Russian Revolution
1905-1917
Reasons for Discontent
Loss to Japan in Russo-Japanese War
Russia ill prepared to fight WWI
No food for troops-No weapons for troops
Nicholas II ineffective military leader
Between 1914-1916 over 2,000,000 soldiers
killed with another 4,000,000 wounded or
captured.
Czar Nicholas II
 Czars had been in control of Russia since
1514 , Ivan the “Terrible”
 Was not favored by his parents
 Became monarch at 26
 Czars believed to be chosen by God, total
Control of the country
 Always knew he was not cut out to be a
Leader
 Married Alexandra
 Children:
Olga
Tatiana
Maria
Anastasia**
Alexei
Anna Anderson
Claimed to be Anastasia.
Lived in the U.S. married a college
professor. She died in 1984. In
1994, DNA evidence proved she was
not Anastasia Romanov.
Anastasia Romanov
Grigory Rasputin
 Self proclaimed holy man
 “Mad Monk of Russia”
 Alexandra believed Rasputin had
ability to heal her son Alexis.
 Rasputin soon became friend and
Personal advisor to Alexandra.
 Rasputin’s influence on the royal
family was soon noticed by the
aristocrats in Russia.
 Rasputin was fond of women and
alcohol.
 The people of Russia did not like
The influence Rasputin was having on
The royal family.
 Assassinated in December 1916
Play Video
End of the Russian monarchy
• March 1915—Nicholas II stepped down as czar
• Nicholas lost support of citizens, army, and
aristocrats
• Provisional government was formed, headed
by Alexander Kerensky. He decided to
continue fighting WWI. This was challenged by
the soviets.
• Soviets – councils represented by workers and
soldiers
July 17, 1918
Nicholas II and his entire family was executed by firing squad.
Bolsheviks
Russian Social Democrats
Promised: Peace, Bread, and Land
Within a few months, the Bolshevik
Party had grown from 50,000
members to 240,000
November 1917 – Lenin’s party had
overthrown the Russian provisional
government.
March 1918 – Lenin signed the Treaty of
Brest-Litovsk. Ended Russia’s
involvement in WWI. Lost Poland,
Finland, Ukraine, Finland, and Blatics
Vladimir Lenin
Russian Communist Party
REDS vs WHITES
COMMUNISTS vs ANTI-COMMUNISTS
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Russia fell into civil war
Not all Russians wanted a Communist takeover
Red Army was well trained and equipped
Leon Trotsky – war commissioner
-demanded discipline from soldiers
-soldiers that refused to obey or deserted were shot
on the spot
Communists Victorious
 War communism – government control
of banks, and most industries, placing
the central government under
Communist control
 By 1921, Communists were in complete
control of Russia
 Laid the foundation to the forming of
the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics (USSR)
Bio Poem Assignment
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Choose one of the following:
Nicholas II
Alexandra
Rasputin
Anastacisa
Vladimir Lenin
Leon Trotsky
• Line 1: first name only
• Line 2: 4 traits that describe the
character
• Line 3: Daughter/Son of~OR
Sibling of~
• Line 4: Who loves~
• Line 5: Who feels~
• Line 6: Who needs~
• Line 7: Who gives~
• Line 8: Who fears~
• Line 9: Who would like to see~
• Line 10: Who lives in~
• Line 11: His/Her last name only
EXAMPLE BIOPOEM
Darry (name)
Diligent, unemotional, tough, hardened (traits)
Relative of Ponyboy and Sodapop (family)
Lover of football, success, and his muscles (loves)
Who feels rage, regret, and grief (feels)
Who needs to provide for his brothers, protect his friends, and fight his enemies (needs)
Who fears the future, the boys’ home, and Ponyboy’s bad grades (fears)
Who gives time, work, and his own potential (gives)
Who would like to see college, Ponyboy quit smoking, and peace in his neighborhood
(would like to see)
Resident of the wrong side of the city (lives in)
Curtis (last name)