Revolution in RussiaRevolution in Russia

National CollapseNational Collapse World War I was devastating for World War I was devastating for

RussiaRussia Russia’s lack of industrial Russia’s lack of industrial

development made it incapable development made it incapable of sustaining a modern war of sustaining a modern war effort.effort.

With Tsar Nicholas’ failure as a With Tsar Nicholas’ failure as a war leader and Tsarina war leader and Tsarina Alexandra ineptitude leading Alexandra ineptitude leading the country at home (coming the country at home (coming under the influence of holy man under the influence of holy man Rasputin) he prestige of the Rasputin) he prestige of the regime was in question.regime was in question.

Gregori Rasputin

End of the Tsarist RegimeEnd of the Tsarist Regime

In early 1917, strikes sweep Petrograd In early 1917, strikes sweep Petrograd (St. Petersburg)(St. Petersburg)

Unrest results from war-weariness, Unrest results from war-weariness, famines, and runaway inflation.famines, and runaway inflation.

The tsar dissolved the Duma in March.The tsar dissolved the Duma in March. Nicholas sent troops against the Nicholas sent troops against the

demonstrators, but they joined them.demonstrators, but they joined them. The Tsar abdicated on March 15 The Tsar abdicated on March 15

(February Revolution)(February Revolution)

The Provisional GovernmentThe Provisional Government

The Duma now became the government, The Duma now became the government, under the leadership of Prince Lvov.under the leadership of Prince Lvov.

The liberal dominated Provisional The liberal dominated Provisional Government promised reforms, elections, Government promised reforms, elections, and a constitution to create a republic.and a constitution to create a republic.

The government continued the war The government continued the war against the Central Powers.against the Central Powers.

Meanwhile, socialists creates soviets Meanwhile, socialists creates soviets (councils of workers and soldiers) in (councils of workers and soldiers) in Petrograd and other cities; they gave tacit Petrograd and other cities; they gave tacit support to the Provisional Government.support to the Provisional Government.

The BolsheviksThe Bolsheviks

In April, 1917, Vladimir I. Lenin, In April, 1917, Vladimir I. Lenin, leader of the Marxist Bolsheviks, leader of the Marxist Bolsheviks, returned for exile in Switzerland.returned for exile in Switzerland.

He presented his program for He presented his program for workers revolution, the April Theses, workers revolution, the April Theses, to his followers.to his followers.

The Bolsheviks called for “Peace, The Bolsheviks called for “Peace, Land, and Bread” as their slogan for Land, and Bread” as their slogan for revolution.revolution.

The July DaysThe July Days The continued military failures The continued military failures

resulted in revolt against the resulted in revolt against the Provisional Government.Provisional Government.

The Petrograd Soviet opposed The Petrograd Soviet opposed the revolt, the Bolsheviks the revolt, the Bolsheviks supported it.supported it.

With the revolt suppressed, With the revolt suppressed, Lenin was forced to flee to Lenin was forced to flee to Finland, but his support gained Finland, but his support gained him followers.him followers.

In late July, socialist Alexander In late July, socialist Alexander Kerensky became leader of the Kerensky became leader of the Provisional Government.Provisional Government.

Alexander Kerensky

The October RevolutionThe October Revolution Lenin returned and Lenin returned and

began plans to began plans to overthrow the overthrow the provisional government.provisional government.

On Oct. 24 (Nov. 6) the On Oct. 24 (Nov. 6) the Red Guards of the Red Guards of the Petrograd Soviet seized Petrograd Soviet seized power from the power from the Provisional Government.Provisional Government.

The next day, Lenin The next day, Lenin announced the creation announced the creation of the new regime after of the new regime after a takeover with little a takeover with little violence.violence.

V.I. LeninV.I. Lenin

Born Vladimir Ilyich Born Vladimir Ilyich Ulianov in 1870.Ulianov in 1870.

Studied law, but became Studied law, but became involved in radical involved in radical activities which got him activities which got him exiled in 1900.exiled in 1900.

In 1898, Russian Marxists In 1898, Russian Marxists founded the Social founded the Social Democratic Party, they Democratic Party, they split in two – Bolsheviks split in two – Bolsheviks and Mensheviks.and Mensheviks.

The Bolshevik RegimeThe Bolshevik Regime

The Bolsheviks urged on socialist The Bolsheviks urged on socialist reforms after the October Revolution.reforms after the October Revolution.

They called workers seizure of land They called workers seizure of land and factories.and factories.

Titles of nobility were abolishedTitles of nobility were abolished The Russian Orthodox Church was The Russian Orthodox Church was

supressed.supressed.

The Constituent AssemblyThe Constituent Assembly

The Provisional Government had The Provisional Government had scheduled an election for November which scheduled an election for November which Lenin allowed to go forward.Lenin allowed to go forward.

The Bolsheviks won only 225 seats, while The Bolsheviks won only 225 seats, while the rural back Socialist Revolutionary Party the rural back Socialist Revolutionary Party won 420 seats.won 420 seats.

After meeting once in Jan. 1918, Lenin After meeting once in Jan. 1918, Lenin dissolved the assembly.dissolved the assembly.

He also formed he Cheka (secret police) to He also formed he Cheka (secret police) to combat counter-revolutionary activity,combat counter-revolutionary activity,

Ending the WarEnding the War

Negotiations between Russia and Negotiations between Russia and Germany led to the signing of the Germany led to the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in March 1918. Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in March 1918.

Lenin accepted its harsh terms because Lenin accepted its harsh terms because he knew Russia could not fight on and he knew Russia could not fight on and he believed revolution would soon he believed revolution would soon come to Germany.come to Germany.

The treaty was nullified by Germany’s The treaty was nullified by Germany’s surrender in November 1918.surrender in November 1918.

Civil WarCivil War

The October Revolution had The October Revolution had caught their opponents off caught their opponents off guard, by spring 1918 they guard, by spring 1918 they had regrouped.had regrouped.

The Bolsheviks (who now The Bolsheviks (who now called themselves called themselves Communists) controlled the Communists) controlled the industrial centers and industrial centers and organized the Red Army organized the Red Army under Leon Trotsky to gain under Leon Trotsky to gain control of the rest of the control of the rest of the countrycountry

Leon Trotsky

Civil WarCivil War

The anti-communist forces became The anti-communist forces became known as the Whites.known as the Whites.

They were poorly organized.They were poorly organized. When they threatened to rescue the When they threatened to rescue the

royal family, the family was killed in royal family, the family was killed in July 1918.July 1918.

The Allies provided limited support to The Allies provided limited support to the Whites and they were eventually the Whites and they were eventually defeated in 1920.defeated in 1920.

War CommunismWar Communism

During the Civil War, the regime During the Civil War, the regime nationalized all major industries and nationalized all major industries and financial institutions.financial institutions.

Private trade and commerce was Private trade and commerce was prohibited.prohibited.

This radical change caused the This radical change caused the economy to spiral into chaos, causing economy to spiral into chaos, causing food and fuel shortages.food and fuel shortages.

The New Economic PolicyThe New Economic Policy

Discontent mounted with the worsening Discontent mounted with the worsening economic situation.economic situation.

Recognizing the need for change, Lenin Recognizing the need for change, Lenin introduced the NEP in March 1921.introduced the NEP in March 1921.

While major industries remained While major industries remained nationalized, small industries (particularly nationalized, small industries (particularly in agriculture) were allowed to trade in agriculture) were allowed to trade privately.privately.

Lenin justified this as one step backward Lenin justified this as one step backward to take two steps forward.to take two steps forward.