1. Chapter 15 – Revolution in Russia
Section 1 – Two Revolutions in Russia

2. Setting the Scene
Geography had long favored the growth of the Russian empire. The vast plains stretching from Moscow had few natural obstacles to halt the advance of Russian armies. For nearly four centuries, the empire grew steadily and by 1897, more than half the people under czarists rule were not Russians. Nationalism led to the rise of new political parties among these peoples. In addition to social and economic reforms they hoped for self-rule and independence, revolutionary ideas that contributed to unrest in the Russian empire.

3. I. The March Revolution
In 1914, Russia was a unindustrialized country dominated by nobles, priests, and an autocratic czar

4. I. The March Revolution
After the Revolution of 1905, czars made some reforms and established an elected Duma
Bloody Sunday
1906 – The First Duma

5. I. The March Revolution
Marxists revolutionaries tried to stir up revolution among the working-class proletariat

6. I. The March Revolution
WWI drained Russia’s resources and in 1915 Czar Nicholas II went to the front to take charge

7. I. The March Revolution
Nicholas left control of domestic affairs to the czarina Alexandria, who knew little about government

8. I. The March Revolution
German-born Alexandria was distrusted by the Russians and began to rely on the advice of Gregory Rasputin

9. I. The March Revolution
Rasputin’s negative influence weakened the government and in December1916, a group of nobles killed him

10. I. The March Revolution
In March 1917, Czar Nicholas abdicated and the Duma set up a provisional government
Newspaper Headline Source: The Age Date: 17 Mar 1917

11. I. The March Revolution
Revolutionaries set up democratic soviets, but radical socialists called Bolsheviks soon took control
One of the 10,000 Soviets

12. II. Lenin and the Bolsheviks
The Bolshevik leader was V.I. Lenin, a Marxists who had been exiled and then returned to Russia by the Germans

13. II. Lenin and the Bolsheviks
Lenin adapted Marxist ideas to fit Russia and believed only revolution could bring about changes
Long Live World October [revolution]! The workers conquered power in Russia and will conquer power in the entire world

14. III. The November Revolution
In November of 1917, Lenin, Leon Trotsky and the Bolshevik Red Guards overthrew the provisional government
The "Red Guard" of the Petrograd Soviet

15. III. The November Revolution
The Bolsheviks distributed land to the peasants and gave control of the factories and mines to the workers

16. IV. Russian Civil War
Lenin sought peace with Germany and signed the treaty of Brest-Litovsk in March 1918
A treaty was signed between the central powers (Germany, Austria, Hungary, Turkey and Bulgaria) and the Soviet government. Under the terms of the agreement, Russia lost Estonia, Latvia, Ukraine, most of Byelorussia, and Russian Poland. The treaty was annulled under the terms of the German armistice.

17. Russian Civil War White Army recruitment poster
IV. Russian Civil War
Civil war raged for 3 years between the Reds (communists) and the Whites (czarists), along with other national groups
"Did you volunteer?" -- a Red Army recruiting poster
Russian Civil War White Army recruitment poster

18. IV. Russian Civil War
Brutality was common and the communists assassinated Czar Nicholas and his family

19. IV. Russian Civil War
The Allies sent troops to support the Whites, but the Russians united and drove out the invaders

20. IV. Russian Civil War
The Communists adopted a policy of “war communism” – the taking over of the economy by the state

21. IV. Russian Civil War
Trotsky organized the Red Army into an effective force under the control of political commissars

22. IV. Russian Civil War
By 1921, the Communists had won the civil war but Russia remained in chaos