1. Russian Revolution

2. Russian Government Before Revolution
Monarchy: The Czar (Tsar)
Until 1905 the Tsar's powers were unlimited.
Russia had no constitution,
No political party system to check the Tsar's power
A strong secret police which terrorized the people.

3. Royal Background Nicholas II
Created the first secret police in Russia, brutal leader.

4. Czar Alexander II
He implemented important reforms, notably the abolition of serfdom.
In 1867, he sold Alaska and the Aleutian Islands to the United States.
Killed by the Revolutionary Group: The People’s Will

5. Czar Alexander III
Alexander III's reign was during an industrial revolution in Russia .
His reign was harsh, against revolutionaries and other liberal movements.

6. Czar Nicholas II (1894) Last Czar of Russia
Nicholas II was a harsh and weak ruler
The Russian economy was bankrupt because of the Russo-Japanese War and WWI Russia’s entry into WWI became very unpopular.

7. Russia and World War I Russia declares war on Austria-Hungary
War becomes unpopular
Rationing leads to starvation
Nicholas II leaves St. Petersburg to war front

8. March Revolution (1917)
1917- protests spread through St. Petersburg and the Royal palace is taken over.
Czar abdicates
Provisional government (Duma) takes control lead by Alexander Keresnky
Provisional government unpopular after decision to stay in WWI

9. October (Bolshevik) Revolution-1917
Lead by VI Lenin “Peace, Land, and Bread”
Won support of people (especially peasants)

10. 1918
1918 March The Bolsheviks accept the peace of Brest‑Litovsk, ending WWI with Germany.

11. Rule of Lenin
Economic Reforms included the New Economic Plan (NEP)
-moderate mix of capitalism and socialism
Political Reforms
-Bolshevik party became Communist Party
-Russia becomes the United Soviet Socialist Republics

13. Communism A Form of Socialism
Central Planning of the Economy by the State
Gov’t (Communist Party) makes decisions on individual jobs and pay

14. 1924 Lenin Dies Power Vaccuum Leon Trotsky vs. Joseph Stalin
Stalin takes control
Now must decide how he will maintain power
Decides to create a totalitarian state

16. Characteristics of a Totalitarian State
Dictatorship- Absolute Authority
Dynamic Leader- Vision for the nation
State Control Over All Sectors of Society
Business, Family Life, Labor, youth groups, housing, religion, education, the arts
State Control Over the Individual
Obedience
Denies basic liberties
Organized Violence
Uses force to crush opposition

17. Stalin’s Totalitarian State
State Control of the Economy
5 year plan, collective farms
Police Terror
Great Purge, crush opposition
Religious Persecution
Control of the individual
Propaganda (socialist realism)
Molding peoples minds
Education
Controlled by the government

20. Nikita Khrushchev Supporter of Stalin’s Purges
Came to Power after Stalin’s Death. Led until 1964.
Met Alexander Solzhenitsyn, the author of Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich.
Although Russia still oppressive, some reforms were clearly on the way…

21. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Russian novelist, whose work was suppressed while he lived in Russia.
Fierce critic of totalitarianism
Brought worldwide attention (and acclaim) for One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, based on his own experiences in the Soviet Union’s forced labor camp system under Stalin