1. Road to Revolution

2. Russian Society Tsar: King of Russia Nobility: wealthy landowners
Proletariat: working class
Serfs: Peasants (slaves)

3. Serfs Freed
1861: Tsar Alexander II frees the serfs, but they remain very poor
This was a great, moral thing to do to free the serfs, but it severely hurt Russia’s economy

4. Russia Declines Russia’s economy and military power declined
Tsar Nicholas II did not want to appear weak, so he kept on sending food and aid to starving nations while his own people starved
Went to war vs. Japan and was crushed

5. 1905 Revolution
Russians all over protest: sailors refuse to set sail, workers go on strike, etc.
Bloody Sunday: Soldiers open fire on 100,000 peasants peacefully protesting, killing 300

6. World War I
Russia still wants to appear strong to the world, so they enter WWI early in support of Serbia
By 1917, 1.7 million are killed and 5 million are wounded in war against Germany on Eastern Front
Russians back home continue to starve

7. Duma
Tsar creates an organization of elected officials to hear advice on what Russia should do to solve its problems