Russia Moved Toward Revolution

1
Russia Moved Toward Revolution
2
Life for the Peasants Under the Czars What was
it Like?

• TWO WORDS
• NOT GOOD!!!

3
Revolutionaries Seek Change

• Social Revolutionaries
• VS.
• Social Democrats

4
Who Are They?

• Social Revolutionaries
• Believed that peasants would revolt against the
  government
• wanted land to be distributed fairly
• Social Democrats
• Believed urban workers would revolt against the
  government
• Wanted everyone to share in societys wealth

5
Social Democrats Split

• Menshevisks
• VS.
• Bolsheviks

6
Differing Beliefs

• Mensheviks
• means minority
• wanted to bring about change in Russia gradually
• larger following than Bolsheviks
• Bolsheviks
• means majority
• wanted to bring about change quickly
• led by Vladimir Lenin

7
Lenin Leads the Bolsheviks

• Believed that working class was too small and too
  poorly educated to stage a revolution.
• Argued that a small group of Marxists should take
  charge of government until the people were ready
  to take charge of society themselves.

8
Czars Lose Power - Why?

• Russo-Japanese War
• Nicholas II - Declared war on Japan in 1904
• Russia lost badly
• Revolution of 1905
• Workers asked for better working conditions, more
  personal freedom, elected national legislature.
  (Peaceful gathering)
• Bloody Sunday - 500 - 1000 people killed
• Formation of Duma (Russian Parliament)
• Created it but then got rid of it.

9
Romanov Rule Ends

• 1914 - World War I begins and Russia goes to war
  with Austria and Germany
• 1915 - Nicholas II puts his wife Alexandra in
  charge of government

10
The Rule of the Czar Comes to an End

• Alexandra listened to Rasputin - considered to be
  a holy man because he seemed to cure their son of
  hemophilia
• Rasputin told Alexandra - Resist Reform!
• 1917 - Bread riots soldiers refuse to fight
  anymore - Nicholas forced to leave

11
NOW WHAT???
12
Essay Question Due Wednesday

• What was life like in Russia under Lenin? Under
  Stalin? Did the people of Russia benefit under
  either ruler? Explain (50 points, Typed, Formal
  Essay)