1. Russian Revolution

2. Russia ready for a revolution
Changing economy
Social issues
Growth of political consciousness
Bolshevik Party (Communist Party in Russia)

3. We Need Reform! By 1917, Russia needed reform
Impact of revolutionary ideas
Weak, inefficient government
Stood far behind rest of Europe in industry and farming

4. People of Russia resented autocracy of Czar Nicholas II
Felt gov’t & reign was corrupt
Nicholas uses force on his own people to attempt to stop revolution

5. Participation in WWI Left country with food shortages
Widespread inflation
Country not prepared for war
Inadequately supplied- weapons, logistics, etc.

6. All events contributed to people thinking Nicholas II was unfit to rule
Nicholas abdicated (left) his throne in February of 1917

7. March 1917-Provisional (temporary) gov’t placed Nicholas and family under house arrest
July Royal family executed

8. Revolution?
Germany decides to support Bolsheviks to weaken Russia’s position and Eastern Front
April Germany sent Lenin on train (all windows blacked out-secretive!)
With Lenin back in Russia, Bolshevik party increased in popularity

9. Bolshevik party successful because it supported the aims of the soldiers, workers, and peasants
Motto for Revolution: “Peace, Land, and Bread”

10. Success!
November 6, Lenin elected Chair of Council of People’s Commissars
Bolsheviks take over gov’t
New urban industrial regions appeared
Education and literacy increased
March Lenin pulled Russia out of WWI

11. Civil War Breaks Out Reds vs. Whites 1918
“Reds” (communists and revolutionaries)
“Whites” (monarchists, conservatives, liberalists, moderate socialists)
Whites were backed by G.B., France, U.S., Japan- Did not want communist revolutions to spread!
Brought death and suffering to millions of people regardless of their political orientation

13. Comrade Lenin “cleanses the earth”
1920
Red Terror
Due to suspicion of counterrevolutionaries, the Bolsheviks created a secret police “the Cheka” which killed and tortured thousands from

14. Russia is the first nation to have successful Communist revolution
Joseph Stalin, Vladimir Lenin, and Leon Trotsky, 1919.

15. White Army propaganda poster
Who is represented in the poster?