The Russian Revolution From Tsar Nicholas II to V.I. Lenin

Tsar Nicholas II-1894 Shy, quiet man absolute ruler, naïve to dissatisfaction Tsarina: Alexandra drive to industrialize brought problems Dissent NOT tolerated

Many questioned the Tsar Russia politically unstable  Liberals wanted a democratic gov’t  Minorities wanted independence  Peasants wanted land, workers - better conditions  Military lost Russo- Japanese war in 1904

Bloody Sunday- Jan. 22, 1905 Father Gapon leads peaceful protest Winter Palace Tsar’s guards kill hundreds

1905 Revolution News of Bloody Sunday spreads quickly Revolts and strikes spread Widespread spontaneous nature of rebellion reflects deep resentment and frustration

October Manifesto  Freedom of conscience, speech assembly and press  Tsar creates Duma (Congress)  All laws approved by Duma  Reforms are shortlived

Russia in WWI  Russia honors alliance- joins Allies  Tsar Nicholas II takes personal command of army  Army suffers staggering defeats  Discontent of soldiers, peasants, workers

Rasputin’s infuence l Tsar’s son, Alexi (heir)born with hemophilia l Romanov’s heavily influenced by “holy man” l Created scandal for the Tsar l Killed by Russian nobles

“February Revolution” Provisional Govt-March 1917 Women’s march for “bread and peace” turns into revolt  Petrograd Soviet leads workers’ revolution  Tsar Nicholas II abdicates  Duma forms the Provisional Government  Provisional Gov’t stays in WWI- big mistake!

The Soviets-1917 l As early as 1905, radicals organized workers, peasants and soldiers into Soviets= councils l In the confusion created by the February Revolution, socialists reconvene the Soviets

Lenin’s New View of Karl Marx- l Lenin adapted Marxist ideas to fit Russian conditions l Named his followers Bolsheviks l Advocated Revolution!

Lenin: “Peace, Land, Bread!”- April 3, 1917 l Exiled in 1898 for forming Russia’s first Marxist party l Germany gives him safe passage to Russia l Bold speeches! l Down with the provisional govt l Peace, land and bread! All power to the Soviets!

Bolshevik Revolution- Oct 25,1917  Red Guards= best trained and organized revolutionary forces  Red Guards, under Trotsky (Bolshevik), overthrow Provisional Government  Lenin proclaims a Bolshevik state!

Civil War in Russia  Lenin proclaims Russia a socialist state, nationalizes all land  Treaty of Brest- Litovsk (peace with Germany)  Civil War between “Reds” and “Whites” (anti-communists) eventually won by Lenin and the Bolsheviks

A Costly Triumph l WWI: lost 1/4 population; millions of casualties; billions spent l Civil war: the loss of millions to death, injury and immigration and the destruction of property l 1921: wages 1/10 prewar levels; inflation over 1000% l Western nations blockade Russia l Lenin concerned new socialist experiment would fail

Lenin Builds a Communist State-1921 l The Soviet Union Lenin creates “New Economic Policy” NEP  NEP helps jump start economy with small scale –capitalism  Central govt kept control of major industries Communist party introduced measures to bring about a classless society.