The Russian Revolution

Essential Question What events and people helped cause the Russian Revolution? What events and people helped cause the Russian Revolution?

Causes Russian economy is weak/no food Russian economy is weak/no food Tsar Nicholas II an ineffective leader Tsar Nicholas II an ineffective leader Bloody Sunday – people lose faith in the Tsar Bloody Sunday – people lose faith in the Tsar Provisional Govt stays in the war Provisional Govt stays in the war Russia is losing the war with Germany Russia is losing the war with Germany

Was Tsar Nicholas an effective leader

March 1917 Revolution Nicholas II abdicates in March 1917 Nicholas II abdicates in March 1917 Duma establishes a provisional government – democracy Duma establishes a provisional government – democracy Continues the war – mistake Continues the war – mistake –Provisional government loses support

Causes Bloody Sunday – people lose faith in the Tsar Bloody Sunday – people lose faith in the Tsar Tsar Nicholas II was an ineffective leader Tsar Nicholas II was an ineffective leader Russian economy was weak/small Russian economy was weak/small Russia was losing the war (militarily and economically) Russia was losing the war (militarily and economically) Provisional Govt stays in the war Provisional Govt stays in the war

Other things at work

November Revolution Provisional Government overthrown by radicals Provisional Government overthrown by radicals –Bolsheviks (communists) led by Vladimir Lenin –Promises “peace, land, and bread” Pulls Russia out of the war Pulls Russia out of the war Establishes the Soviet Union Establishes the Soviet Union

Murder of the royal family

Background Before 1917, Russia was controlled by a tsar (king) Before 1917, Russia was controlled by a tsar (king) –Autocracy – absolute rule The Russian Economy The Russian Economy –Not fully industrialized, but in the process

Tsar Nicholas II Family man Family man Devout Devout Paternal Paternal Indecisive Indecisive –Would have preferred not to be the tsar Overall, not an effective leader Overall, not an effective leader

Pre-War Years: Russia slowly industrializes Russia slowly industrializes –Horrible working conditions in factories –Working class not happy –Workers seek change

Revolution of 1905 Bloody Sunday Bloody Sunday –200,000 workers marched in St. Petersburg –Brought a petition to the Tsar’s palace –Chaos ensues and troops open fire –Several hundred are killed –Tsar loses support –Nicholas agrees to a Duma (congress)

Russia in WWI Economy not prepared Economy not prepared –Lack of supplies Suffers heavy casualties and many defeats Suffers heavy casualties and many defeats People begin to riot because of food shortages People begin to riot because of food shortages Eventually army turns on Tsar Eventually army turns on Tsar

Other things at work

March 1917 Revolution Nicholas II abdicates in March 1917 Nicholas II abdicates in March 1917 Duma establishes a provisional government – democracy Duma establishes a provisional government – democracy Continues the war – mistake Continues the war – mistake –Provisional government loses support

November Revolution Provisional Government overthrown by radicals Provisional Government overthrown by radicals –Bolsheviks (communists) led by Vladimir Lenin –Promises “peace, land, and bread” Pulls Russia out of the war Pulls Russia out of the war –Germany can now focus on the Western Front Establish the Soviet Union Establish the Soviet Union

Murder of the royal family

EQ: How did Lenin and the Bolsheviks change Russia?

Lenin’s Russia Russia becomes the Soviet Union Russia becomes the Soviet Union New Capital – Moscow New Capital – Moscow Treaty with Germany to end the war Treaty with Germany to end the war –Russia lost land Distributes farmland to peasants Distributes farmland to peasants Workers control factories Workers control factories Communists/Bolsheviks control government and average person has little freedom Communists/Bolsheviks control government and average person has little freedom

Russian Civil War 1917 – – 1922 Red Army (under Lenin and the Bolsheviks) vs White Army (those who opposed the Bolsheviks) Red Army (under Lenin and the Bolsheviks) vs White Army (those who opposed the Bolsheviks) 10 million die 10 million die Red Army eventually wins Red Army eventually wins