1. Global History and Geography
Russian Revolution: 1917

2. World War I Results in: Global History and Geography
Widespread discontent
Desertion
Hatred of Tsar

3. Collapse of Imperial Government
Global History and Geography
Collapse of Imperial Government
Rasputin assassinated Dec. 1916
economy devastated

4. Global History and Geography
The Two Revolutions of 1917
March 12
November 6

5. Global History and Geography
The March Revolution
Tsar overthrown March 17th
Provisional Government
--Alexander Kerensky - leader

6. Soviet Political Ideology
Global History and Geography
Soviet Political Ideology
Two Factions
Mensheviks
Bolsheviks

7. Founder of Bolshevism: Vladimir Lenin
Global History and Geography
Founder of Bolshevism: Vladimir Lenin
Moved to London in 1902
Bolsheviks split from Russian Socialist Party in 1912

8. Global History and Geography
Lenin (cont)

9. Vacuum of Leadership in Russia
Global History and Geography
Vacuum of Leadership in Russia
Failure of the Provisional Government (Mensheviks)
Power up for grabs

10. Lenin Steps into This Vacuum
Global History and Geography
Lenin Steps into This Vacuum
He is charismatic
Bolsheviks take power

11. The November Revolution
Global History and Geography
The November Revolution
Private property abolished
Industry nationalized

12. November Revolution (cont)
Global History and Geography
November Revolution (cont)
Civil War fought between
-- “Reds” versus “Whites”
breakdown of Russian economy and society

13. November Revolution (cont)
Global History and Geography
November Revolution (cont)
Bolshevik Party becomes Communist Party

14. Global History and Geography
Ending WWI
Lenin gets Russia out of WWI
Signs treaty with Germany
Huge loss to Russia’s economy

15. Russian Army in World War I: An Eyewitness Account
“Here with us the light has gone out of everything. We are hungry, dressed in rags, and barefooted. The food is very bad, and we have very little bread. The only meal we get is horse-flesh, and that is not fresh. We have got a horse of our own, but have nothing to feed it with, so we are thinking of eating it ourselves. There is no help for us anywhere. It is our fate to be thrown aside and forgotten by the world and to die of cold and hunger.”
A Russian Soldier’s Letter to his Nurse, 1917
Think: Why might the treatment of soldiers during World War 1 help to cause the Russian Revolution?

16. If you lived in Russia how would you want to change the Country?