From Czars to Lenin

1. From Czars to Lenin Russia in the Early 20th Century 20th Century World History

2. Russia’s problems • Landlocked - no direct access to the sea in Europe • Huge country • Many different nationalities • Different languages • Religions • Too big to govern Backward and behind in all areas technology/industrialization compared to Western Europe

3. Problems • Lost Crimean war • HUGE country but no railroads, few factories • Still very behind • New ideas from Western Europe bring unrest (Nihilists, Populists) • Nationalities want their own rule • Unrest - Nobles & People unhappy

4. Russia under the Romanovs - 300 years • Czars were Autocrats • They made all the decisions • Head of religion • Government rule goes from Czars • (Father) to oldest son • Alexander II - 19th century • Frees the serfs - Continue to be POOR • - industrial workers • Have to buy land, little money to do so • Lets local governments have elections & limited powers • Military shorter terms • Less secret police/censure of press

5. Repression • Alexander II is assassinated by political terrorists • Socialists who gained ideas from west • Anger turns to violence • His son, Alexander III and grandson, Nicholas II, clamp down on those who disagree with government • Bring in secret police, lessen freedom in press • Persecution of non-Russians & their religions, language, customs • Pogroms encouraged

6. Tensions in Russia Czars liberals, Nationalists Socialists Military, Workers Secret Police Ease censorship Exile liberals land reforms Russian orthodox Local Government Church only Duma Absolute power Help military & Persecute non- Industrial workers Russians Help poor

7. Industrialization • Czars Alexander III & Nicholas II • Built railroads • Brought natural resources, goods to trade over rails • Industrialization • Economic development

8. Problems from industrialization • Economic growth applauded by czars, government officials, industrialists • Disliked by nobles who were afraid of losing power • Unrest in poor workforce struggling to survive • Radicals bring new socialist ideas to workers in factories - discontent

9. Bloody Sunday • Russia losing war to Japan in 1904- 1905 • Political unrest • Strikes in factories • January 1905 Peaceful protest to petition Czar • Unarmed protesters killed • People lose faith in Czar

10. Revolution of 1905 • Many Strikes • Workers take over some local governments • Terrorism • Nationalists call for freedom • Aug. 1905 Nicholas II agrees to a parliamentary government –Duma • 1906: 1st Duma dissolved when it criticized the czar

11. October Manifesto 1905 • More strikes Oct 1905 • Oct 30 – October Manifesto Nicholas II - freedom of speech, assembly, union • Constitution • Four Dumas formed by moderates, little power over czar 1906-1916

12. Alexi’s problem • Czar’s son and heir has hemophilia, a life threatening blood disease • If injured he can bleed internally and possibly die.

13. Hemophilia • My Hemophilia Project • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQVP2KS2BHw

14. Rasputin • Rasputin was introduced to the Czarina and Czar as someone who could help Alexi • When he was ill, Rasputin was able to stop the bleeding – no one knows how • He becomes a friend and advisor to the Czarina • He is not the holy man he claims to be, he drinks, womanizes, and gains too much power

15. World War I • Problems in leadership in the army • 19th century army vs. 20th century German army • Not enough guns or supplies • Losses huge • Czar Nicholas takes over command at the front leaving his wife in charge of the government

16. Alexandra • The people hate Alexandra • She is German • Her chief advisor is Rasputin • Her husband follows her wishes & appoints an incompetent head of the military

17. Rasputin’s influence • Rasputin takes money or bribes to get people in government positions • He gets people fired who dislike him • As long as Alexi lives, he has power • Finally, some nobles assassinate him • It is too late

18. Problems that lead to the revolution in February 1917 • People are hungry – not enough food during World War I for anyone • Lack of effective leadership and corruption in the government • People are sick of losing the war • Great loss of life in War and feeling that no one in charge is competent

19. Revolutionaries take over Petrograd • Riots due to lack of food • Army joins the people • The Winter Palace is taken over • Nicholas II is forced to abdicate • Kerensky forms a moderate government

21. Problems with new government • The Provisional government stays in the war • Lenin is smuggled into Russia by Germans • The people are tired of War • The government told the Allies it would stay in the war to get their support – Big Mistake • The war efforts continue to be a disaster

22. October Revolution 1917 • Bolsheviks – radical socialists continually organize the workers in councils or “Soviets” • Offer the people PEACE during a bad war and land reforms

23. “Peace, bread & Land” • November 1917- October in Russian calendar • Bolsheviks take over government • 1918 dissolve constitutional assembly

25. Civil War 1918-1922 • Bolsheviks only receive ¼ of the votes • Dissolve the government • Make a dictatorship with secret police • Armed fighting • White, Green, and Black factions versus the Reds • 1922 Reds finally win and call Russia the United Soviet Socialists Republics or the U.S.S.R

26. Czar Nicholas and family • During the Civil War, Czar Nicholas, his wife, and five children were murdered • The Soviets always claimed that only the Czar was killed • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoVSNWGUoHw • Ninety years later, all the bodies of the Czar, his wife, and three daughters were found. • Two years later the ashes and some bones of the remaining daughter and their son were found. • All were verified to be in the family from DNA testing • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8b2catDZsq8