THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

Review• Central Power Advantages: Geography, Quicker Action,

Better Training• Allied Power Advantages: More Soldiers, Greater

Industrialization, Controlled Seas• The impact technology had on WWI• WWI characterized by stalemates & death• Germany’s use of unrestricted submarine warfare drew

U.S. into war

Essential Question

The “February Revolution”• Occurred in March 1917• Worker-led food riots broke out• Tsar Nicholas II steps down• The Duma, elected legislature, declared Russia a republic• Provisional government failed to gain public support when

they refused to withdraw from WWI

The “October Revolution”• Occurred November 1917• Vladimir Lenin was follower of Karl Marx• Lived in Switzerland, & Germans sent him back to Russia

to cause unrest• Lenin’s supporters known as Bolsheviks• Bolsheviks promised peace to soldiers, bread to workers,

& land to peasants

The “October Revolution”• Bolsheviks seized power in November 1917• Bolsheviks changed the name of their political party to the Communists

• Changed name of the country to Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.) or “Soviet Union”

Russian Civil War (1919-1921)• Communists immediately withdrew from WWI• Transferred millions of acres of land to peasants• All industries taken over by government• 2 groups went to war:

• Reds – People that supported Lenin• Whites – Wanted to return to rule of the Tsar

Russian Civil War (1919-1921)• Several foreign countries sent troops to support the White

Army• Red Army had support of peasants & workers• Lenin took drastic steps to ensure the monarchy couldn’t

be reinstated – Murdered Tsar Nicholas & family• Red Army won, securing power of Communist

government

Vladimir Lenin• Leader of U.S.S.R. from 1917-1924• Added his own ideas of communism to Marx’s ideas

• Small group of dedicated party members must lead the country to Communist equality

• Temporary dictatorship needed cause workers couldn’t be trusted to know own true interests

Vladimir Lenin• Lenin’s “New Economic Policy” (N.E.P.)

• Russian economy poor after 50 years of turmoil• Bolsheviks needed to deliver on promises (Food to people)• By 1921 U.S.S.R. was facing severe famine• Lenin puts communist policies on hold to avoid disaster

Vladimir Lenin• New Economic Policy (cont.)

• Wanted to keep peasants happy, Bolsheviks in power, & stabilize economy

• Introduced N.E.P.• Allowed some private ownership of businesses (Manufacturing &

Agricultural)• Government continued to control major industries• N.E.P. was slowly increasing production

Vladimir Lenin• Lenin dies in 1924• Replaced by Joseph Stalin