Czar Nicholas II ruled Russia from 1894-Czar Nicholas II ruled Russia from 1894-19171917

Was an Autocrat and controlled all Was an Autocrat and controlled all aspects of Governmentaspects of Government

Married to Alexandra (his cousin)Married to Alexandra (his cousin) Had 4 daughters and 1 son AlexisHad 4 daughters and 1 son Alexis Alexis suffered from Hemophilia (blood Alexis suffered from Hemophilia (blood

clotting disease)clotting disease) Because of this Alexandra and Nicholas Because of this Alexandra and Nicholas

relied on the help of Gregori Rasputin relied on the help of Gregori Rasputin who helped ease Alexis’ condition.who helped ease Alexis’ condition.

Rasputin gainedRasputin gained ththe trust of the e trust of the royal couple androyal couple and Alexandra Alexandra mademade nno o decisions without consultingdecisions without consulting Rasputin firstRasputin first

Rasputin interfered in government Rasputin interfered in government affairs and many powerful affairs and many powerful aristocrats blamed Rasputinaristocrats blamed Rasputin

He was assassinated in Dec. 1916He was assassinated in Dec. 1916

The Russo-Japanese The Russo-Japanese War (1905). War (1905).

Russia and Japan Russia and Japan competed for control competed for control over Manchuria and over Manchuria and Korea. Korea.

Japan attacked in Japan attacked in 1904. Russia lost the 1904. Russia lost the war and led to unrest war and led to unrest and riots in Russiaand riots in Russia

Demonstration led by Father Gapon on Czar’s Demonstration led by Father Gapon on Czar’s PalacePalace

Demonstrators wanted:Demonstrators wanted: better working conditions, better working conditions, more personal freedoms more personal freedoms elected national legislature.elected national legislature.

Soldiers fired on the crowd and between 500-Soldiers fired on the crowd and between 500-1,000 unarmed people were killed.1,000 unarmed people were killed.

Bloody Sunday set off a wave of strikes and Bloody Sunday set off a wave of strikes and violence across Russia. violence across Russia.

In response, Nicholas II approved the In response, Nicholas II approved the creation of the Duma-Russia’s First creation of the Duma-Russia’s First Parliament.Parliament.

Alliances brought Russia into WWI in Alliances brought Russia into WWI in 1914 unprepared for war 1914 unprepared for war

WWI showed the Czar was weakWWI showed the Czar was weak Soldiers mutinied Soldiers mutinied Food and fuel supplies were Food and fuel supplies were

dwindling on the home front.dwindling on the home front. Germany sensed the weakness of the Germany sensed the weakness of the

Russians Russians Helped Lenin to get into RussiaHelped Lenin to get into Russia Hoped he would help pull Russia out of Hoped he would help pull Russia out of

the war.the war. Lenin was a Marxist who wanted to Lenin was a Marxist who wanted to

create a Communist State in Russiacreate a Communist State in Russia

Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels wrote Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels wrote the Communist Manifesto in 1848.the Communist Manifesto in 1848.

The Communist Manifesto:The Communist Manifesto: all movements in history are a result of all movements in history are a result of

economic class struggle.economic class struggle. The Proletariat (or working class) were The Proletariat (or working class) were

exploited by the bourgeoisie.exploited by the bourgeoisie. Marx argued that there would be a Marx argued that there would be a

worldwide revolution in worldwide revolution in industrialized nations where the industrialized nations where the workers would unite and overthrow workers would unite and overthrow the upper classesthe upper classes

V.I. LeninV.I. Lenin V.I. Lenin was heavily influenced by V.I. Lenin was heavily influenced by

Marxist theories which are the basis of Marxist theories which are the basis of communism in the 20communism in the 20thth Century. Century.

Communism: all means of production: Communism: all means of production: land, mines, factories, railroads and land, mines, factories, railroads and businesses would be owned by the businesses would be owned by the governmentgovernment

Under a communist state: all goods Under a communist state: all goods and services would be shared equally.and services would be shared equally.

The March RevolutionThe March Revolution Riots broke out again during a strike Riots broke out again during a strike

in Petrograd in March 1917.in Petrograd in March 1917. This local protest led to a general This local protest led to a general

uprising which led to the abdication uprising which led to the abdication of the Czar.of the Czar.

Leaders of the Duma set up the Leaders of the Duma set up the Provisional Government led by Provisional Government led by Alexander Kerensky.Alexander Kerensky.

The Provisional The Provisional GovernmentGovernment

The Provisional Government made the The Provisional Government made the costly mistake of continuing to fight in costly mistake of continuing to fight in World War I. World War I.

Social revolutionaries formed Soviets (or Social revolutionaries formed Soviets (or local councils) to discuss the political local councils) to discuss the political situation in Russia. situation in Russia.

In April 1917, Lenin returns to Russia with In April 1917, Lenin returns to Russia with the intent of overthrowing the Provisional the intent of overthrowing the Provisional Government and establishing a communist Government and establishing a communist state.state.

The Bolshevik RevolutionThe Bolshevik Revolution In November 1917, the In November 1917, the

Bolshevik Red Guards Bolshevik Red Guards stormed the Winter stormed the Winter Palace in Petrograd. Palace in Petrograd.

They also took over They also took over government offices and government offices and arrested the leaders of arrested the leaders of the Provisional the Provisional government.government.

The Bolshevik Revolution The Bolshevik Revolution was over in just a few was over in just a few hourshours

The Civil War in RussiaThe Civil War in Russia Whites (or Royalists, or anyone not Red) Whites (or Royalists, or anyone not Red)

vs. the Reds (or Bolsheviks)vs. the Reds (or Bolsheviks) Other nations stepped in to help the Other nations stepped in to help the

Whites including troops from the United Whites including troops from the United States. States.

About 15 million people died in the 3 year About 15 million people died in the 3 year Civil War and in the famine and flu Civil War and in the famine and flu epidemic that followed.epidemic that followed.

The Red Army crushed all opposition but The Red Army crushed all opposition but the real challenge occurred in years the real challenge occurred in years following the civil war.following the civil war.

The Soviet Union under The Soviet Union under LeninLenin

Russia was devastated after WWI and Russia was devastated after WWI and the Civil War. They lost about ½ of the Civil War. They lost about ½ of their population.their population.

By 1922 wages had dropped to 1/10 of By 1922 wages had dropped to 1/10 of prewar levels.prewar levels.

Western nations blockaded Russia so Western nations blockaded Russia so nothing could leave or enternothing could leave or enter

Lenin concerned that the new Lenin concerned that the new communist experiment would failcommunist experiment would fail

The New Economic The New Economic PolicyPolicy

Lenin combined some capitalism into his Lenin combined some capitalism into his communist experiment.communist experiment.

Lenin described it as taking 1 step Lenin described it as taking 1 step backward to move 2 steps forward.backward to move 2 steps forward.

The NEP helped to jump start the The NEP helped to jump start the economy with small scale capitalismeconomy with small scale capitalism

After NEP success, the Communist party After NEP success, the Communist party introduced measures to bring about a introduced measures to bring about a classless society.classless society.

Lenin dies in 1924 which led to a power Lenin dies in 1924 which led to a power struggle with Joseph Stalin eventually struggle with Joseph Stalin eventually gaining control of the Soviet Uniongaining control of the Soviet Union