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Russian Revolution. END OF THE ROMANOV’S. Russia under Nicholas II. Nicholas II- Romanov family Czar in 1894 at age 26 Did NOT want to become czar Ruled as autocrat. Nicholas II. Attempts at Modernization. Russia was weak and undeveloped Sergei Witte- czar’s minister
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Russian Revolution • END OF THE ROMANOV’S
Russia under Nicholas II • Nicholas II- Romanov family • Czar in 1894 at age 26 • Did NOT want to become czar • Ruled as autocrat
Attempts at Modernization • Russia was weak and undeveloped • Sergei Witte- czar’s minister • 1900 worked for industrialization • Foreign experts brought in • Trans-Siberian RR completed • Increased taxes • Borrowed money from foreigners
Unrest Develops from Urbanization • Peasants left farms for factories • Workers unhappy with low standard of living and little political power • Upper-class resented power of foreign companies • Critics look to a new form of government
Lenin and the Bolsheviks • Vladimir Ilyich Lenin- studied Marx • Brother was executed for plot against the czar • 1895 Lenin was arrested and sent to Siberia for political activities then left Russia for 17 years • In Europe Lenin continued his anti-czarist activities
Russian Marxists Split • Both groups agreed Russia was not industrialized or capitalist • Mensheviks – “minority” • Socialist revolution needed to wait until proletariat grows • Bolsheviks – “majority” • Form secret group to help workers revolt • Secret group would rule until proletariat ready
Russian Marxists Split • Both groups agreed Russia was not industrialized or capitalist • Mensheviks – “minority” • Socialist revolution needed to wait until proletariat grows • Bolsheviks – “majority” • Form secret group to help workers revolt • Secret group would rule until proletariat ready
Revolution of 1905 • 1905- Russia defeated in Russo-Japanese War • 1905- Workers in St. Petersburg revolt • Soviets formed- representative council for the people • October Manifesto- Czar gives constitution • Duma- first parliament, czar had veto power
Rasputin and the Romanvos
WWI • Russia interested in Balkans brings her into war • 1915- Nicholas goes to front to rally troops • Alexandra left to rule with Rasputin • “Holy man” who could control Alexis’ hemophilia • 1916 Nobles kill Rasputin- felt their power threatened
The March Revolution • Causes: • Defeats of war • Discontent (food, fuel shortage) • Weaknesses of autocracy • Strike led by women textile workers in Petrograd • Soldiers turn on officers, not people
Results of March Revolution • Nicholas II abdicates • Provisional Government under Alexander Kerensky • Russia stays in WWI • Western-style parliamentary govt. • People unhappy
Petrograd Soviet • Competes with Provisional Govt. for control • Favored withdrawal from WWI • Favored radical social reform for workers and peasants • Actually held more power than Provisional Govt.
Three Government Choices • Russia lost faith in govt, Lenin is returned by Germans • 1. Parliamentary Govt- order through Democratic reform (Provisional) • 2. Military Dictatorship- restore order by armed force
Three Govt. Choices cont… • 3. Rule by workers’ and soldiers’ soviets • Petrograd Soviet controlled by Lenin and Bolsheviks • Offered: land, food, and self-determination to non-Russians • People wanted real change: Who would they favor and why?
Fall 1917… • “All power to the soviets” • Bolshevik Revolution • Nov. 7- Leon Trotsky, leading Lenin’s supporters, seized government • Provisional Govt. officials arrested • Communists come to power
October Revolution
State-building under Lenin • Chaos worsened under Bolsheviks • No effective govt. or army • No food, commerce, or industry • Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (March 1918) • Bolsheviks/Communists decide to eliminate ALL opposition
Treaty of Brest Litovsk • Signed with Germany • Lost Finland, possessions in Poland, Baltic States, Ukraine • Treaty cancelled when Germany lost war • Finland, Baltic States gained independence
Civil War Breaks Out • “Whites”- opponents of Bolsheviks, aided by West • Parliamentary Govt. supporters • Czarist defenders • Moderate Socialists • “Reds”- Communists • “Greens”- Ukrainian peasants • Want independence
Terror Tactics Economic Policy Kronstadt Rebellion Centralized Govt. Soviet Union Religious persecution Propaganda Communist Dictatorship
Terror Tactics • “Dictatorship of the Proletariat” • Secret police used to kill and suspected opponents of govt.
Economics= War Communism • Nationalization of industry, banks, foreign trade • Draft used for labor and army • Strikes forbidden • Food taken from peasants and given to cities and armies • ***Russia continues to decline***
Centralized Government • Govt. moved to Kremlin- Moscow • Politburo led new govt. • unity stressed (thrown out) • political parties banned • only 1% of population was Communist (500,000) • Decisions made at top (like czar) • Party ran unions
State and Party Linked • Soviets elected locally but led by Party • Soviets • district, regional, republic level • Supreme Soviet- highest govt. authority • Council of Ministers- Party members who made up executive branch
The Soviet Union • Formed in 1922 by Communists • 15 Republics based on nationalities • Identical constitutions • Controlled by Party • Limited self-rule • Self-determination in writing only
Religious Persecution • Religion was threat • State schools taught God did NOT exist • Church seen as possible tool of control • Land and property seized
Propaganda • Govt. controlled and censored information • Lenin tried to isolate USSR from West • Party ideology enforced • Marxism-Leninism