The Russian Revolution

Social Structure of Czarist RussiaSocial Structure of Czarist Russia PeasantsPeasants

• 90% of population, Majority were serfs90% of population, Majority were serfs• Could not own land, No legal rights, Could Could not own land, No legal rights, Could

not travel freely, Taxed heavilynot travel freely, Taxed heavily IntellectualsIntellectuals

• Very small class of peopleVery small class of people• Well educatedWell educated• Wanted to improve RussiaWanted to improve Russia

Social Structure of Czarist RussiaSocial Structure of Czarist Russia

ClergyClergy• Russian Orthodox Church (Christian)Russian Orthodox Church (Christian)• Many different ranks among leaders Many different ranks among leaders

Priests, bishops, archbishopsPriests, bishops, archbishops NobilityNobility

• 1% of population1% of population• Controlled the land and wealth of RussiaControlled the land and wealth of Russia• Lived and dressed extravagantlyLived and dressed extravagantly• Included the Czar of RussiaIncluded the Czar of Russia

Czarist RussiaCzarist Russia

Before 1905 Russia had an Absolute Before 1905 Russia had an Absolute Monarchy; Czar Nicholas II Romanov Monarchy; Czar Nicholas II Romanov and his wife The Czarina Alexandraand his wife The Czarina Alexandra

RasputinRasputin

•Rasputin was a peasant “holy man” that supposedly had magical healing powers.

•The people of Russia disapproved of Rasputin.

Causes of the RevolutionCauses of the Revolution

• Russia was not industrialized• Starvation of peasants• Military was overcommitted and under

prepared in – World War I -(Treaty of Brest-Litovsk)– Russo Japanese War

• The Monarchy was out of touch with the problems of the people

Events of the RevolutionRevolution of 1905The Duma (legislature) was created. Limited MonarchyBloody Sunday & St Petersburg RiotsThe peasants were starving and Father Gapon brought demands to the King. Protesters were killed and riots started all over the cityMarch Revolution -1917The Czar abdicated or stepped down. The Romanov family was executed a year later.Kerensky and The Provision Government-1917The Duma (Russian Legislature) set up a temporary government that was democratic. The head of the government was Kerensky

Lenin

•Lenin believed in Karl Marx’s communist ideas

•Bolsheviks- a group of elite revolutionaries

•Lenin was sent into exile but returned to Russia in 1917

•Leon Trotsky was Lenin’s right hand man

Events of the Revolution•November Revolution- 1917

•Kerensky’s Provisional Government lost power because they kept Russia in WWI•Lenin’s Bolsheviks overthrew the Provisional Gov. and took Russia out of WWI (Treaty of Brest-Litovosk)•Slogan – Land, Peace, Bread

•Russian Civil War -1918-1921•Reds (communists) vs. Whites (loyalists)•Communists defeated the whites•Union of the Soviet Socialist Republic