1. DO NOW What reason did Russia have for withdrawing from WWI?
Why do you think that reason happened?
What effect will this event have on Europe?

2. RUSSIA AND THE BOLSHEVIK REVOLUTION

3. THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: INTRODUCTION
Russia is a huge and complicated country, with a long and difficult history. In order to understand the events of the Russian Revolution, we need to understand how things got as bad as they did.
As we go through these slides, use the timeline as a notetaking guide. This will be useful for the rest of the unit!

4. THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: INTRODUCTION
Historians date the beginning of Russia back to the year 862.
For four hundred years, the early Russian people built up a Christian, European-like civilization.

5. THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: INTRODUCTION
In 1237, the Mongols took over Russia – ruling it for over two hundred years.
Russia started to fall behind Europe in every way.

6. THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: INTRODUCTION
By the 1500’s, Russia had kicked the Mongols out and begun to build up their nation again.
In order to hold this huge country together, many Russian rulers (known as Tsars) became cruel and harsh to their people.
Ivan the Terrible

7. THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: INTRODUCTION
In the eighteenth century, a Tsar named Peter the Great began a program of Westernization.
He built a navy, a new capital at St. Petersburg and he forced his nobles and other people to dress more like western Europeans.

8. THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: INTRODUCTION
Alexander I was Tsar of Russia from 1801 to 1825 (put this on the timeline).
He was convinced Russia was a major world power, and he built up the army to prove it.

9. THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: INTRODUCTION
In 1812, Napoleon Bonaparte led the Grande Armee into Russia. You should remember how that turned out…
Russia is now a major European power, but the majority of the people are still poor and not free at all.

10. THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: INTRODUCTION
Nicholas I was Tsar of Russia from 1825 to 1855.
He was terrified of revolution and started a secret police force to stamp out any talk of revolution or civil rights.

11. THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: INTRODUCTION
Between 1853 and 1856, Russia fought against Britain and France and the Ottoman Empire in the Crimean War.
Russia lost the war badly, and they realized that they needed to industrialize. The new Tsar would have to make some big changes.

12. THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: INTRODUCTION
Alexander II was Tsar of Russia from 1855 to 1881.
In 1861, Alexander signed an order which freed the serfs from their bondage. This was supposed to help Russia industrialize.
In 1881, Alexander II was assassinated by a group of radicals.

13. THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: INTRODUCTION
Alexander III was Tsar of Russia from 1881 to 1894.
He helped to industrialize Russia, but also persecuted Jews and non-Russian peoples.
His rule was harsh, since he feared assassination his entire life.

14. THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: INTRODUCTION
Nicholas II, the last Tsar of Russia ruled from 1894 to 1917.
Nicholas never wanted to be Tsar, and wasn’t very good at it.
In some ways, he is a bit like King Louis XVI of France. Remember him?

15. THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: INTRODUCTION
Nicholas II was unpopular, and when Japan challenged Russia over the ownership of a few Pacific islands, he decided to go to war.
Russia lost the Russo-Japanese War in This was an embarrassment to Russia and the Tsar and would lead to revolution…

16. THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: INTRODUCTION
After the humiliating loss, Russians marched on the capital asking for a representative government, better working conditions and fair wages.
The Tsar’s soldiers opened fire on the crowd in an event known as Bloody Sunday in 1905.
This is also known as the Revolution of 1905.

17. THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: INTRODUCTION
In 1914, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated starting a long chain of events which ended with Tsar Nicholas II pushing Russia into World War One.
Russia lost millions of men and the Tsar’s days were numbered…