What was the Russian Revolution and how did it change the government of Russia?

An armed revolt against the absolute power of Russian czar, Nicholas II Spring & fall of 1917

Saw the creation of the world first real Marxist (Communist) state The USSR

Unhappy with a number of things:

1. Tired of absolute monarchy▪ More personal freedom

2. Tired of poor working conditions & pay▪ Few jobs / poor economy▪ Famines / widespread

depression

3. Tired of Russia’s foreign wars▪ Russo-Japanese War (1904-

05)▪ World War I (1914 – 17)

Poor Working Conditions / Poor Working Conditions / PayPay

An Early Russian Factory

Bloody Sunday (Bloody Sunday (1905)1905)

The Czar’s Winter Palace in St. Petersburg

Russo-Japanese War Russo-Japanese War [1904-1905][1904-1905]

Nicholas II: The Last Nicholas II: The Last Romanov CzarRomanov Czar

[r. 1894-1917][r. 1894-1917]

The Czar & The Royal The Czar & The Royal FamilyFamily

The leader of the Bolsheviks was Vladimir Lenin 1870 – 1924 Lawyer / Activist

Exiled from Russia for his radical thoughts

Returned to Russia in 1917 With the help of the

Germans

Lenin’s older brother Aleksandr was accused of plotting to assassinate Czar Alexander III and was executed

His death had a profound impact on Lenin

LENIN “INCOGNITO”

Czar Nicholas II abdicates (“steps down”) as czar

Lenin smuggled into the country

Temporary democratic government fails Very weak /

ineffective

The Russian Revolution’s “Big Three”

LENIN

STALIN TROTSKY

Civil war in Russia “Reds” = Lenin’s

supporters “Whites” = democratic /

supporters of the Czar

“Reds” eventually win Set up a “communist”

government (USSR)

Czar & his family are executed