The Russian The Russian RevolutionRevolution

Chapter 23 Chapter 23

AP European HistoryAP European History

Recap…Recap…

Unrest in 1800’s and early 1900’sUnrest in 1800’s and early 1900’s– Decembrist Revolt (1825)Decembrist Revolt (1825)– Loss of war= demand for reformLoss of war= demand for reform

Crimean WarCrimean War Russo-Japanese WarRusso-Japanese War

Recap…Recap…

Reforms of Reforms of Alexander IIAlexander II– Prompted by loss in Prompted by loss in

Crimean WarCrimean War– Created local Created local

government government positionspositions

– Emancipation of Emancipation of serfsserfs

Recap…Recap…

Social and economic inequality helps Social and economic inequality helps popularize various ideas (Marxism, etc.)popularize various ideas (Marxism, etc.)

Intelligentsia help to spread these ideasIntelligentsia help to spread these ideas– Government will attempt to “shut them up”Government will attempt to “shut them up”

Assassination of Alexander II leads to a Assassination of Alexander II leads to a backlashbacklash– RussificationRussification

Revolution of 1905Revolution of 1905

Russia’s loss in the Russo-Japanese Russia’s loss in the Russo-Japanese War again leads to revoltWar again leads to revolt

Thousands of people marched on the Thousands of people marched on the tsar’s Winter Palace demanding tsar’s Winter Palace demanding reformreform– Troops fired on the crowdTroops fired on the crowd– ““Bloody Sunday”Bloody Sunday”

News of the massacre spread, leading News of the massacre spread, leading to anti-government demonstrations to anti-government demonstrations

Bloody SundayBloody Sunday

Revolution of 1905Revolution of 1905 Nicholas IINicholas II (ruled (ruled

from 1894-1917) from 1894-1917) agreed to a few agreed to a few reformsreforms– New constitutionNew constitution– Creation of a Creation of a

parliament (Duma)parliament (Duma)– Forgive redemption Forgive redemption

payments that former payments that former serfs were required to serfs were required to pay in return for pay in return for communal lands (mir)communal lands (mir)

– Relaxation of Relaxation of Russification policiesRussification policies

The Last of the Russian The Last of the Russian TsarsTsars

Alexei’s illnessAlexei’s illness TThe Emperor wrote to his mother:he Emperor wrote to his mother: “The days from the 10th to “The days from the 10th to

the 23rd were the worst. The poor child suffered greatly; the the 23rd were the worst. The poor child suffered greatly; the pain was sporadic, occurring every 15 minutes. He hardly pain was sporadic, occurring every 15 minutes. He hardly slept at all, did not have the strength to cry but only moaned, slept at all, did not have the strength to cry but only moaned, repeating the same words all over again: “Lord have mercy repeating the same words all over again: “Lord have mercy on me.” I could not stand it but had to remain in the room in on me.” I could not stand it but had to remain in the room in order to relieve Alix who had exhausted herself completely, order to relieve Alix who had exhausted herself completely, spending every night at his bedside. She bore this trial better spending every night at his bedside. She bore this trial better than I, especially when Alexis’ sufferings were at their worst.”than I, especially when Alexis’ sufferings were at their worst.”

An eye witness of Alexei’s illness write: An eye witness of Alexei’s illness write: “The crown-prince lay “The crown-prince lay in bed, and moaned pitiably, pressing his head to his in bed, and moaned pitiably, pressing his head to his mother’s hand, his fine face bloodless, unrecognizable. From mother’s hand, his fine face bloodless, unrecognizable. From time to time he stopped moaning to whisper only one word: time to time he stopped moaning to whisper only one word: “Mama,” in which he expressed all his suffering, all his heart-“Mama,” in which he expressed all his suffering, all his heart-break. And the mother would kiss his hair, his forehead, his break. And the mother would kiss his hair, his forehead, his eyes, as if by this caress she could lighten his pain, breathe eyes, as if by this caress she could lighten his pain, breathe into him some of that life which was leaving him.”into him some of that life which was leaving him.”

