Revolutions in Russia Chapter 14, Section 1

Russian Revolutions It took some time, but everyone knew it was coming 1917, revolution hits The Czars were cruel and oppressive Overall, poor/dumb leaders

Alexander III Upholds the Autocracy 1881 Alexander III takes over He stops all reforms that his father started Anyone who: Questioned authority Worshiped outside the Russian Orthodox Church Spoke a language other than Russian Was considered dangerous

Alexander III Upholds the Autocracy Strict censorship codes Had secret police: They kept a close eye on schools Why? Political prisoners were exiled to Siberia Oppression of other ethnic groups in Russia (and there are many) Pogroms – organized violence against Jews

Nicholas II Resists Change 1894 Nicholas II takes over He also wants complete control Problem: Times were changing, and the czars never did Think technological advances

Economic Growth and Its Impact Number of factories doubled from 1863-1900 Despite this Russia lagged behind industrialized Europe Sergey Witte minister to the Czar built up Russia’s economy through higher taxes and foreign investment He also pushed for the building of the Trans-Siberian Railway

Revolution Movement Grows With the growth of industries = growth of problems Grueling work conditions Low wages Child labor Strikes occurred regularly The gap between rich and poor was enormous Many revolutionary groups grew out of this turmoil

Revolution Movement Grows And they competed against each other for power The group that wins was the group that followed the teachings of Karl Marx They are called the Russian Marxists, they split into two groups in 1903 Mensheviks – wanted a large movement, everyone involved Bolsheviks – a select few would rise to the top of the revolution and their leader… LENIN

Crises at Home and Abroad Revolutionaries did not have to wait long for the Czars power to be called into question 1904 to 1917 would give them plenty to challenge the Czar’s rule

The Russo-Japanese War In the late 1800s Russia and Japan were imperialist powers Both wanted Korea and Manchuria They signed treaties but Russia broke both Japan, in retaliation, attacked Russia in Manchuria in 1904 Japan won, which was a big shock to Russia, and unrest begins at home (Russia)

Bloody Sunday: Revolution of 1905 January 22, 1905 200,000 workers and the families marched on the Czar’s Winter Palace. They were asking for better conditions for the workers The chief of police order soldiers to fire on the people 500-1,000 unarmed people were killed Lenin called it a “dress rehearsal” for the later revolution

Bloody Sunday This provoked a wave of violence and protest across the country Czar Nicholas opposed reform but in 1905 he promised more freedom (to stop the revolution) Duma – created by Czar Nicholas, was the first Russian parliament The first Duma met in May 1906 called for a constitutional monarchy (like Britain) Czar Nicholas did not want to share power so… he did away with the Duma

WWI: Final Blow In 1914 Czar Nicholas brought Russia into WWI Big Mistake They could not handle the military and economic cost The Czar moved to the front in 1915 leaving his wife to run the government And odd things happen

Rasputin Czarina Alexandra ignored the czar’s chief advisers Instead she listened to a mysterious figure Rasputin He claimed to have magical powers Because Rasputin had helped the family Alexandra allowed Rasputin to make key decisions in gov. Corruption runs ramped and soon the people hate Rasputin and the Czarist regime even more

The March Revolution March 1917 a woman lead strike takes over Petrograd More riots because of shortages of necessary goods 200,000 people in the streets At first soldiers shoot the rioters but then sided with them This is the end for the Czar

Czar Steps Down Local protest lead to a national uprising Czar Nicholas II abdicate his throne One year later the Czar and his family is killed by the revolution However, there is no powerful government Provisional governments pop up Temporary governments The concept of Soviets emerge and soon become powerful

Lenin Returns to Russia The Germans launch a secret weapon in 1917… Lenin Lenin returns and he challenges the power of the provisional governments Lenin would take down Russia from the inside allowing Germany to stop fighting them IT WORKED

The Bolshevik Revolution Lenin’s group of followers is called the Bolsheviks They took power (think coup d'état) The people they want to have on their side…Soviets (soviet is a worker, peasant, soldier lead city consul) Lenin’s slogan “Peace, Land, and Bread” what the people wanted

The Provisional Government Topples November 1917 Bolshevik Red Guards stormed the Winter Palace They took over the gov. and arrested the leaders The Bolshevik Revolution was over in a matter of hours Kerensky (leader of provisional gov) was gone as fast as the Czar

Bolsheviks in Power Lenin takes on the “old” problems First: all farm land is redistributed to the people Second: the gov. gives control of factories to the workers Third: Russia signs a trace with Germany (Peace) The truce with Germany coat Russia lost of land and the people were not happy

Civil War Rages in Russia Bolsheviks now need to stomp out their enemies The White Army (main opposition) Lead by Leon Trotsky the Bolsheviks Red Army 1918-1920 civil war rages The U.S. and other western nations send help to the White Army 15 million would die in the revolution and famine that followed

Lenin restores Order After the Red Army wins the Civil War many problems need to be dealt with The economy is in the tanks Two reforms: Economic policy Political

Economic Reforms March 1921, Lenin launched the New Economic Policy (NEP) Russia returned to small scale capitalism (the one thing he was against) If there is surplus the farmers could sell it, before they would have to turn it into the gov. Big business was controlled by the gov. but the smaller business were private (BIG CHANGE)

Political Reform Different nationalities within Russia caused problems Lenin instituted a policy like the States in the U.S.A. These republics (states) answered to the central government but they could also govern themselves 1922 the USSR is born (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)

Political Reform Bolsheviks become the Communist party (thanks Marx) Communism to Lenin = classless society A constitution is formed but the power lies with the party not the people Dictatorship is formed By 1928 Russia is back to pre WWI production In 1924 Lenin dies and power is up for grabs.