RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

INTRODUCTION An early revolution was attempted in It failed, but Czar Nicholas II granted limited reforms and created an elected legislature (Duma) Czar Nicholas was an autocratic ruler (relied on military/bureaucracy to hold up regime) Unprepared for total war of WWI

RUSSIAN REVOLUTION In 1917, the czar’s soldiers refused to fire on striking workers that were protesting food shortages. Nicholas gave up his throne, and the Duma declared Russia a republic. Rebels created a new provisional government but the people did not support it because they would not withdraw from the war.

RUSSIAN REVOLUTION The Bolsheviks, led by V.I. Lenin, created a new Russian Social Democratic party and eventually started a violent revolution seizing power in October of 1917 The Bolsheviks promised “Peace, Bread and Land” – peace to the soldiers, bread to the workers, and land to the peasants In March 1918, signed treaty with Germany ending war on the Eastern Front and throwing Russia into civil war Communists were in total command of Russia by 1921