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Explore the causes of the Russian Revolution, including the oppressive rule of the Czar, lack of rights for peasants, urban worker mistreatment, and the influence of revolutionary ideas like Communism. Discover the social structure of Czarist Russia and the events leading to the revolution.
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Causes of Russian Revolution • 1) Weak Czar (or tsar) (Russian king / ruler) • 2) Peasants have no rights, no land • 3) Urbanization city workers have horrible living and working conditions • 4) Revolutionary ideas From Karl Marx (Communism) [Bloody Sunday = first mini revolution] • 5) WWI – Russia struggles (the “spark”)
Autocracy = leader has total power • In Russia under the Czar: • Can’t question the Czar:Anyone who questioned the absolute authority of the czar, worshiped outside the Russian Orthodox Church, or spoke another language was considered “dangerous”. • Documents censored: To wipe out revolutionaries, Czar censored (monitored) written documents (including private letters) • Secret police at schools: Carefully watched over the schools – teachers had to send detailed reports on every student. • Political prisoners sent to Siberia: A remote (and freezing!) region of eastern Russia far away from anything.
Social Structure of Czarist Russia(prior to the Russian Revolution)
Serfs / Peasants: • 90% of population were serfs • Could not own land • No legal rights • Could not travel freely • Taxed heavily
Intellectuals: • Very small class / # of people • Well-educated • Wanted to improve Russia
Clergy: • Religious leaders of Russian Orthodox Church (Christian) • Clergy were a part of most Russian’s every day life
Nobility: • 1% of population during the 1800s • Controlled the land and wealth of Russia • Lived and dressed extravagantly
Nobility: • Included the Czar for many years Russian czars were corrupt and refused to help peasants have better living and working conditions
Does History Repeat Itself?? Predict it!Based on what you have learned this year in history, what do you think could happen here based on what you just learned about the social structure in Russia? Explain.(Write it on your notes and be ready to discuss as social scientists! )
Industry in Russia • Russia caught up with the rest of Europe and became industrialized with factories & corporations. • Built the world’s longest railroad (Trans-Siberian Railway)
BUT! Bad working conditions in factories, low wages, child labor. • Government outlawed unions (which protect workers rights) • (What have we learned about what workers can do when their demands for better working conditions are ignored?)
Communism The idea that society should be led by the working class of people (not corporations) where all people are equal • No rich vs. poor • Nobody in charge of somebody else • Everybody contributes to society equally • Everybody benefits equally from what society produces • People must cooperate and all believe in communism together for it to work. • (What do you think - is it possible???)
Meet Karl Marx • German • Wrote the “Communist Manifesto” – argues that capitalism will produce tension between people (rich vs. poor) which will lead to the destruction of society. • Says that people must have a revolution to change capitalism (a result of the corporations)
Followers of Marx believed that the industrial class of workers would overthrow the czar and workers (called “the proletariat”) would rule the country & own everything together.
Bloody Sunday: The Revolution of 1905 First mini-revolution against Czarist Russia. 200,000 workers and their families were unarmed, peaceful and hungry. Demonstrators marched to the palace to ask the czar for better working conditions, more personal freedom, and an elected national legislature (democracy).
