Russian RevolutionRussian Revolution

Czar Nicholas IICzar Nicholas II

Ruled from 1894 – Ruled from 1894 – 19171917

Ruled over Russia, Ruled over Russia, Finland and PolandFinland and Poland

Captured by LvovCaptured by Lvov Killed by the BolshKilled by the Bolsh

evikseviks Became “Nicholas Became “Nicholas

the Martyr”the Martyr”

Problems with Nicholas IIProblems with Nicholas II

Repressive and aristocratic regimes Repressive and aristocratic regimes of the Romanov dynastyof the Romanov dynasty

Nicholas II Nicholas II inability to allow any form inability to allow any form of reform and a refusal to release of reform and a refusal to release AbsolutismAbsolutism

Low living standard for the people of Low living standard for the people of RussiaRussia

February RevolutionFebruary Revolution

What was it?What was it? Abdication of Czar Abdication of Czar

Nicholas II Nicholas II Led by Gregory Lvov Led by Gregory Lvov

then Alexander then Alexander Kerensky Kerensky

Liberal and Socialist Liberal and Socialist coalitioncoalition

Democratically Democratically elected governmentelected government

ProblemsProblems Didn’t represent the Didn’t represent the

peoplepeople Soldiers desertingSoldiers deserting Pressure from other Pressure from other

political groupspolitical groups Would not end Would not end

Russia’s involvement Russia’s involvement in WWIin WWI

Shortage of FoodShortage of Food

Causes of October RevolutionCauses of October Revolution

Severe economic and social crisis in Russia Severe economic and social crisis in Russia Russia in WWI: “This isn’t war it is Russia in WWI: “This isn’t war it is

slaughter” slaughter” LeninLenin Corruption in Government Corruption in Government Large Poverty GapLarge Poverty Gap Revolutionary Middle Class Revolutionary Middle Class New Ideas of New Ideas of MarxismMarxism in Europe in Europe Vladimir LeninVladimir Lenin leader of the visionary leader of the visionary

Revolutionary classRevolutionary class

Bolsheviks “The Majority”Bolsheviks “The Majority” Vladimir LeninVladimir Lenin Founder of the PartyFounder of the Party Led the October RevolutionLed the October Revolution Became the leader Became the leader

Communist Party of the Communist Party of the Soviet UnionSoviet Union

Opposite of the Opposite of the Mensheviks “Minority”Mensheviks “Minority”

*Seen as dangerous-*Seen as dangerous-Germany sent him back to Germany sent him back to Russia to ‘stir things up’ Russia to ‘stir things up’ and avoid problems his and avoid problems his causing problems in causing problems in GErmanyGErmany

October RevolutionOctober Revolution

Coup d’etat: Lenin & Trotsky’s Red Coup d’etat: Lenin & Trotsky’s Red Army (October 25Army (October 25thth, 1917), 1917)

Overtook to the Russian Provisional Overtook to the Russian Provisional GovernmentGovernment

Established Soviet CommunismEstablished Soviet Communism Civil War:Civil War:

• Supported by foreign governmentsSupported by foreign governments• Bolsheviks kill all political opponentsBolsheviks kill all political opponents

Soviet GovernmentSoviet Government

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.) or Soviet Union(U.S.S.R.) or Soviet Union

Not Marx’s CommunismNot Marx’s Communism Totalitarian GovernmentTotalitarian Government

• Nationalized Banks Nationalized Banks • Government owned factories Government owned factories • No private bank accounts No private bank accounts • Church’s nationalized Church’s nationalized • Higher wages, shorter work daysHigher wages, shorter work days• All foreign debts were repudiatedAll foreign debts were repudiated

Death of LeninDeath of Lenin

Weakened by Weakened by RevolutionRevolution

Failed Failed Assassination Assassination AttemptAttempt

Multiple StrokesMultiple Strokes Died January 21, Died January 21,

19241924 In a letter Trotsky In a letter Trotsky

was to gain powerwas to gain power

Joseph Stalin v. Leon TrotskyJoseph Stalin v. Leon Trotsky

Joseph Stalin v. Leon TrotskyJoseph Stalin v. Leon Trotsky

Joseph StalinJoseph Stalin Controlled the Secret Controlled the Secret

Police (KGB)Police (KGB) Controlled many local Controlled many local

governmentsgovernments Socialist Revolution Socialist Revolution

“One country at a “One country at a time”time”

Conspired against Conspired against TrotskyTrotsky

Leon TrotskyLeon Trotsky Lenin’s personal pick Lenin’s personal pick

for Russiafor Russia Plotted against by Plotted against by

Stalin, Zinoviev, Stalin, Zinoviev, KamanevKamanev

Socialist World Socialist World RevolutionRevolution

Warned of Stalin’s Warned of Stalin’s mistreatment of powermistreatment of power

Joseph StalinJoseph Stalin ““Man of Steel”Man of Steel” Ruled from 1922-53Ruled from 1922-53 Exile of Trotsky and Exile of Trotsky and

AssassinationAssassination ““Five-Year-Plans”Five-Year-Plans” Collectivization of Collectivization of

AgricultureAgriculture Killing of KulaksKilling of Kulaks Famine (1931-32)Famine (1931-32) Ruthless Rule over Ruthless Rule over

PeasantryPeasantry