1. 1 The Russian Revolution

2. Introduction The Russian Revolution was like a firecracker with a very long fuse. The explosion came in 1917, yet the fuse had been burning for nearly a century. The cruel, oppressive rule of most 19th- century czars caused widespread social unrest for decades. Army officers revolted in 1825. Secret revolutionary groups plotted to overthrow the government.

3. 3 Romanov Dynasty 1. Ruled Russia for 300 years. 2. Divine Right.

4. 4 Political Causes 1. Autocratic Rule 2. Strict Censorship 3. Secret Police 4. Political Prisoners

5. 5 Economic Cause 1. Subsistence farmers 2. Industrialization led to terrible working conditions.

6. 6 Social Causes 1. Only 40% ethnic Russian. 2. Russification 3. Pogroms 4. Literacy Rate <40% 5. Life expectancy aprox. 40 years of age.

7. The Revolutionary Movement Grows Industrialization breeds discontent over working conditions and wages. Industrialization breeds discontent over working conditions and wages. Growing popularity of Marxist idea that proletariat (workers) will rule Growing popularity of Marxist idea that proletariat (workers) will rule Bolsheviks—Marxists who favor revolution by a small committed group Bolsheviks—Marxists who favor revolution by a small committed group

8. 8 Russo-Japanese War 1904-5 The defeat revealed Russian weakness and led to the 1905 Revolution in Russia.

9. 9 Bloody Sunday (1905) In 1905, 200,000 workers march on the czar’s palace to demand reforms In 1905, 200,000 workers march on the czar’s palace to demand reforms The army fires into the crowd, killing many The army fires into the crowd, killing many Massacre leads to widespread unrest; Nicholas if forced to make reforms Massacre leads to widespread unrest; Nicholas if forced to make reforms

10. 10 How Did World War I Spark a Revolution in Russia?

11. 11 March Revolution 1. Nicholas losses support of the army. 2. On March 15, 1917 Nicholas is forced to abdicate. 3. A Provisional (temporary) Government was established in Petrograd under the leadership of Alexander Kerensky

12. 12 Failure of the Provisional Government 1.Unable to provide the cities with food. 2.Refused to approve land seized by peasants. 3.Insisted in continuing to fight in the Great War. 4.Petrograd Soviet & Order Number 1

13. 13 Vladimir Lenin’s Push for a Revolution 1. Exiled by Nicholas II, Lenin snuck into Russia with the help of the Germans. 2. Leader of the Bolsheviks (Communist Revolutionary Organization) 3. Wanted to spark a Communist Revolution. 4. Issues his April Theses 1.Bread, Peace, Land 2.All power to the Soviets 5. Wanted the Proletariat to overthrow the Bourgeoisie

14. 14 Lenin’s Wedding Cake

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16. 16 November Revolution Bolshevik’s Take Power 1. 1. Took over bridges, telephone lines, banks, buildings, railway stations 2. 2. Red Guards stormed Winter palace and arrest leaders of Provisional Government 3. 3. 11/8/1917 – Lenin announces new Communist Government

17. 17 Russian Civil War 1918-1920 1. Bolsheviks attempted to put down counterrevolutionaries. 2. Red Army: Bolsheviks 3. White Army: Several groups 4. Leon Trotsky commanded the Red Army. 5. Institution of War Communism 6. The Red Army was victorious Photograph of Red Army soldier about to be executed by members of the White Army.

18. Russia Under Lenin: 1917-1924  Sought popular support –Treaty of Brest-Litovsk –Nationalized Industry –Seized noble estates  NEP (1921-1928)  Crushed opposition  Created the Soviet Union (1922) 18

19. 19 The Post Lenin Era 1. Russia becomes the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1922. 2. Vladimir Lenin dies in 1924 leaving a power vacuum. 3. A struggle for power ensues between Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin. 4. Stalin forces Trotsky into exile and eventually orders his assassination. 5. Under Joseph Stalin approximately 20 million people were killed, many more were sent into labor camps (Gulags). Joseph Stalin Leon Trotsky