1. French Revolution Russian Revolution Causes Causes
Spread of Enlightenment ideas of natural rights
Huge government debt
Poor harvests and famine
Social inequalities among the three estates
3rd estate (bourgeoisie and peasants) paid all the taxes
Absolute rule of Louis XVI
National Assembly was declared as the true representative body of France
Storming of the Bastille
90% of population was poor peasants
Nicholas II’s poor leadership
Russo-Japanese War
Non-industrialized
Bloody Sunday
Revolutionary groups (Bolsheviks and Mensheviks) wanted change
The creation of the Duma (legislative body)
The signing of the October Manifesto (constitutional [limited] monarchy)
World War I

2. French Revolution Russian Revolution Effects Effects
March Revolution
Nicholas II abdicates (gives up his throne)
Provisional Government takes over headed by Alexander Kerensky
Provisional Government fails because it does not end World War I
Lenin gains followers by promoting “Peace, Land, Bread.”
Bolshevik Revolution
Lenin takes over the new government becoming the first communist country in history
The Russian Civil War begins between the Reds vs. Whites
Nicholas II and his entire family is executed
Lenin creates the NEP (New Economic Policy) to restore the Soviet economy
Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen adopted
Execution of Louis XVI
Reign of Terror begins
Robespierre controls the Committee of Public Safety
The Directory (rule of 5 men) take over
Napoleon gains power
Napoleonic Code established (using Enlightenment ideas)
French conquests spark nationalism