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Revolution and Civil War in Russia

Revolution and Civil War in Russia. Radical changes come sweeping through Russia in the early 1900s Chapter 14, Section 5. Quick-Write 1/31. What conditions existed in Russia between 1815-1905 that led to Revolution?. March Revolution Ends Tsarism.

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Revolution and Civil War in Russia

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  1. Revolution and Civil War in Russia Radical changes come sweeping through Russia in the early 1900s Chapter 14, Section 5

  2. Quick-Write 1/31 • What conditions existed in Russia between 1815-1905 that led to Revolution?

  3. March Revolution Ends Tsarism • Russian empire stretched from Eastern Europe to the Pacific Ocean • Russia was slow to industrialize • Landowning priests, nobles, and an autocratic tsar controlled the government and economy • Large peasant population endured poverty

  4. Problems in Russia (1905) • After revolution of 1905 Russia endured many problems: • Elected Duma set up after war had no real power • Moderates pressed for a constitution • Nicholas II used secret police to block attempts to limit his authority • Marxists tried to rally a revolution amongst the proletariat- working class

  5. WWI Impact • Outbreak of war sparked feelings of nationalism amongst Russians • World War I quickly took its toll on them- resources depleted very quickly, by 1915, almost two million Russian soldiers died • Nicholas II went to take charge on the front lines. • While he was away tsarina Alexandra relied on advice from Gregory Rasputin. • Fearing the influence of Rasputin, nobles killed him on December 29, 1916.

  6. Tsar Steps Down • In 1917, after disaster on the battlefield and disaster at home, Nicholas II steps down • Duma set up a provisional government, preparing a new constitution for Russia • Revolutionary soviets set up soviets, who worked within the government. Eventually, the Bolsheviks took charge of this group

  7. Lenin and the Bolsheviks • Vladimir Lenin studied Karl Marx as a young man, and tried tirelessly to spread Marxist ideas to Russians • Lenin stressed that revolution was necessary to bring about change- elite group named “Bolsheviks” which means majority • Germany helped bring Lenin home from exile because they thought it would weaken Russia

  8. November Revolution • The provisional government was led by Alexander Kerensky • By 1917, soldiers were tired of fighting, and some mutinied. Peasants seized lands from fearful landlords. • In November 1917, the Bolsheviks, along with mutinied soldiers attacked the provisional government, and easily take them over • Bolsheviks also take over Moscow, which they make their headquarters

  9. Bolshevik Changes • Bolsheviks: • Ended private ownership of land and distributed land to peasants • Workers were given control of factories and mines • A new red flag with an entwined hammer and sickle symbolized union between workers and peasants • Bolsheviks soon take over people’s lives throughout Russia

  10. Russia Plunges into Civil War • Lenin quickly made peace with Germany and fled from World War I. • For three years, civil war raged between the “Reds” (communists) and the “whites” (Mensheviks- people on the side of tsarist Russia) • Communists used brutality and terror against whites, and also to control their own people • Organized the Cheka- secret police force sent out to kill people who were planning to take action against the revolution

  11. “War Communism” • The Communists took over banks, mines, factories, and railroads • Peasants were ordered to deliver their crops to feed the army and hungry people in the cities • Peasants were drafted into the military • Leon Trotsky led the “reds” to ultimately defeat the counter-revolutionary “whites” and take control of Russia

  12. Communist Soviet Union • In 1922, Lenin united much of the old Russian empire into the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) Soviet Union • New Russian Constitution: • Set up an elected legislature (Supreme Soviet) • Gave all citizens over 18 the right to vote • All political power, resources, and means of production would belong to workers and peasants • Still used secret police to enforce its will.

  13. Stalin Takes Over • Lenin died at age 54 in 1924. • His death set up a power struggle between Soviet leaders, specifically Trotsky and Josef Stalin • Trotsky supported a worldwide revolution for communists, while Stalin wanted to concentrate on building socialism at home • Stalin eventually takes over Communist Russia, and uses many ruthless tactics to win dictatorial power.

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