Two Revolutions in Two Revolutions in Russia Russia
Jan 04, 2016
Two Revolutions in RussiaTwo Revolutions in Russia
What is a Revolution?
What does the term revolution mean?
Name That Revolution!
Revolution Resulting in the Factory System and Mass Production:
Revolution with new ideas on Government and society
Revolution with a Reign of Terror and the Rise of Napoleon
Revolution Where Japan Modernizes
Communism/Marxism
Economic and Political System Sees All History as Economic Worldwide Revolution of the Workers All Means of Production to be owned by
the workers. Class Struggle Power to the working class
Alexandra and AlexeiAlexandra and Alexei
RasputinRasputin
Russia in 1914Russia in 1914
A huge country– spread from Eastern Europe all the way to the Pacific Ocean
Ruled by the Romanovs Emperor in 1914 was Czar Nicholas II His German wife was Alexandra His son Alexei suffered from
haemophilia
The Russian People
Many Russian people were peasant farmers – they were poor and illiterate
Most of the land was owned by the nobility
There was a growing URBAN population which worked in the factories – they lived in poor conditions
So for most Russians life was hard
The CzarThe Czar
The Czar Ruled as An Absolute Monarch. He Held Total Power
Long Term Causes of the Russian Revolutions
Large Gap Between Rich and PoorRapid IndustrializationLoss in Russo-Japanese WarFailed Revolution of 1905 and
Czar’s Failure to Make Changes
Into World War 1Into World War 1 In 1914 Russia entered the war It had a massive army BUT faced
problems!
1. It was badly equipped (By 1915, men were sent to battle without weapons)
2. High Casualties
Nicholas II heads to war Nicholas II decided to head to the front
lines to help his men Unfortunately he was not a competent
leader and the Czarina Alexandra was left in charge ( Nicholas II)
The Czarina, German born, knew little about government
– The Czarina turned to Rasputin for advice
Gregory Rasputin An illiterate peasant and self-
proclaimed “holy man” He gained the reputation as being a
healer Following a “healing” experience with
her hemophilic son, Alexandra released more power to Rasputin
A group of nobles killed him fearing his power in 1916
Immediate Causes of Russian Revolutions
Unpopularity of Czar and his Family
Massive Casualties in World War 1
Food Shortages
Vladimir LeninCommunistLenin and the Bolsheviks
promised the people “Peace, Land and Bread”
Bolsheviks-Russian Communists
Germany and Lenin
Germans Help Lenin go Back to Russia in Hopes that he would start Revolution and Take Russia Out of WWI
Answer
What Three Things Did the Communists Promise the Russian People?
The November Revolution In November (Oct. in Russian Calendar) In just a few days Lenin’s and the
Bolsheviks overthrew the government, who put up no fight
Communists will Execute Czar and Family
The Russian Civil War The Bolshevik’s quickly looked for peace
with Germany (signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk)
For 3 years the Reds (Communists) battled the Whites (Counterrevolutionaries) who remained loyal to the czar
The Allies (of WWI) sent forces to help the Whites/The Reds used this to increase distrust of the West and increase nationalism
Communism Wins
By 1921 the Communists/Reds win the Russian Civil War
But Russia was in shambles: millions of deaths from the wars, famine, and disease
Lenin would now have to rebuild the nation
USSR
Russia under Communist Rule was Known as the Soviet Union or the USSR!
Joseph Stalin
After the Death of Lenin, Joseph Stalin Will Take Power in the Soviet Union.
He Was One of the World’s Most Brutal Totalitarian Dictators.
Answer:
Who was Rasputin?Who fought in the Russian Civil
WarWho won the Russian Civil War?Who took power after Lenin?What three things did the Russian
Communists Promise?