Russian History Timeline

Bloody Sunday

• Happened on Jan 22, 1905

• People were asking for food, medical help

• The army fired shots against the people

The Last Czar:Czar Nicholas Romanov

• Believed in Autocracy- absolute rule by one man

• Living conditions very bad: no food, health care, or education for common people

The Last Czar, con’t

• 1914 goes to fight with his army in WWI

• Czarina (his wife Alexandra) in charge

• Rasputin helps Alexis (their son) & corrupts Czarina

Alexis Romanov

RASPUTIN!!

Russian Revolution

• Nicholas forced to resign in 1917

• Democratic government set up; it fails!

• 1917, the Red or Bolshevik army kidnaps the Romanov family and kills them

• Lenin becomes the leader

Last picture of Romanov family

Lenin

• Leader of Bolshevik revolution in Oct 1917

• Famous saying “Peace, Land, Bread, NOW!”

• Followed the ideas of Karl Marx:– No social classes– Everyone equal– Everyone works for the common

good; called collectivism – Gov’t runs the businesses & owns

the land

• Lenin died in 1924

“Lenin the man became Lenin the god!”

Lenin’s tomb

Lenin’s body

Trotsky

• Leon Trotsky takes over; second in command

• Outsmarted by Stalin

• Sent into exile (hiding) in Mexico-Stalin sends secret police to kill him

Stalin

• Known as the “Man of Steel”• Began many programs:

– 5 year plans for industrial & agriculture improvement

– Improved education system; required math and science

• RULED THROUGH TERROR!– All who opposed him were killed

or sent to work camps in Siberia

• Brought great progress at a great cost

Kruschev , Brezhnev, Andropov, & Chernenko

Kruschev• Denounced Stalin• Began “Cold War”: war of words

with U.S

Kruschev

Cold War Images

Kruschev , Brezhnev, Andropov, & Chernenko

Breshnev• Began “détente” (talking)

with President Nixon– Improved relations with

U.S.– Ended détente when he

invaded Afghanistan

Andropov/Chernenko• Both ruled less than two

years• Both ill to do too much

Brezhnev

Andropov Chernenko

Gorbachev

• First of the younger communists to take power

• Held election; he won

• Old communists and army didn’t like him

• Last leader of the U.S.S.R. (Soviet Union)

Failed Coup Attempt• Coup (pronounced “Coo”) means military takes over

government• Kidnapped Gorbachev• Went on TV and said they were in charge• People went and protected gov’t buildings

Commonwealth of Independent States

• 1991 Soviet Union breaks apart

• Countries become independent

• Countries work together on common projects

Boris Yeltsin

• Becomes President of Russia

• Lasted from 1991-2000

• Had alcohol problems

Vladimir Putin

• Elected in 2000; served through 2008

• Many fear he is turning Russia into a dictatorship

• No freedom of the press• Rigged elections so he

would win

Dmitry Medvedev

• Current President

• Appointed Putin as the Prime Minister