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Czar Nicholas II was the last ruler of the Romanov dynasty, perceived as a shy figure unaware of his people's discontent. His German wife, Alexandra, and the influence of Rasputin deepened public resentment. Poor working conditions and military defeats during WWI led to widespread unrest. The February Revolution saw a general uprising resulting in Nicholas's abdication. This led to the rise of the Bolsheviks, who seized power from the Provisional Government in 1917 with promises of "Peace, Land, Bread," fundamentally reshaping Russia's future.
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Czar Nicholas II • Nicholas II was the last of the Romanov dynasty • Was a shy, quiet man who assumed his subjects loved him because he was czar • Wife, Alexandra, was German • People thought she was overbearing & held too much influence over her husband
Alexi • Alexi was the only son of Nicholas & Alexandra, so was heir to the throne • Alexi was a hemophilia • Family consulted a “holy man” named Rasputin to help cure Alexi from his disease
The “Mad Monk” • Rasputin had a strange hold over the royal family, especially Alexandra • Alexandra began to seek Rasputin’s advise for ruling Russia • Russian people deeply resented this • Began to plot against Rasputin • Eventually was shot, poisoned, then thrown in a lake to drown
Causes of the Revolution • Industrialization of Russia • Used foreign investment to build factories • Poor working conditions lead to urban unrest • Russo-Japanese War • Russia was embarrassed by loss to Japan • Revolution of 1905- “Bloody Sunday” • Russian soldiers fire on unarmed protestors • 500-1000 people were killed • Led to the creation of the Duma • Duma- Russian national legislature
Resistance Movements • Workers began to support the ideas of Karl Marx • Believed that industrial workers would overthrow the czar • The Bolshevik Party was formed in 1903 & was led by Vladimir Lenin • He was exiled to Siberia, then lived in Britain, Germany, & Switzerland after his release
Lenin • When he was young, his brother had been executed for an attempt on Alexander III life • Lenin never forgot this & dedicated his life to promoting a revolution • Lenin returned to Russia in 1917 with the help of Germany
Causes of the Revolution • Russia supported the Serbs & entered WWI in their defense • Russia was consistently defeated by Germany & had 4 million casualties the first year • Demonstrated the weakness of czarist rule as Nicholas led the troops • Defeats destroyed the moral of Russian troops • Soldiers mutinied, deserted, & ignored orders
February Revolution • Women in Petrograd led a citywide strike in February 1917 • 200,000 workers joined the strike • Soldiers sent to stop the strike, joined it • Led to a general uprising in Russia • Czar Nicholas, realizing that all was lost, abdicated the throne (he resigned) • The Provisional Government was established & led by Alexander Kerensky
The Bolshevik Revolution • Dissatisfied with the provisional government, Lenin & the Bolsheviks seize power • Motto was: “Peace, Land, Bread” • Immediate Reforms • Ordered all farmland be distributed to peasants • Control of factories given to workers • Withdrew from WWI • Treaty of Brest-Litovsk between Russia & Germany • Russia gave up land to get out of WWI