Russian Revolution and
formation of Communism
Agenda
1. Bell Ringer: Quick Review with Mr. T. (10)
2. Lecture: Finish Russian Revolution (20)
3. The Picture Issue…. Oh Stalin.. (6)
4. Russian Revolution video (10)
5. Cause and Effect Activity (15)
6. War, Peace and Bread Illustration (10)
7. Leaders and their mistakes.. (10)
8. Quick Questions Russian Revolution
HW: Quiz Next Class on Russian Revolution, Make sure you
submit your thesis to Mr. T.
Obj: - Students will create a poster emphasizing the goals of the
Bolshevik Party during the Russian Revolution.
- Students will analyze the outcomes of mistakes carried out by political
leaders in World War I.
Quick Review of World War I
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What was the major cause of World War I?
How did the United States get involved?
When did the war end?
Identify new technologies that were utilized during the
war.
What happened to Germany because of the Treaty of
Versailles?
How were Wilson’s Fourteen Points utilized within the
Treaty?
What are the weaknesses of the League of Nations?
Why would Russia leave the war?
So Far…
• February/March
Revolution gets rid of
Tsar Nicholas II and
his family.
• Provincial
Government is
running the country,
World War I is raging.
• Vladimir Lenin thinks
a more violent
Revolution is needed.
Vladimir Lenin
• Became a
revolutionary after
brother was killed.
– He was attempting to
assassinate the Tsar.
• His own plot would
lead to Lenin fleeing
from Russia in the
early 1900s.
• Becomes “Father of
the Revolution”
The Bolshevik Revolution
• The provisional
government falls.
• “Peace, land and bread”
• Lenin’s rallying cry
resonated with the
people.
• Over in a few hours with
the storming of the Winter
Palace, culminating in the
arrest of the former
government leaders.
Lenin in power
• All farmland is distributed
among peasants.
• Control of factories given
to the workers.
• Signed a truce with
Germany.
• Brest-Litovsk treaty
signed, giving Russian
territory to Germany
(Poland).
Civil War in Russia
• White Army goes
against Bolsheviks
and Leon Trotsky.
• 1918-1920- 15 million
killed over three
years.
– Famine and disease
caused a lot of these
deaths.
• Red army eventually
succeeds.
New Philosophy, New Russia
• New Economic Policy
– Small scale capitalism,
peasants can sell their
crops instead of giving to
the government.
– Encouraged foreign
investment.
– Major industry controlled by
the government.
• Eventually they would
move towards
Communism, complete
government control.
Political Reforms
• Russia was made into
several self governing
republics.
• Bolsheviks are renamed
“Communists”,
constitution is based on
socialist and democratic
principles.
• Economic recovery
follows through 1928.
• Lenin dies in 1924.
Lenin vs. Stalin
• Lenin advocated pure
Communism, handing
over control of farms and
factories to the “people”
but all goods were sent to
the government for
redistribution.
• Stalin would take power
soon after the death of
Lenin. He would force
Trotsky into exile, and
change Communism to a
totalitarian policy.
The picture issue
• If Stalin didn’t like
you, you were
banished from the
country.
• And any connections
between you and
Stalin are cut.
• He cut you out of his
life, and his pictures,
and the history of
Russia.
Now you see him
Now you don’t
Now you see them
Now you Don’t
Russian Revolution Review
• What are the causes of the Russian Revolution?
• When was Tsar Nicolas removed from the throne?
What happens to him and his family?
• Who takes power in Russia right after the Tsar?
• How does the Provisional Government deal with
World War I and Domestic Issues?
• What are the differences between the Mensheviks
and the Bolsheviks?
• When does Lenin take over?
• Why is Stalin seen as a threat?
• What governmental philosophy is adopted in Russia
after the Revolution?
Widespread discontent among
all classes of Russian society.
Czar and his family killed—
End of Absolutist Rule
Agitation from revolutionaries
Civil War (1918-1920)
Losses in World War I
Peace with Germany under
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Defeat in Russo-Japanese
War
Russian economy in ruins
Weak leadership of Czar
Nicholas II
Bolshevik control of
government
Bloody Sunday
Strikes and Riots