RUSSIAN REVOLUTION 1 1.Why did the Czarist regime fail? 2.How did the Bolsheviks eventually come to power?

Who ruled Russia? The Romanov dynasty ruled for 300 yrs. (1613 – 1917) If Czar was overthrown, industrial workers could govern Russia 2 Nicholas II Alexandra

Why was there a lack in confidence in the Czar? Russia was totally unprepared for war Russia lacked: –factories/supplies –transportation system –modern equipment –competent military leader –Lack of food –Inflation went up –Wages didn’t 3

WW I – – Nicholas II took command of Russian military IF RUSSIA FAILS, SO TOO WOULD NICHOLAS II 4 Czar Nicholas II hoped war would unite Russia & stop talks of revolution patriotism increased Rapidly

WWI Conditions Worsen As food & goods grew scarce peasants grew desperate Nicholas at the front Czarina left in charge (unpopular) Alexandra took advice from Rasputin (corrupt/immoral) A Russian peasant and self- proclaimed mystic / holy man who gained significant influence over Tsar wife Grigory Rasputin- “The Mad Monk” 5

Suffered from life threatening illness Hemophilia is rare bleeding disorder in which the blood doesn’t clot normally. Rasputin – Stopped the bleeding 6 Alexis

Revolution Begins March 8, 1917 – Petrograd Unhappy citizens marched through the city Czar – ordered troop to break up demonstrations (shoot) Police & soldiers were sympathetic (refused) The Duma – (Russia’s legislature) defied Nicholas II met anyway 7 Russian workers striking

Provisional Government The Duma – established temporary government Urged Czar to step down Alexander Kerensky March 15, 1917 – Riots protesting the shortage of food forced the Czar to abdicate Czar Nicholas II 8

Provisional Government mid-1917 – Kerensky’s provisional government decided to carry on the war Russian army was weak & collapsed 9

Bolsheviks & V.I. Lenin Founder of the Bolshevik Party First leader of the Soviet Union. Spent most of the early 20 th century living in exile (primarily Britain and Switzerland). Devout follower of Marxism Believed that once a Communist revolution took place in Russia, Communism would spread rapidly around the world. He returned to Russia in April 1917 and orchestrated the October Revolution that turned Russia into a Communist state. 10

October Revolution November 1917 – Bolshevik seized The Winter Palace Kerensky’s government didn’t put up much of a fight Lenin established radical communist program Promised PEACE LAND AND BREAD –private ownership = illegal –land redistributed to peasants 11

After the Revolution Lenin wanted to end involvement in war Leon Trotsky was sent to negotiate with Central Powers Russia lost much land to Central Powers in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk 12

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Civil War Some Russians disliked the negotiations & their results opponents of Bolsheviks = “White Army” France & United States supported White Army RED ARMY vs. WHITE ARMY –fighting & famine cost millions of lives late 1920 – Bolsheviks triumph 1921 – New Economic Policy: plan permitting some capitalist activity 14

The Soviet Union 1922 – economy began to improve 1922 – Russia reunited with neighboring lands that had belonged to Russian Empire Became Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) or Soviet Union 15