REVOLUTION IN RUSSIA: 1917 March & November

Brief History of Russia For centuries, the czars of Russia tried to make their country into a unified nation & a world power. Despite riches of the court, by the 1900s Russia was one of the most autocratic, least developed nations in the world. When Czar Nicholas II assumed power in 1894, he was anxious for Russia to compete with the rest of Europe.

NICHOLAS II TRIES “REFORM” A program was launched to build the Trans-Siberian Railroad. Iron & steel industries boomed. However, rapid industrialization caused turmoil with Russia people. Poor wages and working conditions caused unrest in Russia, where agriculture had been primary income source.

REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENTS GROW Revolutionary and reform movements began to grow—one of the most popular groups would call themselves the Bolsheviks, who were followers of the philosophy of Karl Marx. Remember, Marx believed in an overthrow of the wealthy/government leaders by workers—and a state in which the workers would rule. The Bolsheviks hoped to overthrow the czar.

A Leader Emerges Nicholas II saw the leader of the Bolsheviks—Lenin—as a threat, and exiled him just before WWI. BIG IDEA: Before WWI, Russians were discontent with living and working conditions, and looking for change.

WORLD WAR I Russian losses in World War I highlighted Russia’s weaknesses and caused further unrest at home. Nicholas II decided to go to the front with the troops - leaving the country to be run by his wife and advisers – which did NOT work out.

LONG-TERM CAUSES OF THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION Discontent with early industrialization Peasants were barely surviving Inefficient government World War I defeats General backwardness

SHORT TERM CAUSE OF RUSSIAN REVOLUTION March 1917, women riot over bread shortages—soldiers ordered to shoot rioters shoot their officers instead!

THE MARCH REVOLUTION (Step 1) The army and people joined in a general strike Czar Nicholas II stepped down from power A new provisional government was established. This marks the END of czarist rule in Russia!!

THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT—Kerensky Promised individual rights. Did not get Russia out of WWI. Did not solve the food problem. Tremendous discontent in Russia.

LENIN RETURNS TO RUSSIA The Germans helped to smuggle Lenin back from exile into Russia by train because he promised to get Russia out of the war. Lenin addresses the crowds after his return

PEACE, BREAD, LAND: THE NOVEMBER REVOLUTION (Step 2) Lenin and the Bolsheviks topple the Provisional Government The world’s first communist government established under Lenin.

THE TREATY OF BREST-LITOVSK True to his promise, Lenin negotiated the treaty to get Russia out of the war

LENIN MUST RESTORE ORDER TO RUSSIA The New Economic Policy allowed limited capitalism on a very small scale. The purpose was to rejuvenate the economy. Self-governing republics became the U.S.S.R. Lenin established a dictatorship of the Communist Party. Propaganda Poster for New Economic Policy

STALIN TAKES POWER Joseph Stalin took over USSR after death of Lenin He was a vicious, paranoid, violent totalitarian dictator Under Stalin, Russians had no freedom

STALIN’S FIVE YEAR PLANS Command economy to promote rapid industrial and military growth The government controlled all aspects of the economy Propaganda poster for Five Year Plans

STALIN’S COLLECTIVE FARMS The government seized 25 million private farms and made them into huge government run collective farms. Peasants resisted 5-10 million peasants died of famine

TOTALITARIANISM UNDER STALIN Secret Police Great Purge – elimination of all political rivals. The director of the Moscow Zoo was arrested because the monkeys got sick! Censorship

TOTALITARIANISM IN CHINA A similar pattern was followed in China when MAO ZEDONG instituted a totalitarian Communist Party in China The people were sacrificed in huge numbers for the good of the state.