Russia During WWIRussia During WWI

Fought with AlliesFought with Allies Highest casualty ratesHighest casualty rates Poorly equippedPoorly equipped Dissatisfaction among troopsDissatisfaction among troops Food shortages and civil unrestFood shortages and civil unrest

The February RevolutionThe February Revolution

February, 1917: Revolution broke out in February, 1917: Revolution broke out in Petrograd (formerly St. Petersburg)Petrograd (formerly St. Petersburg)

Workers went on strike in memory of Workers went on strike in memory of “Bloody Sunday”“Bloody Sunday”– Tens of thousands demonstrated in the streetsTens of thousands demonstrated in the streets

Discontent and mutiny in the militaryDiscontent and mutiny in the military March 2, 1917: Nicholas II abdicates March 2, 1917: Nicholas II abdicates

thronethrone– March 15 in the western calendarMarch 15 in the western calendar

Abdication of Tsar Nicholas IIAbdication of Tsar Nicholas IIIn the days of the great struggle against the foreign enemies, who for nearly In the days of the great struggle against the foreign enemies, who for nearly three years have tried to enslave our fatherland, the Lord God has been pleased three years have tried to enslave our fatherland, the Lord God has been pleased to send down on Russia a new heavy trial. Internal popular disturbances threaten to send down on Russia a new heavy trial. Internal popular disturbances threaten to have a disastrous effect on the future conduct of this persistent war. The to have a disastrous effect on the future conduct of this persistent war. The destiny of Russia, the honor of our heroic army, the welfare of the people and the destiny of Russia, the honor of our heroic army, the welfare of the people and the whole future of our dear fatherland demand that the war should be brought to a whole future of our dear fatherland demand that the war should be brought to a victorious conclusion whatever the cost. The cruel enemy is making his last victorious conclusion whatever the cost. The cruel enemy is making his last efforts, and already the hour approaches when our glorious army together with efforts, and already the hour approaches when our glorious army together with our gallant allies will crush him. In these decisive days in the life of Russia, We our gallant allies will crush him. In these decisive days in the life of Russia, We thought it Our duty of conscience to facilitate for Our people the closest union thought it Our duty of conscience to facilitate for Our people the closest union possible and a consolidation of all national forces for the speedy attainment of possible and a consolidation of all national forces for the speedy attainment of victory. In agreement with the Imperial Duma We have thought it well to victory. In agreement with the Imperial Duma We have thought it well to renounce the Throne of the Russian Empire and to lay down the supreme power. renounce the Throne of the Russian Empire and to lay down the supreme power. As We do not wish to part from Our beloved son, We transmit the succession to As We do not wish to part from Our beloved son, We transmit the succession to Our brother, the Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich, and give Him Our blessing Our brother, the Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich, and give Him Our blessing to mount the Throne of the Russian Empire. We direct Our brother to conduct the to mount the Throne of the Russian Empire. We direct Our brother to conduct the affairs of state in full and inviolable union with the representatives of the people affairs of state in full and inviolable union with the representatives of the people in the legislative bodies on those principles which will be established by them, in the legislative bodies on those principles which will be established by them, and on which He will take an inviolable oath. In the name of Our dearly beloved and on which He will take an inviolable oath. In the name of Our dearly beloved homeland, We call on Our faithful sons of the fatherland to fulfill their sacred homeland, We call on Our faithful sons of the fatherland to fulfill their sacred duty to the fatherland, to obey the Tsar in the heavy moment of national trials, duty to the fatherland, to obey the Tsar in the heavy moment of national trials, and to help Him, together with the representatives of the people, to guide the and to help Him, together with the representatives of the people, to guide the Russian Empire on the road to victory, welfare, and glory. May the Lord God help Russian Empire on the road to victory, welfare, and glory. May the Lord God help Russia!Russia!

