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Causes for Revolution The Russian Revolution •Jan. 1905 – “Bloody Sunday” Protestors are shot by the Tsar’s troops. • The Great War 1914-1918 •February Revolution- March 8, 1917 – Bread shortages lead to strikes. • March 15, 1917 – Tsar Nicholas abdicates. • April 1917 – Lenin returns to Russia. • “Red October” –November Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. • November 1917 – Lenin and The Romanovs the Bolsheviks institute the Soviet Regime. Tsar Nicholas II was from the ruling • July 16, 1918 – The dynasty called the Romanovs. They Romanovs are murdered. • 1918-Russia is renamed the had ruled Imperial Russia for 300 Russian Soviet Federated Images above, Tsar Nicholas II and his wife and Socialist Republic or USSR. years. children. Maps of Imperial Russia and Europe Upper left - map of the world. Lower left – close up of Europe. Above – close-up of Russia. Map of Imperial Russia Highlight Moscow – the capital of Russia Highlight St. Petersburg – modeled in the European style, it is where the Russian nobility lived, and where the Winter Palace is located. Highlight Yekaterinburg – this is where the Romanovs will be killed. Highlight Siberia – this is where political prisoners were exiled. The Russian Revolution The Seeds of Revolution Causes – Tsar Nicholas Romanov •Nicholas II was an autocratic ruler who relied on the army and his bureaucracy to hold up his regime. •Unpopular moves on his part, the marriage to his “German Princess” Alexandra, the shooting deaths of peasants on “Bloody Sunday,” and Tsar /Czar Nicholas II finally his involvement of Russia into above. the bloody mess that was World War I. The Russian Revolution The Seeds of Revolution Causes – Tsar Nicholas II •In Russia, the peasants looked up to the Tsar like God. The poor for centuries, blamed their problems on local officials or thought that suffering was a part of the Christian experience. Finally, they believed in their hearts, that if only the Tsar knew of their suffering, he would end it the way a Icon of Tsar /Czar Nicholas II modern-age Super hero would. above. The Russian Revolution The Seeds of Revolution Causes – Tsar Nicholas II •He was described as gentle, kind and Who was Nicholas Romanov Really? friendly. He was educated and spoke 4 languages. He loved anything connected with the military. •Above all else, he was a man who deeply loved his wife and children, even though it may have cost him his thrown in Tsar /Czar Nicholas II eating with his wife and the end. children above. The Russian Revolution The Seeds of Revolution Causes – Tsar Nicholas II Who was Nicholas Romanov Really? •Negatives – He was taught “God made you Tsar. To fail to rule as an autocrat =failure to God.” He was trained to ruthlessly crush opposition. •Finally, Nicholas was known for his stubborn refusal to change and for allowing his foolish wife to rule in his The Tsar and Tsarina at the absence. coronation. The Russian Revolution The Seeds of Revolution A Romanov Family Secret •In Aug. 1904, the young Tsarevich Alexis was born. The secret – he was a hemophiliac. •His mother was desperate for anyone who could help her son. Even someone who would ruin the reputation of the royal family. Painting of young Alexis above. Images of the Romanovs What do these photos tell you about the Romanov’s? The Russian Revolution The Seeds of Revolution “The Dark One” - Rasputin •A mystic named Rasputin was supported and protected by the Romanovs. •His talent, the ability to stop the little prince from bleeding to death. •His influence over the Tsar and Tsarina were a constant source of Gregory Rasputin above. criticism from the Russian nobility. The Russian Revolution The Seeds of Revolution Causes – 1905 -“Bloody Sunday” •“Bloody Sunday” – 120,000 workers marched to the Winter Palace thinking they were going to petition the Tsar and tell him their problems. •The Tsar’s troops fired on the crowds, killing 92 and wounding 2-300 people. Image from Bloody Sunday. The Russian Revolution The Seeds of Revolution Causes – 1905 -“Bloody Sunday” •The Tsar was not in St. Petersburg, nor was he aware of the worker’s belief that they would meet with him. •Nevertheless, this shattered the belief that the Tsar and his people were one. People said, “The Tsar will not help us, so we have no Tsar.” Images and poster from Bloody Sunday. The Russian Revolution The Seeds of Revolution Causes – The Great War •Under Nicholas II’s leadership, Russia lost a war with Japan in 1905. •In 1914, Nicholas involved Russia in World War I. Tsar /Czar Nicholas II taking over the troops in World War I. The Russian Revolution The Seeds of Revolution Causes – 1915 -The Great War •The biggest mistake made by the Tsar was to take over the Russian army in 1915. •Militarily, he was a disaster. Russian losses to the Germans were catastrophic. •In addition, he left his wife Alexandra, in charge of Russia while he was gone. The Tsarina, Alexandra. List 3 Failures made by Tsar Nicholas II