Nicholas II

He became czar in 1894 and continued the unpopular tradition of Russian autocracy. It made him blind to
the changing conditions in the country and the growing unrest.

Rasputin

He was a self described holly man who claimed to have healing powers. He eased Alexis symptoms of
hemophilia. Alexandra, Nicholas IIs wife, allowed Rasputin to make key political decisions. Rasputin
opposed reform measures and got powerful positions for his friends. In 1916, a group of nobles murdered
Rasputin by poisoning him. shooting him and drowning him because they were afraid of his increasing
role in government affairs.

Industrialization and growth of revolutionary movements

Because of the fast growth of factories, there were dramatic changes in the Russian economy between
1863 and 1900. Foreign investors and higher taxes made it possible for further industrial growth and the
building of the Trans-Siberian Railway. Workers became unhappy with factory working conditions. low
wages, child labor and lack of political power. This gave rise to revolutionary movements and tried to
gain power. One group were the Marxists who followed the views of Karl Marx. They believed the
workers would overthrow the czar and rule the country.

Bolsheviks

These Marxists were more radical than the Mensheviks. They supported a small number of committed
revolutionaries willing to sacrifice everything for change. Radical socialists. Wanted to make Russia more
industrialized by authoritarian methods. Later they take the name Communist Party.

Mensheviks

These Marxists wanted widespread popular support for the revolution. They were more moderate than the
Bolsheviks.

Soviets

Socialist revolutionaries competing for power formed soviets which were local councils consisting of
workers, peasants and soldiers. In some places the soviets had more power than the provisional
government.

Lenin

Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov took the name Lenin. He was a ruthless organizer who took control of the
Bolsheviks. Afraid of being arrested by the Czar, he left the country for Western Europe in the early
1900s but stayed in touch with the Bolsheviks and eventually returned to Russia.

Revolution of 1905

In the aftermath of Bloody Sunday, Czar Nicholas promised reforms including the creation of the first
Russian parliament, the Duma.

Russo-Japanese War

In the late 1880s Russia and Japan were fighting for control of Korea and Manchuria. Russia broke
many agreements the countries made. Japan retaliated by attacking the Russians in Manchuria in 1904. In
the midst of the conflict the Russian people heard about the countrys losses and revolted.

Bloody Sunday

On Sunday, January 22, 1905, 200,000 Russian workers and their families marched on the czars Winter
Palace in St. Petersburg protesting for better working conditions, personal freedom and an elected
legislature. Generals ordered soldiers to fire on the crowd. As a result 1,000 people were injured and
thousands were killed. The day became known as Bloody Sunday.

WWI

When Nicholas II decided to get Russia into World War I but the country was not ready for the military
and economic costs. The German Army defeated the Russian Army resulting in the deaths of millions of
Russian soldiers. In 1915, while Nicholas II was at war, Czarina Alexandra ran the country and did not
listen to the advisors. She followed Rasputin instead. The war caused food and fuel shortages and
inflation of prices. The people wanted the war to end and Alexandria did not know how to deal with
countrys problems.

Two revolutions:

As a result of two revolutions, the Nicholas stepped down from power and abdicated.

March Revolution-

Women textile workers led a strike in Petrograd in 1917. In the following days there were shortages of
food and fuel. Nearly 200,000 workers took to the streets to protest. They shouted Down with
Autocracy and Down with the War. After first firing at the rioters, the soldiers later sided with the
workers. Nicholas abdicated his throne as the result of widespread uprising by the protesters.

Provisional Government-

Leaders of the Duma set up a temporary government after the abdication of Nicholas II.

Alexander Kerensky

Kerensky headed the Provisional Government. His decision to continue fighting in WWI caused further
unrest and calls for reform. Local soviets were formed because people were angry with Kerensky and the
Provisional Government.

November Revolution- also known as The Bolshevik Revolution

Lenin and the Bolsheviks gained control of Soviets in the major cities and decided to take control of the
Government. The Provisional Government fell when the Bolsheviks Red Guard took over the Winter
Palace in Petrograd.

All power to the Soviets

People in the cities rallied to this call.

Bread, Land, and Peace

Lenins slogan that gained popularity. Lenins promise to the people. Made many Russians want tp
support him. He said he would get them out of the war, give them food, and give them land.

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk- unilateral treaty with Germany

In March 1918 this treaty was signed between Germany and Russia giving Germany and its allies parts of
Russia. The Russian people did not like the treaty and did not like the Bolsheviks policies or the murder
of the royal family.

Trotsky

Lenin suffered a stroke and although he recovered, competition for someone to head up the Communist
party began. Two of the competitors were Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin. Trotsky commanded the Red
Army from 1918 to 1920. He was forced into exile in 1929 and even though he was no longer a threat, he
was murdered.

Civil War

The Bolsheviks had to deal with enemies at home. This resulted in a civil war between the White and
Red Armies.

White Army

The White Army was made up of different groups. Some supported return of the Czar, some supported
democratic government and some were socialists who opposed Lenins style of socialism. These
different groups were united in their desire to defeat the Red Army.

Red Army

The Bolsheviks made up the Red Army.

Problems

The civil war between the Red and White Armies divided the country. It hurt the economy and destroyed
social and political structures. Many skilled workers left the country. Revolutionaries used terror to
control people.

Results

As a result a state controlled society was created which lasted for decades. New economic policies and
restructuring of the government was necessary. Lenin temporarily set up an N.E.P, the New Economic
Policy, which was an experiment with capitalism.

New name Lenin gives to Russia

Lenin renamed the country the U.S.S.R., the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in honor of the councils
which helped start the Russian Revolution.