Chapter 30 Section 1: Revolutions In Russia

Chapter 30 Section 1: Revolutions in Russia

I. Czars resist change- (1881) Alexander III halted all reforms in Russia and clung to the principles of autocracy (a form of government in which he had total control)

A. Czars continue autocratic rule

1. To wipe out revolutionaries, Alexander II used harsh measures; strict censorship codes, secret police watched schools, etc.

2. To establish a uniform Russian culture, he oppressed other national groups; forbade use of minority languages, Jews were the target of persecution

II. Russia Industrializes

A. Rapid industrialization stirred discontent among the people of Russia and brought new problems.

1. grueling working conditions

2. low wages

3. child labor

B. As a result, several revolutionary movements began to grow.

1. Marxist revolutionaries (followers of Karl Marx p. 872)

a. Mensheviks

b. Bolsheviks – radical, Leader was V.I. Lenin who later fled to W. Europe to avoid arrest by Czarist regime

III. Crisis at Home and Abroad

A. The Russo-Japanese war – After Russia broke an agreement with Japan over territory, Japan attacked Russians in Manchuria, which led to unrest at home and a revolt

B. Bloody Sunday: The Revolution of 1905

1. Workers and their families were fired upon after asking for better working conditions from the Czar at his palace.

2. This provoked strikes and violence across the country.

3. Nicholas approved the creation of Duma – Russia’s first parliament.

4. He dissolved the Duma after 10 weeks because he did not want to share his power.

C. WWI : The Final Blow

1. 1914 – Nicholas drug Russia into WWI

2. Weak generals and poorly equipped troops led to defeat after defeat.

3. Russian soldiers deserted or ignored orders.

4. Food and supplies were dwindling on the home front.

5. Prices were inflated

6. People wanted change and an end to the war.

IV. The March Revolution – March 1917, Nearly 200,000 workers swarmed the streets rioting due to bread and fuel shortages.

A. The czar steps down

1. A temporary government was established and led by Alexander Kerensky.

2. Socialist revolutionaries formed soviets.

B. Lenin returned to Russia: April 1917

V. The Bolshevik Revolution

A. Lenin and the Bolsheviks soon took over government offices and took control of the soviets.

B. Bolsheviks in power

1. Lenin ordered all farmland be distributed among peasants

2. He gave control of factories to the workers

3. Signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

C. Civil war rages in Russia 1918-1920

1. The Bolsheviks crushed all opposition

2. Revolutionaries used violence and terror to control people.

VI. Lenin restores order

A. New Economic Policy

1. Under Lenin, the government kept control of major industries, banks, and means of communication, but it let some small entities operate under private ownership.

2. The country slowly recovered.

B. Political reforms

1. To keep nationalism in check, Lenin organized Russia into several self governing republics under the central government.

2. In 1922, the country was named the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).

3. The Bolsheviks renamed their party the Communist Party.

4. Lenin had established a dictatorship of the Communist Party.

C. Stalin becomes Dictator

1. After Lenin suffered a stroke in 1922, it set up competition for heading up the Communist party.

2. By 1928, Joseph Stalin was in total command of the Communist Party. Lenin believed him to be a dangerous man.