Eve of Revolution in Russia

Setting the Stage The Russian Revolution was like a firecracker with a very long fuse. The explosion came in 1917, yet the fuse had been burning for nearly a century. The cruel, oppressive rule of most 19 th Century czars caused widespread social unrest for decades. Army officers revolted in Secret revolutionary groups plotted to overthrow the government. In 1881, revolutionaries angry over the slow pace of political change assassinated the reform-minded czar, Alexander II. Russia was heading toward a full scale revolution. -World History: Patterns of Interaction

Czarist Rule Czars wanted to continue autocratic rule Resisted reforms using harsh tactics Characteristics: –Censorship –Secret Police –Oppression of nationalist groups –Pogroms- violence against Jews

Russian Industrialization Russia was behind western nations Worked to increase production of steel Constructed Trans-Siberian Railroad connected eastern and western Russia

Revolutionary Movement Grows Industrialization brought social problems similar to those faced in Europe earlier Poor conditions for workers gave rise to Revolutionaries like Marxists –Wanted workers (proletariat) to rise up against the Czar 1903 split between revolutionaries –Bolsheviks (Lenin) more radical of the two –Lenin fled to Europe to avoid arrest in Russia

Russo-Japanese War Late 1800s Russia competed with Japan for control of Korea and Manchuria Russia and Japan fought each other Russian losses led to civil revolts

Bloody Sunday (1905) 200,000 workers protested outside the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg Workers wanted better working conditions, more personal freedoms, and a national legislature Czar Nicholas II’s troops opened fire on the peaceful protesters Wave of strikes and violence erupted across Russia

World War I 1914 Russia joined war against Germany –Unprepared and under equipped to fight Russians lost battle after battle and death toll mounted Lack of food and fuel shortages Soldiers began to mutiny on front lines People of Russia lost all faith in Czar Nicholas and his wife Alexandria