1. Warm Up- Thursday 12/7
In your opinion, what was the biggest cause of WW1? Why?
What countries were in the Triple Alliance? The Triple Entente?
What countries were the Central Powers? What countries were the Allied Powers?
What is one reason why the US joined WW1?
How was WW1 different than other wars before it?

2. A Country Falls Apart as the World Fights
Russian Revolution
A Country Falls Apart as the World Fights

3. Background on Russia
In 1800’s, Russian empire stretched from Europe to Pacific Ocean
Very diverse, over 60 nationalities and 100 languages spoken
Agricultural economy based on feudalism

4. Background cont…
Peter the Great made absolute monarchy for the Romanov Dynasty
90% of Russians = farmers
80% = serfs (people permanently obligated to a landowner)---biggest problem in Russia
1861 serfs freed, Russia least developed country in Europe

5. Czar Nicholas II Final Russian Czar (ruled from 1894-1917)
His son (Alexei) had hemophilia, relied on a mystic healer named Rasputin to keep his son alive
Russian people believed Rasputin had WAY too much influence over Romanov family

7. Socialism
Many Russians turned to the idea of Socialism- government takes control of the economy and protects workers and farmers
Two socialist groups
Mensheviks- develop industry and working class before socialist revolution
Bolsheviks- want to use force to bring Socialism immediately

8. 1905
Riots and strikes erupted across Russia with people demanding change
Soviets- established by industries (Workers, peasants, and soldiers) to hear workers’ problems
Czar Nicholas II responded by creating a duma- national legislature with elected officials and creating a constitutional monarchy

9. World War I Absolutely destroyed Russia Morale was low No food
25% of soldiers had no weapons
76% of army killed or wounded
People blamed Czar and Rasputin for problems (Rasputin was controversially murdered)

10. March Revolution March 8-12, 1917- Riots begin
The army not only refuses to stop the rebellion but joins in
March 15- Czar Nicholas II abdicates, ending 300 year Romanov dynasty (whole family murdered in 1918 by revolutionaries)

11. Provisional Government
Created and run by Alexander Kerenski (leader of the Duma)
Rivaled by the Soviets, who wanted an immediate withdrawal from WWI, land to peasant, and control of factories to the workers
Provisional government did not withdraw from WWI and the government and Kerenski began to lose support

12. Bolshevik Revolution
Radical Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, thought this meant time was good to seize power
Promised “peace, land, and bread” with Soviets as a model for the new government
November led a coup d’etat called the Bolshevik Revolution
Claimed absolute power and got rid of the Duma and created a socialist government
Russia exits WWI

13. Communists
Call themselves Communists after Karl Marx’s ideas (equal society with no need for government)
Want to spread communism to the world
March sign a peace with Germany wherein they give up lots of land and 1/3 of population (land that would be used to create new countries in Treaty of Versailles)

14. Everything is Awesome in Russia

16. Russian Civil War
Fought from between Communists (Reds) and Democratic Leaders of Duma (Whites)
Allies supported the Whites because they needed Russia to come back and join WWI
Red leaders Lenin and Leon Trotsky used force to defeat the democrats

17. Lenin Fixes Country In 1921 he introduced New Economy Policy (NEP)
NEP permitted some capitalist activity
Peasants could sell food at profit
Tried to encourage badly needed food production
Russia reunited with several neighboring lands and become Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)—dominated by Communist leadership

19. Communist Control
Used “war communism”- direct control of industry and food supply, executing czar and his family, arresting and murdering political opponents
Lenin had a plan to revitalize Russia, however he died in 1924
Trotsky and Josef Stalin fought for control of Russia, Stalin won
Stalin announced 5-Year Plan to bring agriculture and industry under control