Russian Revolution I. Background to Revolution A. Due to a lack of experienced military leaders and technology, Russia was unprepared for World War I. 1. The Russi Russian an army army was poorly trained trained and and equipped equipped 2. suff suffer ered ed terr terrib ible le loss losses es.. B. 1917 - the Russian will to continue fighting in the war had disappeared. C. Czar Nicholas II relied on his army and gov’t to keep him in power. 1. wife Alexandra cut him off from events back home 2. was strong strongly ly influen influenced ced by Grigo Grigori ri Rasputin Rasputin (supposed (supposedly ly a spiritual man) 3. Though Though he had no military military experienc experience, e, Nicholas Nicholas insisted insisted on commanding the army in the field 4. while while away from the the capital capital,, Alexandra Alexandra made important important decisions with the help of Rasputin. D. Russian people became increasingly increasingly upset with the czar and his his wife due to military & economic disasters. 1. Conservatives wanted to to save the deteriorating deteriorating situation & assassinated assassinated Rasputin late in 1916. 2. Howeve However, r, this this did did not save save the mona monarchy rchy.. E. In March 1917, working-class women led a series of strikes in the capital city of Petrograd. 1. They were upset upset about about bread bread shortages shortages and rationing. rationing. 2. They called called a general general strike strike that that shut shut down down all the factori factories. es. F. Alexandra reported the situation to Nicholas, describing the demonstrators as hooligans. 1. Nicholas Nicholas respo responded nded by ordering ordering troops troops to break break up the the crowds crowds with with force. force. 2. many soldiers soldiers refused refused to shoot shoot and and joined joined the demonstrat demonstrators ors 3. on March 12, the Duma, or legislature, met & est a provisional gov’t 4. The gov’t gov’t then urged urged the the czar to step step down, down, which which he did. did. G. The provisional gov’t was headed by Alexander Kerensky and decided to continue fighting the war 1. this this was was a grav gravee mis mista take ke 2. it upset upset workers workers and peasants peasants who wante wanted d to end end the the years years of fighting. fighting. H. The gov’t was also challenged by the soviets - councils representing workers and soldiers 1. came to play play an an import important ant role role in in Russia Russian n politi politics cs 2. Soviets Soviets sprang sprang up around around the the country country,, and were mostly mostly made up of of socialist socialists. s.
II. The Rise of Lenin A. The Bolsheviks were a small faction of a Marxist party 1. led led by by V.I. .I. Len Lenin in 2. were dedicate dedicated d to a violent violent revolution revolution to overthr overthrow ow the capitali capitalist st system. system. B. Lenin lived abroad between 1900 and 1917 1. When provisional provisional gov’t was formed, he went to Russia hoping hoping that the Bolsheviks could could seize power. power. 2. German military leaders helped him travel to Russia in an attempt attempt to create disorder. disorder. C. Lenin believed that the Bolsheviks should try to gain control of the soviets who were already in place so they could help overthrow the provisional government. D. The Bolsheviks promised to end the war, redistribute land to the peasants, transfer control of factories and industries from capitalists to the workers, and transfer government power to the soviets. E. Three slogans summed up the Bolshevik program: "Peace, Land, Bread," "Worker Control of Production," and" All Power to the Soviets."
III. The Bolsheviks Seize Power A. By the end of October 1917, the Bolsheviks had 240,000 members 1. held majoritie majoritiess in the Petrograd Petrograd and Moscow Moscow soviet sovietss 2. on November November 6, the Bolshevik Bolshevikss seized the Winter Winter Palace, Palace, and provisio provisional nal gov’t gov’t collapsed. collapsed. B. Lenin turned over power to the Congress of Soviets 1. repres represent ented ed soviet sovietss thro through ughout out Russia Russia 2. he held on to the real power in a Council of People's Commissars which he ran.
IV. Civil War in Russia A. Soon after the Communists took power, civil war broke out in Russia 1. many people people were were oppos opposed ed to to the the Communists, including groups loyal to the czar, liberals, and anti-Leninist socialists 2. were aided by the Allies, who gave them troops and supplies, hoping Russia would rejoin the war. B. The Communist (Red) Army fought in many places between 1918 and 1921 1. The The opposi opposing, ng, or or White White,, forces forces firs firstt attacked from Siberia in the east 2. other other attacks attacks came came from from the the Ukraine Ukraine and the the Baltic Baltic region regions. s. C. By 1920, the Red Army had defeated most of the White forces, giving Communists control over Georgia, Russian Armenia, and Azerbaijan. D. The royal family was captured by the Communists and moved to a mining town in the Urals, where they were eventually killed.
V. Triumph of the Communists A. The Communists won the civil war in part because they had an excellent army. army. As commissar of war, Leon Trotsky had brilliantly organized the army and instituted rigid discipline. B. The opposition to the Communists was not unified and was tom by political differences & mistrust 1. They They lack lacked ed a com commo mon n goa goall 2. some wanted wanted to restore restore the czar czar - others others wanted wanted a more more democrati democraticc governmen government. t. C. The Communists had a strong sense of purpose and conviction 1. They were also able to put their ideals to work in in practical ways, for example by controlling controlling banks, banks, farms, & industries to serve the Communist war effort 2. this policy known as war communism D. The Communists also used revolutionary terror to further their goals. 1. The Cheka was their secret police → it sought out anyone who opposed the Communists 2. it crea created ted an atmo atmosph sphere ere of of fear fear among among the the peop people. le. E. When the Allies sent troops to oppose the Communists, the Communists used this act to appeal to Russian patriotism - asking Russians to join with them in fighting foreign attempts to control the nation. F. By 1921, the Communists had complete complete control of Russia. 1. The count country ry had become become a centralize centralized d state state dominated dominated by a single single party party.. 2. Because Because of the role role of the Allies Allies in the the civil war, war, the Communi Communists sts mistrus mistrusted ted them and and remained remained hostile.
