The Decline and Fall of the Romanov Dynasty in Russia

The Last 5 Tsars Alexander I Nicholas I Alexander II Alexander III 1801-1825 Alexander I 1825-1855 Nicholas I 1855-1881 Alexander II 1881-1894 Alexander III 1894-1917 Nicholas II

Alexander I (ruled 1801-1825) Grandson of Catherine the Great Inherited throne after father (Paul I) murdered Ruled Russia during the Napoleonic wars Expanded Russian empire with Finland and part of Poland Initially introduced reforms but later took these back Died of typhus

Nicholas I (ruled 1825-1855) Younger brother of Alexander I Decembrist Revolt (1825) Attempted coup after Nicholas I’s older brother, Constantine, declined the throne (after Alexander I died of typhus) Nicholas I’s reaction set the tone for his firm rule of Russia Highly reactionary Principles of “Autocracy, Orthodoxy, and Nationality” Feared nobles’ reaction to potential reforms, such as abolishing serfdom

Alexander II (ruled 1855-1881) Crimean War (1853-1856) Reforms Loss of war prompted military modernization Universal military conscription Reforms Allowed for early form of corporations (LLCs) 1861—emancipated the serfs Police force Local self-government (zemstvo) Had finished plans for a duma the day before his assassination Assassination Attempts in 1866, 1879, 1880 1881—bomb set by members of Narodnaya Volya (People’s Will), a nihilist group

Alexander III (ruled 1881-1894) Along with his son, the future Nicholas II, he witnessed Alexander II’s assassination Anti-Semitism—blamed Jews for his father’s assassination May Laws (1882)—harsh restrictions on all Jews Pogroms—led to Jewish immigration to the U.S. and elsewhere Film reference: “Fiddler on the Roof” Return to principles of “Nationality, Autocracy, and Orthodoxy” Put local control in the hands of appointed officials Secret police Strict censorship Political prisoners exiled to Siberia Died of kidney disease at age 49

Nicholas II (ruled 1894-1917) Married Alexandra, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria of Great Britain Their son, Alexei, was a hemophiliac Treated by the “mad monk” Grigori Rasputin Completed the Great Siberian Railway Port at Vladivostok in the east Russians have historically sought warm-water ports Rejected calls for democratic reforms Last Russian tsar Executed along with his wife and children in 1918

Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905) Imperial rivalry between Japan and Russia over Korea and Manchuria Japanese surprise attack at Port Arthur, Manchuria First modern defeat in war of a European power by a non-European power Treaty of Portsmouth (1905) Russians left Manchuria Japan gained recognition of Korea as part of its sphere of influence (i.e., imperialism) Japan gained the southern half of Sakhalin Island

Russian Revolution of 1905 Among long-standing complaints, the people were unhappy over Russia’s defeat in the Russo-Japanese War Bloody Sunday (January, 1905) Peaceful protesters, led by a priest named Gapon, marched on the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg with a petition Shot at by tsar’s forces 92 dead and hundreds wounded

Russian Duma August, 1905—Duma organized as an advisory body But this wasn’t well received October Manifesto Legislative powers for the Duma and civil liberties for the people Nicholas II repeatedly butted heads with the Duma Socialists and revolutionaries kept winning seats

World War I and 1917 Revolution Russians joined with Great Britain and France to fight the Germans and Austrians Russian army suffered terrible losses due to outdated equipment and poor leadership Tsar came to the front to lead troops, leaving Tsarina Alexandra to rule Tsarina disliked Foreign heritage Influence of Rasputin 1917 These factors, along with food shortages and general discontent, led to full-scale revolution Russia withdrew from World War I Civil war in Russia over which group would rule Russia Tsar and his family assassinated by Bolsheviks in 1918

March Revolution (1917) 1917- protests spread through St. Petersburg and the Royal palace is taken over. Czar abdicates Provisional government (Duma) takes control lead by Alexander Keresnky Provisional government unpopular after decision to stay in WWI

October (Bolshevik) Revolution-1917 Lead by VI Lenin “Peace, Land, and Bread” Won support of people (especially peasants)

1918 1918 March The Bolsheviks accept the peace of Brest‑Litovsk, ending WWI with Germany.

1919-1920 1919 White Armies (Royal and Menshevik troops) attack the Reds (Bolsheviks) from all directions. 1920- Reds defeat Whites

Rule of Lenin 1920-1924 Economic Reforms included the New Economic Plan (NEP) -moderate mix of capitalism and socialism Political Reforms -Bolshevik party became Communist Party -Russia becomes the United Soviet Socialist Republics

Communism A Form of Socialism Central Planning of the Economy by the State Gov’t (Communist Party) makes decisions on individual jobs and pay

1924 Lenin Dies Power Vaccuum Leon Trotsky vs. Joseph Stalin Stalin takes control Now must decide how he will maintain power Decides to create a totalitarian state

Characteristics of a Totalitarian State Dictatorship- Absolute Authority Dynamic Leader- Vision for the nation State Control Over All Sectors of Society Business, Family Life, Labor, youth groups, housing, religion, education, the arts State Control Over the Individual Obedience Denies basic liberties Organized Violence Uses force to crush opposition

Stalin’s Totalitarian State State Control of the Economy 5 year plan, collective farms Police Terror Great Purge, crush opposition Religious Persecution Control of the individual Propaganda (socialist realism) Molding peoples minds Education Controlled by the government