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Marxists revolutionaries disagree over revolutionary tatics. The more radical Bolsheviks are ready to risk everything. The charismatic Vladimir Lenin becomes the leader.
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In the late 1800s both Russia and Japan competed for control of Korea and Manchuria. Both nations signed a series of agreements over the territories, but Russia broke them. Japan didn't like that so they attacked the Russians at Port Arthur, Manchuria.
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Known as "Bloody Sunday" when about 200,000 workers and their families went to the czar Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. They went there with a petition asking for better working conditions, more personal freedom, and an elected national legislature. Soldiers were then ordered by Nicholas II's generals to fire on the crowd.
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When the first Duma met. Then Duma was Russia's first parliament thats leaders were moderates. They wanted Russia to become a consitutional monarchy similar to Britain.
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Nicholas II made the decision to drag Russia into World War I. Russia was unprepared and couldn't handle the military and economic costs. They had weak generals and poorly equipped troops. There was defeat followed by defeat as Germans mowed down Russians.
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In Petrograd, there was a citywide strike led by women textile workers. Because of the shortages of bread and fuel, riots flared up for five days. At first soldiers obeyed their orders to shoot rioters, but later sided with the 200,000 shouting workers that swarmed the streets.
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Russian armed factory workers stormed the Winter Palace in Petrograd. They called themselves "Bolshevik Red Gaurds." These people took over goverment officals and arreseted leaders of the professional goverment. Lenin ordered that all farmland is disturbed among the peasants. The Bolshevik govermant also signed a truce to lessen fighting with Germany.
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Russia and Germany signed the treaty of Brest-Litovsk. Russia had to surrender a large part of their territory to Germany and their allies. This created humility and triggered anger among the common Russian. The Russian's also objected Bolshevies and their policies.
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In this month Russia's Civil War started. Several Western Nations came to the aid of Russia and it's "White Army." However the forgein nations did not help much, and war continued.
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The goverment resorted to a small-scale version of capitilism called "The New Economic Policy" (NEP). This new goverment allowed peasants to sell surplus crops, instead of giving the crops to the goverment. They also allowed small factories, businesses, and farms under private ownership, instead of being controlled by the goverment. They also encouraged foreign invertiment.
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The leader of the Communist Party, Lenin, surrived but suffered a stroke. This event sent up competion for the Communist Party. Joesph Stalin had a desire to become head of the goverment. He started the climb to get his supporters in higher power. With alll his hard work, he stood at the postion to receive absolute power as a dictator.
