The Russian Revolution

Essential Question

What events and people helped cause the Russian Revolution?

CausesRussian economy is weak/no foodTsar Nicholas II an ineffective leaderBloody Sunday – people lose faith in

the TsarProvisional Govt stays in the warRussia is losing the war with

Germany

Was Tsar Nicholas an effective leader

March 1917 Revolution

Nicholas II abdicates in March 1917

Duma establishes a provisional government – democracy

Continues the war – mistake–Provisional government loses support

CausesBloody Sunday – people lose faith

in the TsarTsar Nicholas II was an ineffective

leaderRussian economy was weak/smallRussia was losing the war (militarily

and economically)Provisional Govt stays in the war

Other things at work

November RevolutionProvisional Government

overthrown by radicals–Bolsheviks (communists)

led by Vladimir Lenin –Promises “peace, land,

and bread”Pulls Russia out of the

warEstablishes the Soviet

Union

Murder of the royal family

Background

Before 1917, Russia was controlled by a tsar (king)–Autocracy – absolute rule

The Russian Economy–Not fully industrialized, but in the

process

Tsar Nicholas II Family man Devout Paternal Indecisive

– Would have preferred not to be the tsar

Overall, not an effective leader

Pre-War Years: 1900 - 1914Russia slowly industrializes

–Horrible working conditions in factories

–Working class not happy–Workers seek change

Revolution of 1905 Bloody Sunday

–200,000 workers marched in St. Petersburg

–Brought a petition to the Tsar’s palace

–Chaos ensues and troops open fire–Several hundred are killed–Tsar loses support –Nicholas agrees to a Duma

(congress)

Russia in WWI

Economy not prepared–Lack of supplies

Suffers heavy casualties and many defeats

People begin to riot because of food shortages

Eventually army turns on Tsar

Other things at work

March 1917 Revolution

Nicholas II abdicates in March 1917

Duma establishes a provisional government – democracy

Continues the war – mistake–Provisional government loses support

November RevolutionProvisional Government

overthrown by radicals–Bolsheviks (communists)

led by Vladimir Lenin –Promises “peace, land,

and bread”Pulls Russia out of the

war– Germany can now focus on

the Western Front

Establish the Soviet Union

Murder of the royal family

EQ: How did Lenin and the Bolsheviks

change Russia?

Lenin’s Russia Russia becomes the Soviet

Union New Capital – Moscow Treaty with Germany to end

the war– Russia lost land

Distributes farmland to peasants

Workers control factories Communists/Bolsheviks

control government and average person has little freedom

Russian Civil War

1917 – 1922Red Army (under Lenin and the

Bolsheviks) vs White Army (those who opposed the Bolsheviks)

10 million dieRed Army eventually wins