Russian Revolution & Civil War

Duma

• Elected national legislature

• Set up by Tsar Nicholas in response to the Revolution of 1905

• No law would go into effect without approval by the Duma

Revolution of 1917

• Disasters of WWI combined with food shortages lead to the end of monarchy

• Workers go on strike

• Troops refuse to fire on demonstrators

• Nicholas abdicates

Provisional Government

• Temporary government set up by Duma officials

• Began preparing a constitution for a new republic

• At this time, revolutionary socialists go their own way– Soviets councils of workers and soldiers

Lenin

• Leader of Radical group Bolsheviks • Only revolution could bring about needed changes in Russia

• Sets up Cheka, or secret police, as leader

• Exiled to Serbia after being arrested

Lenin

• Germany sees Lenin’s return from exile as a chance to weaken Russia further in the war

• Helps him get back to Russia

Bolsheviks vs. Mensheviks

• Mensheviks- believed socialism could be achieved through gradual and moderate reforms– Higher wages– Increased suffrage– Welfare programs

• Bolsheviks- rejected Menshevik ideas and believed complete revolution was necessary

Communism Arrives

• Bolsheviks overthrow Provisional Government in November 1917

• Quickly seize power in other cities and begin distributing land to peasants

• Workers given control of the factories and mines