WW1Russian Revolution

Russia in WW1

• Weaknesses:▫ Did not have sufficient food, appropriate armaments,

or adequate roads to supply its army▫ Supplies cut from Allies (Ottoman Empire)▫ Poorly led army (Corruption

• People lost faith in government▫ Rents, taxes, and debts kept peasants poor.▫ Increase in strikes and street demonstrations▫ Soldiers agree with the people ▫ Czar abdicates (Gives up the throne) (Soon

imprisoned)

Lenin and Bolsheviks

• Two factions fought for control of the Soviets1. Mensheviks: more moderate2. Bolsheviks: more radical group

a) Vladamir Lenin: All governing power be turned over to Soviets.

b) “Peace, Bread, and Land”c) Set up small group of leaders to train Russian workers

to become revolutionary force (Basis of communism)d) November 7, 1917: Bolsheviks overthrow provisional

govt. e) Communist Party: dissolved constitutional assembly

because they did not have a majority in it.

Peace and Civil War

• Lenin’s new government signs peace treaty:▫ With Central Powers (Treaty of Brest Litovsk)▫ Gave up a lot of territory▫ Allies not happy about separate peace treaty▫ Allies feared the spread of communism to their

countries• Civil War had broken out between Communist and

Nationalists (1918)▫ Lasted for about three years▫ Reds (Communist) vs. Whites (Nationalists)▫ Allies sent troops and financial support to Whites▫ Communists has still won▫ Renamed Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)

(Soviet Union)