The Russian Revolution

Essential QuestionWhat events and people helped cause the Russian Revolution?

CausesRussian economy is weak/no foodTsar Nicholas II an ineffective leaderBloody Sunday – people lose faith in

the TsarProvisional Govt stays in the warRussia is losing the war with

Germany

Was Tsar Nicholas an effective leader

March 1917 RevolutionNicholas II abdicates in March

1917Duma establishes a provisional

government – democracy Continues the war – mistake

–Provisional government loses support

CausesBloody Sunday – people lose faith

in the TsarTsar Nicholas II was an ineffective

leaderRussian economy was weak/smallRussia was losing the war (militarily

and economically)Provisional Govt stays in the war

Other things at work

November RevolutionProvisional Government

overthrown by radicals–Bolsheviks (communists)

led by Vladimir Lenin –Promises “peace, land,

and bread”Pulls Russia out of the

warEstablishes the Soviet

Union

Murder of the royal family

BackgroundBefore 1917, Russia was

controlled by a tsar (king)–Autocracy – absolute rule

The Russian Economy–Not fully industrialized, but in the

process

Tsar Nicholas II Family man Devout Paternal Indecisive

– Would have preferred not to be the tsar

Overall, not an effective leader

Pre-War Years: 1900 - 1914Russia slowly industrializes

–Horrible working conditions in factories

–Working class not happy–Workers seek change

Revolution of 1905 Bloody Sunday

–200,000 workers marched in St. Petersburg

–Brought a petition to the Tsar’s palace

–Chaos ensues and troops open fire–Several hundred are killed–Tsar loses support –Nicholas agrees to a Duma

(congress)

Russia in WWIEconomy not prepared

–Lack of suppliesSuffers heavy casualties and

many defeatsPeople begin to riot because of

food shortagesEventually army turns on Tsar

Other things at work

March 1917 RevolutionNicholas II abdicates in March

1917Duma establishes a provisional

government – democracy Continues the war – mistake

–Provisional government loses support

November RevolutionProvisional Government

overthrown by radicals–Bolsheviks (communists)

led by Vladimir Lenin –Promises “peace, land,

and bread”Pulls Russia out of the

war– Germany can now focus on

the Western FrontEstablish the Soviet

Union

Murder of the royal family

EQ: How did Lenin and the Bolsheviks

change Russia?

Lenin’s Russia Russia becomes the Soviet

Union New Capital – Moscow Treaty with Germany to end

the war– Russia lost land

Distributes farmland to peasants

Workers control factories Communists/Bolsheviks

control government and average person has little freedom

Russian Civil War1917 – 1922Red Army (under Lenin and the

Bolsheviks) vs White Army (those who opposed the Bolsheviks)

10 million dieRed Army eventually wins