The Russian Revolution

From Tsar Nicholas II to V.I. Lenin

Tsar Nicholas II-1894

• Shy, quiet man• absolute ruler, naïve

to dissatisfaction• Tsarina: Alexandra• drive to industrialize

brought problems• Dissent NOT

tolerated

Many questioned the Tsar

• Russia politically unstable

Liberals wanted a democratic gov’t

Minorities wanted independence

Peasants wanted land, workers - better conditions

Military lost Russo-Japanese war in 1904

Bloody Sunday- Jan. 22, 1905

• Father Gapon leads peaceful protest Winter Palace

• Tsar’s guards kill hundreds

1905 Revolution

• News of Bloody Sunday spreads quickly

• Revolts and strikes spread

• Widespread spontaneous nature of rebellion reflects deep resentment and frustration

October Manifesto- 1905

Freedom of conscience, speech assembly and press

Tsar creates Duma (Congress)

All laws approved by Duma

Reforms are shortlived

Russia in WWI- 1914-17

Russia honors alliance- joins Allies

Tsar Nicholas II takes personal command of army

Army suffers staggering defeats

Discontent of soldiers, peasants, workers

Rasputin’s infuence- 1914-1916

Tsar’s son, Alexi (heir)born with hemophilia

Romanov’s heavily influenced by “holy man”

Created scandal for the Tsar

Killed by Russian nobles

“February Revolution” Provisional Govt-March 1917

• Women’s march for “bread and peace” turns into revolt

Petrograd Soviet leads workers’ revolution

Tsar Nicholas II abdicates

Duma forms the Provisional Government

Provisional Gov’t stays in WWI- big mistake!

The Soviets-1917

As early as 1905, radicals organized workers, peasants and soldiers into Soviets= councils

In the confusion created by the February Revolution, socialists reconvene the Soviets

Lenin’s New View of Karl Marx-

Lenin adapted Marxist ideas to fit Russian conditions

Named his followers Bolsheviks

Advocated Revolution!

Lenin: “Peace, Land, Bread!”- April 3, 1917

Exiled in 1898 for forming Russia’s first Marxist party

Germany gives him safe passage to Russia

Bold speeches! Down with the

provisional govt Peace, land and bread!

All power to the Soviets!

Bolshevik Revolution-Oct 25,1917

Red Guards= best trained and organized revolutionary forces

Red Guards, under Trotsky (Bolshevik), overthrow Provisional Government

Lenin proclaims a Bolshevik state!

Civil War in Russia- 1918-1921

Lenin proclaims Russia a socialist state, nationalizes all land

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (peace with Germany)

Civil War between “Reds” and “Whites” (anti-communists) eventually won by Lenin and the Bolsheviks

A Costly Triumph- 1921

WWI: lost 1/4 population; millions of casualties; billions spent

Civil war: the loss of millions to death, injury and immigration and the destruction of property

1921: wages 1/10 prewar levels; inflation over 1000%

Western nations blockade Russia

Lenin concerned new socialist experiment would fail

Lenin Builds a Communist State-1921

The Soviet Union• Lenin creates “New

Economic Policy” NEP NEP helps jump start

economy with small scale –capitalism

Central govt kept control of major industries

• Communist party introduced measures to bring about a classless society.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.