Russia: A Background

1. Russia: A Background • Tsar Nicholas II • autocratic and ineffective • Massive personal wealth • Backed by an army of 1 million & secret police • Press was censored • Political Parties banned • Critics/opponents were exiled • He ruled a massive country • 6.6 million square miles – the biggest country in the world (9 time zones!)

2. Russia: A Background • Many Russians worshipped the Tsar and peasants typically had a picture of the Tsar on a wall of their hut. • His word was law • He appointed his ministers • But did not have to listen to them • And he could ‘hire and fire’ them at will

4. Russia was… Only 40% ethnic Russians 80% were peasants – subsistence farmers 60%+ = illiterate Life expectancy = 40 Low tech and low investment Land ownership rare Land owned by the Commune

5. Distributed Summarizing During the time described, Russia was like ____________ because _________________________. Share your answer with a partner.

6. Russian Rev - Scene from Dr. Zhivago  Bloody Sunday Massacrehttp://movieclips.com/tc4jF-doctor-zhivago-movie-peaceful-protest/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ympPmSWYCEDr. Zhivago - Deserters meet officerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etw-D8OadGkDr. Zhivago - The Revolution - narrated https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7B-nlmdX0g

8. Rasputin

9. Rasputin with Admirers

11. March Revolution (1917) • 1917- protests spread through St. Petersburg and the Royal palace is taken over. • Czar abdicates • Provisional government (Duma) takes control lead by Alexander Keresnky • Provisional government unpopular after decision to stay in WWI

12. October (Bolshevik) Revolution-1917 • Lead by VI Lenin “Peace, Land, and Bread” • Won support of people (especially peasants)

14. Russian Revolution The Russian army was big but poorly equipped; -lost many battles The czar was seen as a poor military and political leader There were not enough workers in the factories and farms which caused shortages of food and materials The railway system was weak; therefore, troops and towns could get supplies

15. Russian Revolution started in 1917 - had two parts. 1st - February Tsar (Czar) was overthrown. People were unhappy They starved while the wealthy lived in luxury. Upset about being involved in WWI blamed the “upper classes”

16. Russian Revolution 2nd - the October Revolution (Bolshevik Revolution) Led by Vladimir Lenin After two years of civil war, the communist forces gained control Russia became the communist country of the Soviet Union Communism continued in Russia until nearly the end of the century

17. 1918 • 1918 March The Bolsheviks accept the peace of Brest‑Litovsk, ending WWI with Germany.

18. 1919-1920 1919 White Armies (Royal and Menshevik troops) attack the Reds (Bolsheviks) from all directions. • 1920- Reds defeat Whites

19. Rule of Lenin 1920-1924 • Economic Reforms included the New Economic Plan (NEP) -moderate mix of capitalism and socialism • Political Reforms -Bolshevik party became Communist Party -Russia becomes the United Soviet Socialist Republics

21. Communism • A Form of Socialism • Central Planning of the Economy by the State • Gov’t (Communist Party) makes decisions on individual jobs and pay

22. 1924 • Lenin Dies • Power Vaccuum • Leon Trotsky vs. Joseph Stalin • Stalin takes control • Now must decide how he will maintain power • Decides to create a totalitarian state

24. Characteristics of a Totalitarian State • Dictatorship- Absolute Authority • Dynamic Leader- Vision for the nation • State Control Over All Sectors of Society • Business, Family Life, Labor, youth groups, housing, religion, education, the arts • State Control Over the Individual • Obedience • Denies basic liberties • Organized Violence • Uses force to crush opposition

25. Stalin’s Totalitarian State • State Control of the Economy • 5 year plan, collective farms • Police Terror • Great Purge, crush opposition • Religious Persecution • Control of the individual • Propaganda (socialist realism) • Molding peoples minds • Education • Controlled by the government