Provisional GovernmentProvisional Government

A provisional government was A provisional government was created, largely under the leadership created, largely under the leadership of of Alexander KerenskyAlexander Kerensky (Prime (Prime Minister)Minister)

SovietsSoviets (workers’ councils) were (workers’ councils) were created to lobby for the rights of created to lobby for the rights of workers and the peopleworkers and the people

Despite the efforts of the provisional Despite the efforts of the provisional government, the revolution continued government, the revolution continued to spreadto spread

LeninLenin

Vladimir Vladimir LeninLenin: : leader of the leader of the BolsheviksBolsheviks– had been exiled to had been exiled to

Switzerland in 1900Switzerland in 1900 Lenin returned to Lenin returned to

Russia in April, Russia in April, 19171917

Began to buildup Began to buildup his followinghis following

LeninLenin

““April Theses”April Theses”– Series of publications by Lenin in which Series of publications by Lenin in which

he advocates revolution he advocates revolution – Outlines the views of the BolsheviksOutlines the views of the Bolsheviks

Major ideas:Major ideas:– Demand that Russia withdraw from WWIDemand that Russia withdraw from WWI– Opposed to the provisional governmentOpposed to the provisional government– Attempt to spread the revolution to other countriesAttempt to spread the revolution to other countries– Redistribution of land to the peasantsRedistribution of land to the peasants

– Calls for Soviet control of the stateCalls for Soviet control of the state

The July DaysThe July Days

Despite the revolution, the Despite the revolution, the provisional government kept Russia provisional government kept Russia in WWIin WWI– Ordered a new offensive in June, 1917Ordered a new offensive in June, 1917

July, 1917: Bolsheviks lead another July, 1917: Bolsheviks lead another insurrectioninsurrection

Known as the “July Days”Known as the “July Days”

October RevolutionOctober Revolution

October, 1917: the provisional October, 1917: the provisional government collapsedgovernment collapsed

Also known as the Also known as the Bolshevik Bolshevik RevolutionRevolution

Russia withdraws from WWIRussia withdraws from WWI

December, 1917: Russia signed an December, 1917: Russia signed an armistice with Germanyarmistice with Germany

March, 1918: Russia and Germany March, 1918: Russia and Germany signed the signed the Treaty of Brest-LitovskTreaty of Brest-Litovsk

The Bolshevik RevolutionThe Bolshevik Revolution

In 1918, a civil war broke out In 1918, a civil war broke out between the Bolsheviks and their between the Bolsheviks and their oppositionopposition– ““Reds”- BolsheviksReds”- Bolsheviks– ““Whites”- anti-BolsheviksWhites”- anti-Bolsheviks

The government nationalized all landThe government nationalized all land– Land redistributionLand redistribution

The Bolshevik RevolutionThe Bolshevik Revolution

July 17, 1918: Royal family brutally July 17, 1918: Royal family brutally murderedmurdered

Bolsheviks became known as the Bolsheviks became known as the Communist PartyCommunist Party

September, 1918: “Red Terror” beganSeptember, 1918: “Red Terror” began– Forced labor camps to eliminate oppositionForced labor camps to eliminate opposition– Fighting continued between the Red Army Fighting continued between the Red Army

and the White army.and the White army.

The Bolshevik RevolutionThe Bolshevik Revolution

June, 1919: Large-scale industries June, 1919: Large-scale industries are nationalizedare nationalized

New Economic PolicyNew Economic Policy: (NEP): (NEP)– Lenin’s economic plan for RussiaLenin’s economic plan for Russia– Government maintained control over Government maintained control over

industryindustry– Peasants were still permitted to use land Peasants were still permitted to use land

for market agriculture for market agriculture – Created a “mixed” economyCreated a “mixed” economy

The Power StruggleThe Power Struggle

1922: Lenin suffered a 1922: Lenin suffered a stroke. stroke. – A power struggle began A power struggle began

between between Joseph StalinJoseph Stalin and and Leon TrotskyLeon Trotsky

1924: Lenin died and 1924: Lenin died and Stalin takes overStalin takes over

Under Stalin’s rule, Under Stalin’s rule, the Soviet Union the Soviet Union became even more became even more totalitarian.totalitarian.

The USSR is bornThe USSR is born

1922: The 1922: The Union of Soviet Socialist Union of Soviet Socialist RepublicsRepublics (USSR, also known as the (USSR, also known as the Soviet UnionSoviet Union) was formed) was formed