Russian Revolution 1917 1921 Romanov Dynasty Czar Nicholas

Russian Revolution 1917 -1921

Romanov Dynasty ü Czar Nicholas II, Alexandra (wife), daughter Anastasia and son were last of 300 years of family rule. They lived in Petrograd (St. Petersburg) at the Winter Palace.

Background & Causes ü 1905 -Russia loses war to Japan & Bloody Sunday-Guards at the Winter Palace killed 1000 as people protested poor working conditions. ü 1914 -1917 Germany dominates Russia in WW I, 1. 5 million killed. ü Poor economy, many starving

March Revolution ü Czar goes to war front to inspire troops, leaves gov. to wife and Rasputin (mystic healer of son’s illness). He gets killed. ü People demand Czar to step down in March 1917. He abdicates (gives up power). Provisional Government (temp. ) led by Alexander Kerensky & Duma (leg. )

October Revolution ü Vladimir Lenin (communist revolutionary) had been in exile in Switz. Germany found him and sent him to Petrograd. ü He gathered the Bolsheviks, a group that supported a marxist government. They stormed the Winter Palace in October of 1917, gained control of gov.

Russia under Lenin ü “Land, Peace & Bread” and “All power to the Soviets”(local councils of Bolshevik supporters) were common slogans> ü Lenin surrendered to Germany in March of 1918, Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. It gave up Poland Baltic States. Lenin felt his movement would spread anyway.

Russian Civil War 1918 -1921 ü The Red Army (Bolsheviks) led by Leon Trotsky was smaller but more organized. ü White Army consisted of Mensheviks (supported a lesser from of socialism) and other political groups (Royalists, Democrats). Their lack of unity led to their defeat.

USSR and New Leadership ü 1922 Russia is renamed Union of Soviet Socialist Republic or Soviet Union. ü 1924 Lenin died. A power struggle between Trotsky and Joseph Stalin ensued. Stalin wins, Trotsky is exiled to Mexico.