The Russian Revolution

1
The Russian Revolution

• From Tsar Nicholas II to V.I. Lenin

2
Tsar Nicholas II-1894

• Shy, quiet man
• absolute ruler, naïve to dissatisfaction
• Tsarina Alexandra
• drive to industrialize brought problems
• Dissent NOT tolerated

3
Many questioned the Tsar

• Russia politically unstable
• Liberals wanted a democratic govt
• Minorities wanted independence
• Peasants wanted land, workers - better conditions
• Military lost Russo-Japanese war in 1904

4
Bloody Sunday- Jan. 22, 1905

• Father Gapon leads peaceful protest Winter Palace
  
• Tsars guards kill hundreds

5
1905 Revolution

• News of Bloody Sunday spreads quickly
• Revolts and strikes spread
• Widespread spontaneous nature of rebellion
  reflects deep resentment and frustration

6
October Manifesto- 1905

• Freedom of conscience, speech assembly and press
• Tsar creates Duma (Congress)
• All laws approved by Duma
• Reforms are shortlived

7
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

8
Rasputins infuence- 1914-1916

• Tsars son, Alexi (heir)born with hemophilia
• Romanovs heavily influenced by holy man
• Created scandal for the Tsar
• Killed by Russian nobles

9
February Revolution Provisional Govt-March 1917

• Womens march for bread and peace turns into
  revolt
• Petrograd Soviet leads workers revolution
• Tsar Nicholas II abdicates
• Duma forms the Provisional Government
• Provisional Govt stays in WWI- big mistake!

10
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

11
Lenins New View of Karl Marx-

• Lenin adapted Marxist ideas to fit Russian
  conditions
• Named his followers Bolsheviks
• Advocated Revolution!

12
Lenin Peace, Land, Bread!- April 3, 1917

• Exiled in 1898 for forming Russias 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!

13
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!

14
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

15
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

16
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.