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Russian Revolution

By sarora07
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    Russian Revolution

    • The transformation of the Russian Empire to Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)
    • Significance: replacing Russia's traditional monarchy with the world's first Communist state
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    The Reign of Czar Alexander III

    • During Czar Alexander III's rule, nobility were promoted and the working class and peasants were ignored
    • Czar Alexander oppressed Jews during reign
    • During the 1880s, rioting and attacking of Jews became more common, and Czar Alexander did nothing. He condoned and endorsed the persecutions
    • Czar Alexander's goals were absolute rule, orthodoxy, and national consistency
    • Significance: He focused on reform and revolutionary groups, prompting growing unrest; set his son up in a bad position
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    The Reign of Czar Nicholas II

    • Czar Nicholas II's rule was dominated by political and social unrest stemming from his inability to rule
    • Rejected the idea of democracy; believed in autocracy
    • Czar Nicholas was disconnected from his people; didn't care about their daily hardships
    • The working class/peasants and his advisors were all upset with his rule
    • Significance: People were dissatisfied because he kept fighting in WWI, even though Russia was struggling; viewed him as weak and unfit to rule
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    The Russo-Japanese War

    • Russia and Japan were competing over territory in Northern China, which ultimately led to the Russo-Japanese War
    • Japan won the war because of its ability to supply troops and their naval forces securing the sea
    • Russians were embarrassed by the loss; blamed Czar Nicholas
    • Main reason for why Czar Nicholas established the Duma
    • Significance: The Russian defeats in Russo-Japanese War left Russian Empire demoralized; added to Russians growing anger at failed policies of Czar Nicholas II

  • Establishment of the Duma

    • After Bloody Sunday's wave of strikes and violence, Czar Nicholas reluctantly promised more freedom; approved creation of the Duma
    • Duma was Russia's first parliament
    • First Duma met in May 1906
    • Leaders were moderates who wished Russia to become a constitutional monarchy like Britain
    • Significance: The czar was reluctant to share his power, and the Duma was abolished within 10 weeks

  • Bloody Sunday

    • The march of about 200,000 workers on Czar Nicholas's Winter Palace with a list of complaints about their working and living conditions
    • They did not intend to start a revolution
    • Referred to as Bloody Sunday because when the protesters arrived at the palace, the police open fired; 100 were killed and 3,000 were injured; the leaders of the protest were also arrested
    • Significance: the event provided another reason for the Russian people to revolt against the Czar
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    Russia's Participation in WWI

    • In 1914 when Czar Nicholas II lead Russia in WWI it became clear that Russia was unprepared for the war and the people blamed him for it
    • Weak generals and poorly equipped troops were no match for the German army
    • More than 4 million Russian soldiers had been killed, wounded, or taken prisoner
    • Significance: Russia’s involvement in World War I revealed the weaknesses of czarist rule and military leadership

  • The Death of Rasputin

    • Rasputin was an uneducated peasant thought to be an exorcist and healer
    • Royal family kept him around as he helped their son's sufferings from hemophilia
    • Russian people and Czar Nicholas II viewed Rasputin as a holy man
    • He was assassinated by nobles as they feared of his influence in the government
    • Significance: His influence contributed to the collapse of Czar Nicholas II and the Russian Revolution

  • March Revolution

    • In March 1917, around 20,000 workers protested against the autocracy and war
    • The local protest turned into a general uprising
    • A year later, revolutionaries executed Nicholas and his family
    • The three-century czarist rule of the Romanovs finally collapsed
    • Significance: The March Revolution succeeded in bringing down the czar, but it failed to set up a strong government to replace his regime
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    The Rise of Lenin and the Bolshevik Revolution (October Revolution)

    • Lenin learned about Marxism
    • Lenin spread ideas through secret newspaper; purpose was gain support of Bolshevik (communists) Party
    • Caused Russian people to lose faith in Czar and government
    • Czar Nicholas abdicates throne (March Revolution)
    • Significance: leads to new Provisional government; new government also unpopular; did not end Russia’s involvement in WWI; 8 months after fall of Czar Nicholas II, overthrew government; took 4 years of war to take control of government
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    The Civil War

    • 1918
    • between supporters and opponents of revolution (Red Army: Bolsheviks and White Army: conservatives, anti-Bolsheviks, foreign troops)
    • Red Army, led by Leon Trotsky, wins in 1920
    • Russia now officially under communist control
    • Significance: many soldiers died; peasants overworked and starved; the Red Army won

  • Establishment of the USSR

    • Russia became the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR or Soviet Union) in 1922; led by Lenin & the Communist Party
    • Significance: Bolshevik leaders saw nationalism as a threat to unity and party loyalty; to keep nationalism in check, Lenin organized Russia into several self-governing republics under the central government; in 1922, the country was named the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), in honor of the councils that helped launch the Bolshevik Revolution

  • Lenin's Death

    • Lenin's death caused by strokes
    • Significance: a competition between Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky for leader of the Communist Party; Stalin won and ruled Soviet Union as a dictator
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    Stalin's Rise to Power

    • After Lenin's death, Stalin became head of Communist Party
    • as general secretary of the Communist Party, he worked behind the scenes to move his supporters into positions of power
    • Lenin believed that Stalin was a dangerous man
    • Trotsky, forced into exile in 1929, was no longer a threat
    • Stalin now stood poised to wield absolute power as a dictator
    • Significance: by 1928, Stalin was in total command of the Communist Party

  • Leon Trotsky's Exile

    • Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin were in competition over head of the Communist party after death of Lenin
    • Joseph Stalin won, and Leon Trotsky was forced into exile
    • Significance: no longer was a threat to Stalin