The Russian Revolutions and Civil War

1
The Russian Revolutions and Civil War

• 1917-1922

2
Background

• Romanov Dynasty had ruled Russia absolutely since
  1613
  
• Bloody Sunday and the Revolution of 1905 had
  destroyed the Russian peoples faith and trust in
  Nicholas II
  
• October Manifesto(1905)- Nicholas II forced to
  make reforms
  
• Creation of the Duma- representative legislature
  to help Nicholas II rule Russia- Duma dissolved
  
• By 1914- Russia was still an autocracy and the
  people were unhappy

3
Russian Society in 1914

• Czar Nicholas II
• Landowning nobles
• Russian Orthodox priests
• Small middle class-bourgeoisie
• Growing urban working class-proletariat
• Large peasant population in poverty

4
Impact of WW I

• 1914-WW I created nationalism and united Russians
  temporarily
  
• 1915-Russian military in bad shape two million
  casualties
  
• Nicholas II went to the Eastern Front
• Czarina Alexandra left in charge of the
  government
  

5
Gregory Rasputin

• Close advisor of Alexandra
• He helped ease the suffering of Alexi who had
  hemophilia
  
• By 1916- Rasputin was running the government
  through Alexandra
  
• Dec. 1916- group of nobles kill Rasputin to save
  Russia

6
The Collapse of the Romanov Dynasty

• March, 1917- Russian disasters on the battlefield
  and food and fuel shortages in Russia brought a
  need for change
  
• St. Petersburg- workers went on strike
• Bread riots
• Russian troops refused to fire on the people
• Nicholas II abdicated

7
The Provisional Government

• Middle class liberals wanted a constitution for
  the new Russian Republic
  
• Alexander Kerensky elected the new leader
• Decided to stay in WW I
• Russian people unhappy- peasants wanted land,
  city workers wanted food, soldiers wanted an end
  to the war
  

8
Socialist(Workers) Uprising

• Set up Soviets(councils) in every Russian city
• The Bolsheviks, a radical socialist group, took
  charge of all the soviets
  
• Vladimir Ilyich Lenin- Bolshevik leader

9
Lenin (1870-1924)

• Read the works of Karl Marx
• 17- his brother was hanged for plotting to kill
  Czar Alexander III
  
• Spread the ideas of Marx among factory workers
• 1895- arrested, sent to Siberia and imprisoned
• Believed only a revolution could bring change
• 1900-After his imprisonment exiled outside of
  Russia
  
• 1917- Germany helps Lenin return to Russia
• April, 1917- arrived at Finland Station in St.
  Petersburg
  

10
Lenins Plan

• Called for an end to the War
• Sept.,1917- Bolsheviks save St. Petersburg from
  the upper and middle class revolution led by
  General Kornilov who was going to restore
  Nicholas II to the throne
• Bolsheviks became very popular- slogan Peace,
  Land, and Bread
  
• Soviets around Russia under Bolshevik control

11
The Bolshevik Revolution

• Bolshevik Red Guard took over government offices
• Provisional government leaders arrested
• Revolution bloodless and the Bolsheviks now ruled
  Russia

12
Bolshevik Reform

• Farmland divided among the peasants
• March, 1918- Treaty of Brest-Litovsk signed and
  the Russians leave the war- Russia surrenders 25
  of their land to Germany
  
• Government took over all industries
• Workers run the factories
• Widespread unrest in Russia

13
The Russian Civil War 1918-1920

• Bolshevik opponents (Whites) vs. Bolshevik
  supporters (Reds)
  
• 15 million Russians died
• July, 1918- Nicholas II and his family were shot
• Leon Trotsky led the Red Army to victory
• 1922- Bolsheviks faced many problems