1. 1) The czars ruled over Russia for 300 years (the ‘Romanov Dynasty’, 1613-1917)… but the last century of their rule was marked by social & political unrest, with increasing revolutionary activity: - Army officers revolted in 1825 (the ‘Decemberists’), demanding a constitutional monarchy, with an elected legislature (learned from French soldiers 13 years earlier). - Multiple revolutionary groups developed through the 1800s, seeking to overthrow the czars. - Czar Alexander II was assassinated in 1881.

2. 2) The last four czars, and their openness to reforms: Nicholas I  opposed Alexander II  in favor (and was assassinated!) Alexander III  opposed Nicholas II  opposed

3. 3) Most czars favored ‘AUTOCRACY’: Any form of government in which ONE person (OR party) has total political power. Can be an absolute monarchy OR dictatorship 4) Alex III considered the following dangerous: 1. Anyone who questioned the absolute authority of the czar (DISSIDENTS) 2. Anyone NOT Russian Orthodox Christian 3. Anyone who did not speak Russian as their first language (i.e. any non-Russian ethnic group) ALL were considered potential (or actual) sources of revolutionary activity against the czar. (consider: Alex II had been assassinated!)

4. 5) Czar Alexander III used, harsh autocratic policies: - strict censorship - secret police - teacher reports on student activity (creates distrust, paranoia!) - deportation to eastern Russia (Siberia) for punishing hard labor - outlawed non-Russian languages in schools

5. 6) Religious group most persecuted: Jews aka ANTI-SEMITISM Victims of organized mob violence & destruction of property… encouraged (or ignored) by the gov. = POGROMS (WHY?) → scapegoating (falsely blame them for national problems) → small, vulnerable group = easy target → easily identified group in segregated communities

6. 7) Russian industrialization… Similarities w/ Western Europe, U.S. (or anywhere!): -Government policies designed to encourage industrial growth -Terrible working conditions, early on (i.e. unsafe, dirty, long hours, low pay, child labor) -Government outlaws labor unions (so no opportunity for improved conditions!) -Workers sometimes responded w/ illegal strikes Difference: Dissaffected working class (and peasants) increasingly turned to violent, REVOLUTIONARY activity, inspired by…

7. 8) Karl Marx (why was there NOT a similar Marxist revolutionary reaction in Britain, the U.S., and Germany?)

8. 9) Not all Russian Marxist revolutionaries agreed on the GOALS and METHODS of revolution… they would split into two factions: Mensheviks  preferred a more moderate, gradual approach in cultivating a broader and more democratic base of popular support among Russia’s working class in preparing for revolution. Bolsheviks  a smaller, more radical group of ruthless and “committed revolutionaries willing to sacrifice everything” for more immediate change.

9. Bolsheviks:Mensheviks: - Revolutionary - Socialist- Evolutionary (immediate) (delayed revolt) - Proletariat overthrow of - Top Down Bourgeoisie - Bottom Up (dictatorial) (democratic) - Marxist..

10. 10) Bolshevik leader: Lenin Leadership Qualities: - charismatic (“engaging personality”) - well organized - well educated (middle class background) - ruthless - ambitious - gifted speaker Early obstacles to revolution: Self-exile to avoid arrest & imprisonment.

11. 11) Czar Nicholas II’s fateful decisions, which will cost him his throne and end three centuries of monarchy in Russia: 1. Russo-Japanese War (1904): Czar uses nationalism and militarism to try and distract and unify Russians... initiates a war with Japan (for imperial control of Korea). Result: FAILURE... Russians lost war to a more industrialized Japan, thus magnifying the scope of Russia's problems and poor leadership!

12. 11) End of the czars (continued): 2. Russia's “Bloody Sunday” (Revolution of 1905) → 200,000 workers gather peacefully to petition for better working & living conditions (i.e. more personal freedoms) and an elected legislature to represent them as a voice in the government. Outcome: - Czar's security forces, feeling threatened, fire upon crowd, killing hundreds, wounding thousands - Workers respond with violent national strikes - Czar forced to create a national legislature, but he then dissolves it within months... tensions remain!

13. 11) Failures of Czar Nicholas II (continued): 3. World War I  - Under-equipped, poorly trained, poorly led troops suffer massive deaths; civilians endure food & fuel shortages. - During war, Czar Nicholas II left for the front (to “inspire” the troops), leaving government administration in the hands of the Czarina and Rasputin. - Rasputin was a peasant advisor and family confidant (believed to have special powers in ameliorating the czar’s son’s symptoms of hemophilia). - The royal family permitted Rasputin to influence government policy, infuriating Russians of all classes.

14. 12) Russian Duma: = elected legislature (i.e. Russian parliament, or congress) Had the Russian Duma been implemented, Russia would have become a constitutional monarchy… … and may have avoided a violent revolution that killed millions, and destroyed its monarchy forever!