Russian RevolutionWWI

World Civilizations

Bellringer

►What does the “I” stand for in M.A.I.N.?

Imperial Russia, 1815-1915

Russian Government Before Revolution

►Monarchy: The Czar (Tsar) ►Until 1905 the Tsar's powers were

unlimited. ►Russia had no constitution, ►no political party system to check

the Tsar's power ►A strong secret police which

terrorized the people.

Czar Alexander II

• He implemented important reforms, notably the abolition of serfdom,

• In 1867, he sold Alaska and the Aleutian Islands to the United States.

• Killed by the Revolutionary Group: The People’s Will

Czar Alexander III

• Alexander III's reign was during an industrial revolution in Russia .

• His reign was harsh, against revolutionaries and other liberal movements.

Pre-Revolutionary Russia

► Only true autocracy left in Europe

► Nicholas II became Tsar in 1884

► Believed he was the absolute ruler anointed by God

Russo-Japanese War [1904-1905]

Russo-Japanese War (1904)

Dispute over Manchuria with Japan

Shook national confidence in their progress and rule of Czar.

The Revolution of 1905

► Russia’s losing fight had people revolting due to unrest.

► The creation of a discontented working class

► Vast majority of workers concentrated in St. Petersburg and Moscow

► Help from the countryside: poor peasants

► No individual land ownership

EVENTS OF 1905

Bloody Sunday►200,000 workers march on czar’s

winter palace►Troops fire on crowd, 1,000 + killedCreation of Duma►First parliament of Russia►Czar forced to share power;

dissolved it after 10 weeks

Bloody Sunday (January 22, 1905)

The Czar’s Winter Palace in St. Petersburg

Marchers

Officer

Bloody Sunday (1905)

The Duma

► Created in 1905

► like U.S. House of Reps.

► Oversee the power of the czar

Before the War

►Tsar Nicholas II – ineffective leader

►Nation isn’t very modern

►Most people are poor farmers.

• Adaptation of Marxist ideas of overthrow of capitalism

• Wanted elite group to keep much of power over Russia

• As Russia’s problems grew more serious, Bolsheviks gained more followers

• Czar Nicholas hoped World War I would cause people to rally to his leadership

Bolshevik Plan• Russia a troubled nation

• Czar Nicholas II had promised reform after 1905 revolution, but delivered little real change

• Bolsheviks sought to change life through revolution, wanted to overthrow czar

• Led by Lenin, wanted proletariat to rule Russia as socialist country

The Years Before the War

Russia and World War I

Russia in World War I►At the start of the war, Russia had an

enormous army of some 6 million soldiers.

• Outbreak of fighting caused patriotism, rush to join military

• Otherwise Russia ill-prepared for war

– Factories unable to produce supplies quickly

– Transportation system weak

– Equipment outdated

Preparations for War• Many Russian officers

advanced on connections, not ability

• Some initial successes on battlefield

• Losses soon outnumbered victories

• Millions of Russian soldiers wounded, killed during early battles

On the Battlefield

World War I: “The Last Straw”

► Russian Army was being beaten badly.

► Lack of food for the soldiers and for the entire nation.

► Many soldiers are beginning to desert.

► Average peasant has very little invested in the War

Conditions Grow WorseCzar Nicholas II took personal command of forces, 1915►Move made little sense since he knew little of military matters►Czar’s fate became linked with fate of Russian armed forces►Bad situation grew worse under Czar’s command

Russian army seemed doomed

► Central Powers were able to stop Russian offensive► Destroyed Russian soldiers’ faith in leadership► Army had little strength, even less confidence

Conditions in Russia worse than on battlefield

► Food, goods scarce; peasants grew desperate► Unpopular Czarina relied on Grigory Rasputin, viewed as corrupt,

immoral► Shaky support for Russian monarchy dipped even lower

The Power Behind the Throne

► Scandals surrounding Rasputin served to discredit the monarchy

► Alexandra was more blindly committed to autocracy than her husband

Alexis and Nicholas II

Rasputin

Rasputin with Admirers

RASPUTIN

The Collapse of the Imperial Government

► Nicholas leaves for the Front—September, 1915

► Alexandra and Rasputin throw the government into chaos

► Alexandra and other high government officials accused of treason

The Collapse of the Imperial Government

► Rasputin assassinated in December of 1916

► Refusal to receive assistance of the Russian middle class

► Complete mismanagement of the wartime economy

NICHOLAS II’s MISTAKES

►Brought Russia into WWI►Moved Headquarters to front in WWI►Czarina Alexandra given power; she

became influenced by Rasputin►Rasputin was freaky, crazy, and

corrupt►People poor and starving; lots of

unrest

The Two Revolutions of 1917

► The March Revolution (February)

► The November Revolution (October)

Trotsky

?

(April 1917)

(After 1924)

March Revolution

► Feb. 1917 – Riots break out in Petrograd / Soldiers refuse to fire on the rioters. Royal palace is taken over.

► March 1917 – Tsar Nicholas II forced to give up power. Czar abdicates

► Provisional government (Duma) takes control lead by Alexander Keresnky

► Provisional government unpopular after decision to stay in WWI

PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT

Temporary GovernmentLed by:Alexander Kerensky

But the Provisional Government did not have as much power as the…

►Formed by social revolutionaries

►Local councils in cities►Consisted of workers, peasants, and soldiers

MISTAKES OF PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT

Biggest mistake: kept Russia in World War One

Also, did not help workers or peasants with food and fuel shortages

Lost all support!

Here Come the

Bolsheviks!!

OCTOBER REVOLUTION

Led by:Vladimir Lenin, leader of Bolshevik Party

(Communists!)His slogan:“Peace, Land, and Bread”►Bolshevik Red Guards took over gov’t

offices; arrested Prov. Gov’t leaders►Bolsheviks in power November 1917

What happened to Tsar Nicholas?

►July 1918 – Bolsheviks murder him and his entire family (wife and 5 children).

►All farmland distributed to peasants

►Factories controlled by workers►End Russia’s involvement in

WWI Treaty of Brest-Litovsk –pulls Russia

out of the war gives up territory

►Gained many opponents, leading to Russian Civil War

RUSSIAN CIVIL WAR1918-1920

RED ARMY► Bolsheviks(Communists!)► Led by…Leon

Trotsky

WHITE ARMY► Opponents of

Bolsheviks in Russia; western nations like the USA

RESULTS OF THE CIVIL WAR

►Red Army crushes all opposition to Bolshevik rule

►Russian economy destroyed: no trade or industrial production

BOLSHEVIKS BECOME KNOWN AS…

THE COMMUNIST PARTY

(still led by Lenin)

THE NEW ECONOMIC POLICY1921

To help Russia recover from the war Lenin allowed for a little bit of capitalism

►Peasants could sell surplus (extra) crops for profit

►Individuals could buy and sell goods for profit

►Some small factories, farms, and businesses allowed

NEW COUNTRY

►Lenin organized Russia into self-governing republics

►Central Government controlled them!►1922: Union of Soviet Socialist

Republics (USSR)►Capital: Moscow►Lenin had created a “Dictatorship of

the Communist Party”►This becomes known as Leninism

White Troops and Their Red Opponents