The Russian Revolution The Seeds of Revolution Causes –The Great War •1914-1916 - 2 million soldiers were killed and 4-6 million were wounded or captured. •The war also caused food shortages . Finally, Alexandra was incapable of running the country in her husband’s absence. Images from the Russian loss to the Germans at Tannenberg. The Russian Revolution The Seeds of Revolution Rasputin’s Reputation damages the Tsar •Rasputin was known for his wild and drunken behavior – orgies and romps with women that even occurred at area restaurants. •Russian nobles accused he and the Tsarina of having a love affair, or aiding the Germans in WWI as spies. A political cartoon of Rasputin’s control over the Romanovs. The Death of the “Dark One” - Rasputin Dec. 1916 - Rasputin was killed by a member of the Russian royal family. (Yussopov) He was fed cyanide laced cakes, wine that was spiked with cyanide, shot 3 times, tied up and thrown in the Neva river…Rasputin still managed to swim to the docks before dying. How did the Great War contribute to the Revolution? Military Losses/Poor Leadership Was there enough food? Who did the Tsar leave in charge? What effect did she have? The Russian Revolution The Seeds of Revolution Causes – February/March Revolutions of 1917 •Feb/March 1917 – Strikes led by 10,000 working women broke out in St. Petersburg. •The cause – the sky rocketing cost of bread and the terrible working conditions faced by factory workers. Feb-1917 -Images of protestors Looking at the date, is Russia still involved in WWI? The Russian Revolution The Seeds of Revolution February (March) Revolution -1917 •To restore order and break the strikes, Tsar Nicholas II ordered troops to shoot into the crowds. •Instead, large numbers of soldiers refused, and joined the crowds of protestors. Workers with signs in the Feb. Revolution. Workers carried signs that read, “Peace and Bread”, “Down with Autocracy.” The Russian Revolution The Effects of the February Revolution - 1917 •March 12, 1917 – The Duma met and started a Provisional Government to run Russia. •March 15, 1917 – Nicholas II stepped down, ending the 300 year long reign of the Romanov Dynasty. The Duma = Russian Parliament Meeting of the Duma, above. The Russian Revolution The Provisional Government •The Provisional Government was led by Kerensky. •His biggest mistake, insisting Russia honor her allies and stay in the Great War. •By 1917, the Russian will to fight was gone. Kerensky salutes the troops. Key Terms - Definition: Soviets •In large industrial cities such as Petrograd/St. Petersburg, and Moscow, Industrial Workers organized themselves into SOVIETS or COUNCILS. •1,000 workers = 1 representative to a soviet or council of the people. Definition: Soviets •1st Soviet met in March 1917 in Petrograd. They were made up of soldiers, workers and peasants. They were poor working class people, and as such, more radical. The Russian Revolution Vladimir Lenin – Leader of the Bolsheviks The Seeds of Revolution – Lenin •Lenin supported and spread the communist ideals of Karl Marx. •Lenin believed in violence and the radical overthrow of the government. •April 1917 – Germany shipped Lenin to Russia in the hopes that he would start a revolution that would cause Russia to exit WWI. He did… “Lenin lived, Lenin lives, Lenin will live again.” Vladimir Lenin – Bolshevik and Communist Lenin’s Bolsheviks promised the soviets the following: •He would end Russia’s participation in WWI. •Redistribute the land to peasants. •Have a committee off workers placed in charge of factories. •End the Provisional Government and place the Soviets in charge. Result - The Bolsheviks incorporated the soviets under his leadership. The Russian Revolution “Red October” – Bolshevik Revolution of October 1917 •The Bolsheviks overthrew the Provisional Government by seizing control of the Winter Palace. •Lenin and his Bolsheviks were in charge of Russia. •From 1918-1921, Russia sank into civil war between the Prov. Gov’t (Whites), and the Bolsheviks/Soviets (Reds). The Reds won. Troops outside the Winter Palace during the Oct. Revolution. Lenin and the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk •March 3, 1918 – Representatives from Lenin signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, ending Russia’s participation in WW I. •For leaving early - Russia ceded land to Germany, and was not allowed to send a representative to the Treaty of Versailles when the war ended in November. Questions for Review 1. What caused the February Revolution? 2. What happened as a result of the February Revolution? 3. Why would Russians have supported Lenin over the Provisional Government? 4. What did the October Revolution accomplish? 5. What impact did the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk have on Russia? The Russian Revolution The Fall of the Romanov Dynasty – July 1918 •After Tsar Nicholas abdicated the throne, he and his family were taken under guard to Yekaterinburg.
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