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Russian Revolution

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    Reign of Czar Alexander III

    • anti-semitism ~ pogrom
    • promoted interests of nobility over working class
    • one man rule, one religion, one race
    • set the ground for the public not trusting or liking their leadership/government
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    Reign of Czar Nicholas II

    • autocracy Rule (absolute power)
    • publicly opposed public participation in government ~ ignored and angered his people
    • failed to industrialize and blamed for military failures *more and more people doubted and were angered by his rule, public opinion of government worsened
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    Russo-Japanese War

    • Japan and Russia fought over colonial claims in Korea and Manchuria - Japan won a convincing victory
    • Russia was humiliated and started a revolt in the midst of the war, blaming Czar Nicholas II
  • Establishment of the Duma

    Establishment of the Duma

    • to ease the wave of violence and unrest after Bloody Sunday Nicholas approved of the Duma, Russia's first parliament
    • Dissolved within 10 weeks, Nicholas was hesitant to share power
    • Further dug Czar Nicholas into a bad light and more continued to grow angry at their government under the autocracy
  • Bloody Sunday

    Bloody Sunday

    • 200,000 workers and their families marched towards the czar's winter palace demanding for more rights and better working conditions
    • Soldiers ordered to open fire, over 1,000 killed
    • Enraged Russians and provoked a wave of strikes and violence
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    Russia's Participation in WW1

    • Because Russia was not as industrialized compared to other European countries, Russia suffered major losses
    • Millions of soldiers and civilians died either from the war, famine, or outbreak of disease that followed, Russia's economy was a disaster, loss of territory
    • Russia's involvement in war despite the public opinion and worsening condition of country paved way for the revolution to instigate
  • Death of Rasputin

    • Rasputin was a friend of Czarina Alexandra and influenced government affairs
    • Self-proclaimed holy man
    • A group of nobles assassinated him in fear of his increasing involvement in the government *Rumors spread he was the reason for Russia's downfall and influenced government choices
  • Abdication on Czar Nicholas II/esta. of Provisional Government

    Abdication on Czar Nicholas II/esta. of Provisional Government

    • March Revolution forced Czar Nicholas to abdicate his throne
    • Duma established a Provisional Government and decided to continue fighting in WW1
    • Soviets were formed; local councils consisting of peasants, soldiers, and workers
    • Lost support of civilians and soldiers after the decision to continue in the war
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    Rise of Lenin and Bolshevik Revolution

    • Lenin returned from exile and with his Bolshevik Party overthrew the government with promises of a communist country
    • Communism appealed to many particularly the soviets who supported the revolution and now the Bolsheviks were in power. However, not everyone was in favor of their rule.
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    Civil War

    • the White Army and Red Army wage a bloody civil war through Russia fighting for control over the government
    • Red Army won
    • millions of Russian lives were lost, war left Russia in a state of disaster but nonetheless Lenin regained control
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    Stalin's Rise to Power

    • Stalin assumed leadership in 1924 following Lenin's death after campaigning for himself against Trotsky
    • was described as a cold, heartless, impersonal man
    • Ruled over Soviet Union as a Dictator
  • Establishment of USSR

    Establishment of USSR

    • Lenin organized Russia into several self-governing republics under one central government otherwise known as the Soviet Union or USSR _ kept nationalism in check
    • Dictatorship of Communist Party
    • Supposedly constitution was created on socialist and democratic ideals but Lenin and the Communist party held all the real power
  • Lenin's Death

    Lenin's Death

    • Lenin died of stroke in 1924
    • Competition grew to replace him; the two major competitors being Leon Trotsky and Jospeh Stalin
  • Leon Trotsky's Exile

    • Trotsky gradually lost his government positions after Stalin was placed in power
    • was eventually exiled in 1917 and spent the rest of his life in exile
    • Showed Stalin's obsessive control and paranoia into keeping his firm grip on power, censored any writings related to Trotsky