-
includes build-up and aftermath
-
Czar Alexander III was a conservative ruler of Russia from 1881 until his death in 1894, he promoted repressive policies that reversed many of the reform measures that had been initiated by his father, Alexander II. He encouraged anti-semitism and had more interest in the nobility than the working class and peasants. He was determined to restore law and order in Russia so he rounded up and executed or exiled many leaders of revolutionary political groups.
-
Czar Nicholas II was a dictator-like ruler in Russia. He believed absolute power should remain with the Russian monarchy, and he opposed any democratic reforms. Nicholas was insensitive to the increasing hardships faced by the Russian people during the time of war and revolution. Unrest was high as the largely agricultural country struggled to industrialize and urbanize. As economic hardship worsened for the Russian people, he wasn't concerned with their needs or helping them.
-
In the 1890s, Russia and Japan were in competition over territory in northern China, and mounting tensions ultimately resulted in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. In the end, Russia was defeated by Japan. This caused a spread of civil unrest and contributed to the causes of the Bolshevik Revolution in 1905.
-
The Duma was a Russian assembly that was established in 1905 by Czar Nicholas II. He wanted to conduct political reforms and stop repressions of participants of the Revolution. The Duma formed the first Provisional Government and accepted the abdication of Nicholas II.
-
On Bloody Sunday, approximately 200,000 workers marched to Czar Nicholas's Winter Palace and presented him with a list of grievances and demanded relief from their poor working and living conditions. Police opened fire on the protesters and fighting broke out. This day caused many uprisings across the country. Strikes and disorder continued all throughout 1905 and things only worsened after the defeat in the Russo-Japanese war. All of these disturbances contributed to the Bolshevik Revolution.
-
Russia's participation in WWI left them with an extremely poor economy, little to no supplies, and destroyed public confidence. This was a direct cause of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia. It also left Russia was poor relations with the rest of the European countries
-
Rasputin was a mystic who worked with Czar Nicholas's family. He was assassinated by a noble among the royal family in 1916. He foretold his death by telling the Czar, "if it was your relations who have wrought my death, then no one of your family... will remain alive for more than two years. They will be killed by the Russian people." His prophesy was true, as the czar and his entire family were murdered less than two years later. It is believed that he caused the fall of the Romanov dynasty.
-
When Czar Nicholas II was abdicated, a provisional government was put into place. The Provisional Government put down riots, but allowed freedom of speech and released political prisoners. These things helped the Bolsheviks with their victory in the Revolution.
-
Leading up to the Revolution, many people in Russia were unhappy and they blamed Czar Nicholas II. Communism was something that appealed to people and Vladimir Lenin supported that. Lenin and the Bolsheviks overthrew the government and created their own, new government. These series of events led up to the formation of the USSR.
-
Before the Revolution, a majority of people were unhappy with their living and working conditions, as well as the government. This sparked a civil war within Russia between the Red and White Army. Red Army was victorious and the USSR was later established by Lenin and his communist party.
-
The leader of the Soviet Union, Vladimir Lenin, died in 1924. There was a lot of competition to replace him . Two candidates were Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin. Stalin won the competition, became the new leader of the Soviet Union, and ruled by dictatorship. Under Stalin's rule, the Soviet Union was transformed from a peasant society into an industrial and military superpower. On the downside, he ruled by terror, and millions of citizens died during his brutal reign.
-
In 1922, Russia became the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR or the Soviet Union). It was led by Vladimir Lenin and the communist party. After the establishment of the USSR, Russia became a powerful and influential state. Its economy improved greatly compared to after its involvement in WWI and the Revolution.
-
Before Lenin died in 1924, he was the ruler of the USSR. There was competition between two people in replace him, Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin. When Stalin became the new ruler there were some positives and negatives for Russia's future. Overall, the economy improved but at the cost of many lives. Stalin was a dictator who ruled with fear and caused many Russian citizens to lose their lives.
-
After the death of Lenin and the rise of Joseph Stalin, Leon Trotsky gradually lost his government positions; Eventually he was expelled from the Soviet Union and he spent the rest of his life in exile. He wrote prolifically and engaged in open critique of Stalinism.