Russian Civil War (Reds vs. Whites)
Major People
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Lenin – leader of the Bolshevik party. He established Russia as the first communist
country. He won the support of the people with his slogan “Peace, Land, Bread.”
Trotsky – military commander under Lenin. He organized the coup on the provisional
government and gained the Bolsheviks power. He used his military brilliance to defeat
the White Russians despite the odds.
Nicholas II – tsar of Russia who abdicated in 1917. He was murdered by the Bolsheviks
during the civil war.
Major terms
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Bolsheviks – In 1918, the Bolsheviks murdered the tsar & his family.
Provisional Government – government that was put in place after the abdication of
Nicholas II. It was overthrown by Trotsky and the Bolsheviks during the October
Revolution.
Red Russians – Soviet army Lenin commanded to over throw the provisional
government. The met resistance against the soviet revolution and fought the white
Russians.
White Russians – Russians loyal to the tsar who refused to recognize the Bolsheviks as
the leaders of Russia. They fought against the Red army and due to lack of organization,
were defeated
October Revolution – The coup led by the Bolsheviks on the provisional government,
putting Lenin in power.
Petrograd – name for the city of Saint Petersburg at this time. It was the where the
provisional government met and also the where the coup in the October revolution
occurred.
Major documents
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Treaty of Brest-Litovsk – Ended the war between Germany and Russia in 1918. Freed
the Bolsheviks up to deal with problems in Russia itself. Russia was forced to surrender
Poland, Finland, the Baltic States, and Ukraine to Germany.
Major battles
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No major battles; just know civil war occurred between the Reds and the Whites
Major causes
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The Socialist Revolutionary party won a large majority in the election of the Constitute
Assembly by the provisional government. The Red Army, controlled by the Bolsheviks,
then dispersed the provisional government and assumed power.
After the October Revolution, many groups formed that opposed Lenin’s Bolsheviks.
Results
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Long Term:
o By 1921, Lenin and his supporters were in firm control of Russia
o Lenin was able to begin the Soviet experiment and implement the New
Economic Plan (NEP)
o Laid the foundation for the rise of Stalin
Short Term:
o Led to a successful communist revolution
o Establishment of the Cheka, Lenin’s secret police
o War communism led to government confiscation of banks, transport system,
and heavy industry
Immediate:
o Russia lost the territories of Poland, Finland, the Baltic States, and Ukraine
o Russia pulled out of WWI and Germany received the above territories
o The murder of the tsar and his family
The Congress of Berlin
Major People
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Otto von Bismarck – presided over the Congress of Berlin. He referred to himself as the
“honest broker” because he wanted to avoid war between Russia and Austria and did
not seek any new territory.
Major terms
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Pan-Slavism - a desire to unite all the Balkan Slavs under one rule.
Three Emperor’s League – Alliance of Germany, Austria, and Russia. It wavered after the
blows to Russian ambitions
Major documents
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The Treaty of San Stefano – Treaty between the Ottoman Empire and Russia. It would
have increased Russia's power by giving it a possible route to the Mediterranean. It was
revised in the Congress of Berlin which fixed the balance of power.
The Treaty of Berlin – Result of the Congress of Berlin. It gave southern Bessarabia and
part of Armenia to Russia. Montenegro, Serbia, and Romania became independent
states and Bulgaria semi-independent. Austria was allowed to administer Bosnia and
Herzegovina, and Great Britain received Cyprus.
Major causes
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Through the terms of the Treaty of San Stefano, Russia gained access to the
Mediterranean through Bulgaria, a prospect that other countries feared
England’s control of the Mediterranean Sea was threated and England, along with
Austria, forced Russia to agree to an international conference.
Results
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Long Term:
o Played a role in the formation of alliances in WWI (Russia would fight against
Germany)
Short Term:
o Prevented war for the time being by satisfying western powers
o Congress hindered the Pan-Slavic movement
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Immediate:
o Russia was prevented for gaining access to the Mediterranean by splitting up
Balkan states. This angered Russia.
o The Treaty of Berlin which redrew boundaries
o Ended the Three Emperor’s League
o England was given Cyrus and France was encouraged to occupy Tunisia
Issues
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The Congress of Berlin prevented the realization of the Pan-Slavic movement, which
annoyed the Balkan states
Germany gained Russian resentment for the blows they received at the congress
Peace of Europe was treated by Russian resentment of Germany and Serbian
resentment of Austria