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Russian Revolution

Russian Revolution. Czars Resist Change. Autocracy- czar had total power Anyone who questioned the absolute authority of the czar, worshipped outside the Russian Orthodox Church, or spoke a language other than Russian were considered dangerous. Alexander III.

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Russian Revolution

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  1. Russian Revolution

  2. Czars Resist Change • Autocracy- czar had total power • Anyone who questioned the absolute authority of the czar, worshipped outside the Russian Orthodox Church, or spoke a language other than Russian were considered dangerous

  3. Alexander III • Alexander III used harsh measures to wipe out revolutionaries • Strict censorship on published materials and written documents, including private letters • Secret police carefully watch both secondary schools and universities • Political prisoners were sent to Siberia

  4. Uniform Russian Culture • Czar Alexander III oppressed other national groups within Russia • Made Russian the official language and forbade the use of other languages • Targeted Jews • Pogroms- organized violence against the Jews

  5. Russia Industrializes • In the mid-1800s, Russia lagged behind the rest of Europe in industrialization • Czar Nicholas II and his advisors launched a program to move Russia forward • To raise money for new industries, they sought foreign investors and raised taxes • By 1900, Russia had become the world’s fourth-ranking producer of steel

  6. Began construction in 1891 and finished in 1916 World’s longest continuous rail line Connected western Russia to eastern Russia Trans-Siberian Railway

  7. Revolutionary Movements • Along with industrialization came the same negative effects as in Britain (child labor, long working hours, low pay, etc.) and people were unhappy • Marxist revolutionaries • Followed the views of Karl Marx • Believed that the industrial class of workers would overthrow the czars • Proletariat (workers) would rule the country

  8. Marxists Split • Mensheviks • More moderate group who wanted a broad base of support for the revolution • Bolsheviks • Led by Vladimir Lenin • More radical group who was willing to sacrifice everything for the revolution

  9. Russo-Japanese War • Russia and Japan both competed for control of Korea and Manchuria • The two nations signed a series of agreements over the territories, but Russia broke them • Japan retaliated and attacked the Russians at Port Arthur, Manchuria in February 1904 • Sparked unrest and led to a revolt at home

  10. Bloody Sunday • January 22, 1905, about 200,000 workers and their families approached the czar’s Winter Palace in St. Petersburg • Carried a petition for better working conditions, more personal freedom, and an elected national legislature • Nicholas II ordered his guards to fire on the crowd • More than 1,000 wounded and several hundred killed

  11. Bloody Sunday, cont. • Caused a wave of strikes and revolts across the country • Nicholas II created a legislature • Duma- Russia’s first Parliament • Leaders wanted to create a constitutional monarchy • Nicholas did not want to share power, so the Duma dissolved in about 10 weeks

  12. WWI: The Final Blow • Nicholas entered WWI and Russia was unprepared to handle the military and economic costs • Weak generals and poorly equipped troops were no match for the German army • In less than a year, more than 4 million Russians had been killed, wounded, or taken prisoner

  13. WWI • Nicholas moved headquarters to war front • Wife Czarina Alexandra ran government while he was away • She ignored chief advisors • Fell under influence of Rasputin- “holy man” • She allowed Rasputin to make political decisions • Opposed reforms & obtained powerful positions for friends • Group of nobles murdered him- they feared his increasing role in government

  14. WWI cont. • War front- Russian soldiers mutinied, deserted, or ignored orders • Home front- Food & supplies dwindling, prices inflated • All classes wanted change

  15. The March Revolution • March 1917- women textile workers in Petrograd led citywide strike • Nearly 200,000 workers swarmed streets • Soldiers sided with rioters

  16. Czar Steps Down • Nicholas II abdicated his throne • One year later, revolutionaries executed Nicholas and his family • Revolution brought down czar, but failed to set up a strong government

  17. Provisional Government • Temporary government set up by Duma • Decided to stay in WWI= conditions in Russia worsened

  18. The Bolshevik Revolution • Bolsheviks starting to take control of many cities- “Peace, Land and Bread” • Provisional government topples • Armed factory workers attacked Winter Palace • Bolshevik Red Guards took over government offices & arrested leaders of provisional government

  19. Bolsheviks in Power • Lenin ordered all farmland be distributed to peasants • Gave control of factories to workers • Truce with Germany to stop all fighting first Bolshevik national flag

  20. Civil War Rages in Russia • 1918-1920 • Red Army (Bolsheviks) v. White Army • Red Army commanded by Leon Trotsky • White Army (made up of three main groups of people) • Either wanted czarist rule, wanted democratic government, or they were socialists who opposed Lenin’s style of socialism • Only thing that united them was the desire to defeat the Bolsheviks

  21. Civil War cont. • Several western nations sent military aid forces to help White Army= didn’t help • 14 million Russians died from fighting, hunger, or worldwide flu epidemic • Bolshevik Red Army crushed all opposition

  22. Comparing World Revolutions • Russian Revolution much like French Revolution • FR & RR attempted to destroy existing social & political structures • Revolutionaries in Russia & France used violence and terror to control people

  23. Economy in Shambles • Economy- trade at a standstill, industrial production dropped, skilled workers fled to other countries

  24. Lenin Restores Order • Goal= revive economy & restructure government • Revitalization of the economy • New Economic Policy (NEP) • Small-scale capitalism (got away from state-controlled economy) • Peasants sold surplus crops for profit • Some small factories, businesses, & farms privately owned

  25. Lenin Restores Order cont. • Restructuring the government • Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) • Reorganized Russia into several self-governing republics • Communist Party • Name came from writings of Karl Marx • Classless society • Held all power= dictatorship of Communist Party

  26. Communist Party • Lenin suffered stroke= competition to lead Communist Party • Leon Trotsky v. Joseph Stalin

  27. Stalin Becomes Dictator • Stalin means “Man of Steel” in Russian • Former general secretary of party • Put his friends in positions of power within the party • Worked his way up through the ranks • 1928- Stalin in total command of Communist Party

  28. Totalitarianism • Government that takes total, centralized, state control over every aspect of public & private life

  29. Totalitarian Leaders • Appear to provide a sense of security & give a direction for the future

  30. Totalitarianism- How It's Done • Widespread use of communication in the 20th century made it possible to reach into all aspects of citizens' lives • Leader often has secret police to crush opposition & create a sense of fear among the people

  31. Totalitarianism- Who It Affects • No one is exempt from suspicion or accusations that he/she is an enemy of the state

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