Revolutions in Russia

1. Revolutions in Russia Cruel, oppressive Czars for most of the 19th century Ruthless treatment of peasants The problems in Russia were brewing for many, many years Slow pace of political change Anger over social inequalities A Firecracker!

2. “Don’t question me or I’ll kill you!” Czar Alexander III He believed in an autocratic government. Anyone who questioned his power was wiped out. He instituted the Pogroms, organized violence against the Jews.

3. Czar Nicholas II (the last Czar) He wanted to keep the autocratic traditions of Russia, BUT there would be too many circumstances out of his control.

4. Russia slowly became more industrialized Russia developed: more factories & workers, poor working conditions, low wages, and child labor. This led to labor strife and labor strikes.

5. Communism in Russia The belief that the industrial class of workers would overthrow the czar, the workers would then rule. “The dictatorship of the Proletariat.” From the workers unrest, grew the revolutionary movement, based on Karl Marx’s Communist Manifesto. “The dictatorship of the Proletariat.”

6. Downfall of the Czar Events in Russia will show the weakness of the Czar Czar Nicholas II

7. Russo-Japanese War Feb. 1904 Russia and Japan were competing for colonies in Korea and Manchuria (imperialism) would lead to war. The Russians were getting whipped by the Japanese, people unhappy about the outcome of the war. Russian ships sunk by the Japanese

8. “Bloody Sunday” 1905 Revolution 200,000 workers and farmers go to the czar’s Winter palace; they want better working conditions, more freedoms, and an elected national legislature. Czar’s Winter Palace The army officers gave the order to shoot into the crowd. 500-1,000 unarmed citizens killed. Led to a series of strikes & violence throughout Russia.

9. “Bloody Sunday” led to the creation of the Duma, the 1st Russian Parliament But, the czar did not want to give up any power, so he got rid of it.

10. Russian involvement in WWI (1914) Many deaths and losses for the Russian army and lack of food supplies affect the citizens at home The czar entered the war even though Russia was unprepared to fight Russian ambulances in World War I

11. March Revolution, March 1917 Soldiers ordered to fire on the rioters, they do, but… then they join the rioters and begin shooting at their commanding officers. Started with a female textile workers strike in Petrograd. Led to riots over food shortages. Women waiting in a food line

12. Czar Nicholas II forced to abdicate the throne (give up / step down)

13. Mensheviks Wanted a broad base of popular support. Bolsheviks Wanted a small number of committed revolutionaries. The Revolutionaries split into two groups

14. The former Duma leaders quickly establish a Provisional Government The Kerensky government made a HUGE mistake Alexander Kerensky will be placed in charge. He decided to continue fighting the Germans, he quickly lost support of the people. Kerensky

15. Soviets are formed In some cities the Soviets had more power than the Kernesky Government. Soviets = councils (organized groups of people) consisting of workers, peasants, and soldiers. Petrograd Soviet

16. The czar was toppled Eve of Revolution Just one thing need to happen… but… the new Kerensky Government was weak and unpopular with the people. Russia was in a fragile state, ripe for a new revolution. The return of … Lenin!

17. But he would come back. The Bolshevik leader: Vladimir LlyichUlyanov or Lenin Lenin had to leave Russia to escape imprisonment by the czar, self-imposed exile.

18. The Bolshevik Revolution Russia was ripe for a complete take over Stalin, Lenin, and Trotsky

19. The Return of Lenin Germany hoped that Lenin’s could lead the Bolsheviks and cause a revolution, which would hurt the Russian war effort. Lenin return to Russia in a sealed train car. Germany arranged for Lenin’s return to Russia. Why?

20. The Lenin and the Bolsheviks gain control of the Soviets. Lenin promises the people what they most want “Peace” “Land” “Bread”

21. The Bolshevik Revolution The Bolshevik Revolution is over in a few hours! Lenin and the Bolsheviks are now in power. Nov. 1917, with out warning, the Bolshevik Red Guards (armed factory workers) attacked the Winter Palace and arrest the officials of the Kerensky Govt. Winter Palace Bolshevik Red Guard

22. Lenin and the Bolsheviks signed a treaty with Germany to stop the fighting March 1918, the treaty of Brest-Litovsk, a hard treaty for Russia (they were in a position of weakness so Russia had to give up a huge chunk of land) Under the terms of the agreement, Russia lost Estonia, Latvia, Ukraine, most of Byelorussia and Russian Poland. Delegates sign the treaty

23. Public backlash against the Bolsheviks This caused a civil war in Russia When the Russian people realized how much land they had lost, they were angry at the Bolsheviks and turned against them. Bolshevik Red Army

24. Russian Civil War, Red Army The Red Army was commanded by Leon Trotsky, one of Lenin’s top men Trotsky inspects the Red Army Trotsky

25. Russian Civil War, White Army The White Army The opposition to the Bolsheviks formed into the White Army

26. 1918-1920 the Russian Civil War was fought throughout Russia

27. The Bolsheviks win the civil war Even though many Western Countries (France, G.B., Japan, & U.S.) sent money and supplies to the White Army, The Red Army was still victorious. 15 million Russians died during the civil war, but the Bolsheviks solidified their power in Russia.