Russian Revolution Another Positive Learning Experience at Camp Haskell!

1. Russian RevolutionAnother Positive Learning Experience at Camp Haskell!

2. Background/ Causes of Revolution • Weak Parliamentary gov’t • Czar doesn’t want to give up power • Corrupt Bureaucracy • Overburdened Court System

4. Causes continued… • Worker unrest • Strained resources from WWI • Transportation system broken down • Soldiers have no rifles, ammo, or medical care Czar goes to the front leaving Alexandra in charge; influenced by Rasputin

5. Rasputin • Sect of Russian Orthodox, self-proclaimed “Monk” • Believed that the only way to reach God was through sinful actions • Drunkenness, stealing, womanizing…

6. Rasputin • “Miracle worker for the Royal family” • Alexis born with Hemophilia • Capable of stopping heir’s bleeding attacks • Hypnosis or Holy Powers? • Alexandra thought he was sent from God to save Russia and the Romanovs • Assassinated in December 1916, Final warning was that no Romanov would be living in 2 years

8. March Revolution • Problems: • Food and Fuel shortages • Workers on strike, mostly women marching for bread! • Peasants want Land • Workers want Food and to end shortages caused by the war

9. Russia is fed up with the continuing war • Soldiers deserting the front and retuning home • Demonstrations, mostly women demanding Bread! • Troops ordered to shoot, refuse and turn against gov’t

10. Revolutionary Socialists • Set up “Soviets” • Councils of workers and soldiers • First work democratically with provisional gov’t

11. Vladamir Ilyich Ulyanovaka “Lenin” • Marxist who adapted his ideas for Russia • Wanted a worker revolution to overthrow Capitalism • Needed an Elite group to set up “dictatorship” • Returns from exile in Germany • April 1917 • Elite group is called the “Bolsheviks”, means majority • Bolsheviks promised “Peace, Land , Bread!”

12. “The people need peace. The people need bread and land. And they give you war, hunger, no food, and the land remains with the landowners.”

13. November Revolution • November 1917 • Red Guards (armed factory workers) and Soldiers attack the Provisional Gov’t • Gov’t falls without a struggle • Bolsheviks seize power • Rename themselves “Communists”

14. End of WWI • Lenin seeks peace with Germany • Ends Russia’s participation in WWI by signing… Treaty of Brest- Litvosk March 1918

15. 3 Years of Civil War • Reds versus Whites • Reds (communistys led by Leon Trotsky) • Whites (Counterrevolutionaries who remained loyal to the Czar) • Foreign powers intervene • British, France, US supported Whites • Result: Communists mistrust the West

16. Communists unleash “Reign of Terror” • Cheka: Communist Secret Police • Czar and family are shot • Counterrevolutionaries are executed • Policy of “War Communism” • Commnists get control of banks, mines, factories, railroads • Peasants forced to provide “surplus” food to people in cities

17. Russia in Chaos! • By 1921, Communists have full control over Russia • Millions of russians have died from WWI and famine • Economy is crumbling