The Russian Revolution

1
The Russian Revolution
2
Introduction

• The Russian Revolution was like a firecracker
  with a very long fuse. The explosion came in
  1917, yet the fuse had been burning for nearly a
  century. The cruel, oppressive rule of most
  19th-century czars caused widespread social
  unrest for decades. Army officers revolted in
  1825. Secret revolutionary groups plotted to
  overthrow the government.

3
Romanov Dynasty

• Ruled Russia for 300 years.
• Divine Right.

4
Political Causes

1. Autocratic Rule
2. Strict Censorship
3. Secret Police
4. Political Prisoners

5
Economic Cause

1. Subsistence farmers
2. Industrialization led to terrible working
   conditions.

6
Social Causes

1. Only 40 ethnic Russian.
2. Russification
3. Pogroms
4. Literacy Rate lt40
5. Life expectancy aprox. 40 years of age.

7
The Revolutionary Movement Grows

• Industrialization breeds discontent over working
  conditions and wages.
• Growing popularity of Marxist idea that
  proletariat (workers) will rule
• BolsheviksMarxists who favor revolution by a
  small committed group

8
Russo-Japanese War 1904-5
The defeat revealed Russian weakness and led to
the 1905 Revolution in Russia.
9
Bloody Sunday (1905)

• In 1905, 200,000 workers march on the czars
  palace to demand reforms
• The army fires into the crowd, killing many
• Massacre leads to widespread unrest Nicholas if
  forced to make reforms

10
How Did World War I Spark a Revolution in Russia?
11
March Revolution

• Nicholas losses support of the army.
• On March 15, 1917 Nicholas is forced to abdicate.
• A Provisional (temporary) Government was
  established in Petrograd under the leadership of
  Alexander Kerensky

12
Failure of the Provisional Government

• Unable to provide the cities with food.
• Refused to approve land seized by peasants.
• Insisted in continuing to fight in the Great War.
• Petrograd Soviet Order Number 1

13
Vladimir Lenins Push for a Revolution

1. Exiled by Nicholas II, Lenin snuck into Russia
   with the help of the Germans.
2. Leader of the Bolsheviks (Communist Revolutionary
   Organization)
3. Wanted to spark a Communist Revolution.
4. Issues his April Theses
5. Bread, Peace, Land
6. All power to the Soviets
7. Wanted the Proletariat to overthrow the
   Bourgeoisie

14
Lenins Wedding Cake
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November RevolutionBolsheviks Take Power

1. Took over bridges, telephone lines, banks,
   buildings, railway stations
2. Red Guards stormed Winter palace and arrest
   leaders of Provisional Government
3. 11/8/1917 Lenin announces new Communist
   Government

17
Russian Civil War 1918-1920

1. Bolsheviks attempted to put down
   counterrevolutionaries.
2. Red Army Bolsheviks
3. White Army Several groups
4. Leon Trotsky commanded the Red Army.
5. Institution of War Communism
6. The Red Army was victorious

Photograph of Red Army soldier about to be
executed by members of the White Army.
18
Russia Under Lenin 1917-1924

• Sought popular support
• Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
• Nationalized Industry
• Seized noble estates
• NEP (1921-1928)
• Crushed opposition
• Created the Soviet Union (1922)

19
The Post Lenin Era

1. Russia becomes the Union of Soviet Socialist
   Republics in 1922.
2. Vladimir Lenin dies in 1924 leaving a power
   vacuum.
3. A struggle for power ensues between Leon Trotsky
   and Joseph Stalin.
4. Stalin forces Trotsky into exile and eventually
   orders his assassination.
5. Under Joseph Stalin approximately 20 million
   people were killed, many more were sent into
   labor camps (Gulags).

Joseph Stalin
Leon Trotsky