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The Russian The Russian RevolutionRevolution

IntroductionIntroduction

The Russian Revolution was like a firecracker with a very long fuse. The explosion came in 1917, yet the fuse had been burning for nearly a century. The cruel, oppressive rule of most 19th-century czars caused widespread social unrest for decades. Army officers revolted in 1825. Secret revolutionary groups plotted to overthrow the government.

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Romanov DynastyRomanov Dynasty

1.1. Ruled Russia for Ruled Russia for 300 years.300 years.

2.2. Divine RightDivine Right..

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Political CausesPolitical Causes

1.1. Autocratic RuleAutocratic Rule2.2. Strict CensorshipStrict Censorship3.3. Secret PoliceSecret Police4.4. Political PrisonersPolitical Prisoners

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Economic CauseEconomic Cause

1.1. Subsistence Subsistence farmersfarmers

2.2. Industrialization Industrialization led to terrible led to terrible working conditions.working conditions.

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Social CausesSocial Causes1.1. Only 40% ethnic Only 40% ethnic

Russian.Russian.2.2. RussificationRussification3.3. PogromsPogroms4.4. Literacy Rate <40%Literacy Rate <40%5.5. Life expectancy aprox. Life expectancy aprox.

40 years of age.40 years of age.

The Revolutionary Movement The Revolutionary Movement GrowsGrows

Industrialization breeds discontent over Industrialization breeds discontent over working conditions and wages.working conditions and wages.

Growing popularity of Marxist idea that Growing popularity of Marxist idea that proletariat (workers) will ruleproletariat (workers) will rule

Bolsheviks—Marxists who favor revolution Bolsheviks—Marxists who favor revolution by a small committed groupby a small committed group

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Russo-Japanese War 1904-5Russo-Japanese War 1904-5The defeat revealed Russian weakness The defeat revealed Russian weakness and led to the 1905 Revolution in and led to the 1905 Revolution in Russia. Russia.

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Bloody Sunday (1905)Bloody Sunday (1905) In 1905, 200,000 In 1905, 200,000

workers march on the workers march on the czar’s palace to czar’s palace to demand reformsdemand reforms

The army fires into the The army fires into the crowd, killing manycrowd, killing many

Massacre leads to Massacre leads to widespread unrest; widespread unrest; Nicholas if forced to Nicholas if forced to make reformsmake reforms

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How Did World War I Spark a How Did World War I Spark a Revolution in Russia?Revolution in Russia?

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March RevolutionMarch Revolution

1.1. Nicholas losses Nicholas losses support of the army.support of the army.

2.2. On March 15, 1917 On March 15, 1917 Nicholas is forced to Nicholas is forced to abdicate.abdicate.

3.3. A Provisional A Provisional (temporary)(temporary) Government was Government was established in established in Petrograd under the Petrograd under the leadership of leadership of Alexander KerenskyAlexander Kerensky

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Failure of the Provisional Failure of the Provisional GovernmentGovernment

1.1. Unable to provide the cities with food.Unable to provide the cities with food.

2.2. Refused to approve land seized by Refused to approve land seized by peasants.peasants.

3.3. Insisted in continuing to fight in the Insisted in continuing to fight in the Great War.Great War.

4.4. Petrograd Soviet & Order Number 1Petrograd Soviet & Order Number 1

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Vladimir Lenin’s Push for a Vladimir Lenin’s Push for a RevolutionRevolution

1.1. Exiled by Nicholas II, Lenin Exiled by Nicholas II, Lenin snuck into Russia with the snuck into Russia with the help of the Germans.help of the Germans.

2.2. Leader of the Bolsheviks Leader of the Bolsheviks (Communist Revolutionary (Communist Revolutionary Organization)Organization)

3.3. Wanted to spark a Wanted to spark a Communist Revolution.Communist Revolution.

4.4. Issues his Issues his April ThesesApril Theses1.1. Bread, Peace, LandBread, Peace, Land2.2. All power to the SovietsAll power to the Soviets

5.5. Wanted the Wanted the ProletariatProletariat to to overthrow the overthrow the BourgeoisieBourgeoisie

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Lenin’s Wedding CakeLenin’s Wedding Cake

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November RevolutionNovember RevolutionBolshevik’s Take PowerBolshevik’s Take Power

1. Took over bridges, telephone lines, banks, buildings, railway stations

2. Red Guards stormed Winter palace and arrest leaders of Provisional Government

3. 11/8/1917 – Lenin announces new Communist Government

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Russian Civil War 1918-1920Russian Civil War 1918-19201.1. Bolsheviks attempted to put Bolsheviks attempted to put

down counterrevolutionaries.down counterrevolutionaries.2.2. Red Army: BolsheviksRed Army: Bolsheviks3.3. White Army: Several groupsWhite Army: Several groups4.4. Leon Trotsky commanded the Leon Trotsky commanded the

Red Army.Red Army.5.5. Institution of War CommunismInstitution of War Communism6.6. The Red Army was victoriousThe Red Army was victorious

Photograph of Red Photograph of Red Army soldier about Army soldier about to be to be executed by executed by members of the members of the White Army.White Army.

Russia Under Lenin: 1917-1924Russia Under Lenin: 1917-1924

Sought popular supportSought popular support– Treaty of Brest-LitovskTreaty of Brest-Litovsk– Nationalized IndustryNationalized Industry– Seized noble estatesSeized noble estates

NEP (1921-1928)NEP (1921-1928) Crushed oppositionCrushed opposition Created the Soviet Union (1922)Created the Soviet Union (1922)

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1919

The Post Lenin Era The Post Lenin Era 1.1. Russia becomes the Union of Russia becomes the Union of

Soviet Socialist Republics in Soviet Socialist Republics in 1922.1922.

2.2. Vladimir Lenin dies in 1924 Vladimir Lenin dies in 1924 leaving a power vacuum.leaving a power vacuum.

3.3. A struggle for power ensues A struggle for power ensues between Leon Trotsky and between Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin.Joseph Stalin.

4.4. Stalin forces Trotsky into exile Stalin forces Trotsky into exile and eventually orders his and eventually orders his assassination.assassination.

5.5. Under Joseph Stalin Under Joseph Stalin approximately 20 million approximately 20 million people were killed, many people were killed, many more were sent into labor more were sent into labor camps (Gulags).camps (Gulags).

Joseph Joseph StalinStalin

Leon Leon TrotskyTrotsky