriculture and industry under control