Revolutions in Russia. Introduction The Russian Revolution was like a firecracker with a very long fuse. The explosion came in 1917, yet the fuse had.

Revolutions in RussiaRevolutions in Russia

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.

In 1881, revolutionaries angry over the slow pace of political change assassinated the reform-minded czar, Alexander II. Russia was heading toward a full-scale revolution.

Czars Resist ChangeCzars Resist Change

End to ReformEnd to Reform

In 1881, In 1881, Alexander Alexander IIIIII becomes czar becomes czar and ends the and ends the reforms of his reforms of his father, Alexander II.father, Alexander II.

Alexander III Alexander III institutes institutes autocraticautocratic rulerule, , suppressing all suppressing all opposition and opposition and decent.decent.

Czars Continue Autocratic Czars Continue Autocratic RuleRule

Government censors written Government censors written criticism; secret police monitor criticism; secret police monitor schoolsschools

Non-Russians living in Russia are Non-Russians living in Russia are treated harshlytreated harshly

Anti-Jewish PogromsAnti-Jewish Pogroms Jews become target of government backed Jews become target of government backed

pogroms (organized persecutions)pogroms (organized persecutions) Alexander III encourages Jewish emigration Alexander III encourages Jewish emigration

to the United States during this time. The to the United States during this time. The musical musical Fiddler on the RoofFiddler on the Roof is set in this era. is set in this era.

In 1894, Nicholas II In 1894, Nicholas II becomes czar and becomes czar and continues continues autocratic waysautocratic ways

Russia IndustrializesRussia Industrializes

Rapid IndustrializationRapid Industrialization

Number of factories doubles between Number of factories doubles between 1863 and 1900, but Russia still lags 1863 and 1900, but Russia still lags behind other European countries.behind other European countries.

In late 1800s, new plan boosts steel In late 1800s, new plan boosts steel production and a major railway production and a major railway beginsbegins

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

LeninLenin

Lenin—Bolshevik Lenin—Bolshevik leader—an leader—an excellent organizer excellent organizer and inspiring and inspiring leaderleader

Crisis at Home and Crisis at Home and AbroadAbroad

The Russo-Japanese WarThe Russo-Japanese War

Defeat in the Russo-Japanese War in Defeat in the Russo-Japanese War in the early 1900s causes unrest in the early 1900s causes unrest in Russia.Russia.

Bloody Sunday: The Revolution of Bloody Sunday: The Revolution of 19051905

In 1905, 200,000 In 1905, 200,000 workers march on workers march on the czarthe czar’’s palace to s palace to demand reformsdemand reforms

The army fires into The army fires into the crowd, killing the crowd, killing manymany

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

The short lived DumaThe short lived Duma

The Duma, The Duma, RussiaRussia’’s first s first parliament, parliament, meets in 1906meets in 1906

Czar is Czar is unwilling to unwilling to share power, share power, dissolves the dissolves the Duma after Duma after only 10 weeksonly 10 weeks

World War I: The Final BlowWorld War I: The Final Blow

Heavy losses in World War I reveal Heavy losses in World War I reveal governmentgovernment’’s weaknesss weakness

Nicholas goes to war front; Czarina Nicholas goes to war front; Czarina Alexandra runs government in his Alexandra runs government in his absenceabsence

Czarina falls under the Czarina falls under the influence of Rasputin—a influence of Rasputin—a mysterious mysterious ““holy manholy man””——who she believes has who she believes has the power to heal her the power to heal her son.son.

Nobles fear RasputinNobles fear Rasputin’’s s influence and murder influence and murder himhim

Army losing Army losing effectiveness; people at effectiveness; people at home are hungry and home are hungry and unhappyunhappy

The March RevolutionThe March Revolution

First StepsFirst Steps

In March 1917, strikes expand; soldiers refuse to In March 1917, strikes expand; soldiers refuse to fire on workers.fire on workers.

Most of the tension is caused by Nicholas II Most of the tension is caused by Nicholas II personally taking command of the military in World personally taking command of the military in World War I, and the war going so badly.War I, and the war going so badly.

The Czar Steps DownThe Czar Steps Down

March Revolution—protests become March Revolution—protests become uprising; Nicholas abdicates throneuprising; Nicholas abdicates throne

Duma establishes provisional, or Duma establishes provisional, or temporary governmenttemporary government

Soviets—committees of Socialist Soviets—committees of Socialist revolutionaries—control many citiesrevolutionaries—control many cities

Lenin Returns to RussiaLenin Returns to Russia

In April 1917, In April 1917, Germans aid Lenin Germans aid Lenin in returning from in returning from exile to Russia exile to Russia (pictured in (pictured in disguise with his disguise with his goatee shaved and goatee shaved and wearing a wig).wearing a wig).

The Bolshevik RevolutionThe Bolshevik Revolution

The Provisional Government The Provisional Government TopplesTopples

In November 1917, workers take In November 1917, workers take control of the governmentcontrol of the government

Bolsheviks in PowerBolsheviks in Power

Lenin gives land to peasants, puts Lenin gives land to peasants, puts workers in control of factoriesworkers in control of factories

Bolsheviks sign treaty with Germany; Bolsheviks sign treaty with Germany; Russia pulls out of World War IRussia pulls out of World War I

Civil War Rages in RussiaCivil War Rages in Russia

Civil War between BolsheviksCivil War between Bolsheviks’’ Red Red Army and loosely allied White ArmyArmy and loosely allied White Army

Red Army wins three-year war that Red Army wins three-year war that leaves 14 million deadleaves 14 million dead

Comparing World Comparing World RevolutionsRevolutions

Russian and French Revolutions are Russian and French Revolutions are similar—both attempt to remake similar—both attempt to remake society and use violence against society and use violence against citizens who resist these changes.citizens who resist these changes.

Lenin Restores OrderLenin Restores Order

New Economic PolicyNew Economic Policy

In March 1921, Lenin launches New In March 1921, Lenin launches New Economic Policy; has some Economic Policy; has some capitalismcapitalism

NEP and peace restore economy NEP and peace restore economy shattered by war and revolutionshattered by war and revolution

By 1928, RussiaBy 1928, Russia’’s farms and factories s farms and factories are producing againare producing again

Political ReformsPolitical Reforms

Lenin creates self-governing Lenin creates self-governing republics under national governmentrepublics under national government

In 1922, country renamed Union of In 1922, country renamed Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.)Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.)

Communist Party—new name taken Communist Party—new name taken by Bolsheviks from the writings of by Bolsheviks from the writings of MarxMarx

Stalin Becomes DictatorStalin Becomes Dictator

A New LeaderA New Leader

Trotsky and Trotsky and Stalin compete to Stalin compete to replace Lenin replace Lenin after Leninafter Lenin’’s s deathdeath

Joseph Stalin—Joseph Stalin—cold, hard cold, hard Communist Party Communist Party general secretary general secretary in 1922in 1922

Leon Trotsky

Joseph Stalin

Stalin gains power Stalin gains power from 1922 to 1927from 1922 to 1927

Lenin dies in 1924Lenin dies in 1924 Stalin gains Stalin gains

complete power in complete power in 1928; Trotsky is 1928; Trotsky is forced into exile.forced into exile.

Trotsky is Trotsky is murdered in murdered in Mexico City in 1940 Mexico City in 1940 by an NKVD agent.by an NKVD agent.

Room where Trotsky was murdered (above); Trotsky’s murderer, NKVD agent, Romón Mercader (right).