THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION The Russian Revolution What HAPPENED

THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

The Russian Revolution - What HAPPENED? ! Before the Russian Revolution, Russia was an oligarchy. What’s an oligarchy? “A small group of people having control of a country, organization, or an institution. ” Are oligarchies good or bad?

Oligarchy - YAY OR NAY? Ivan the Terrible Peter the Great

Oligarchies continued. . . Russia had an oligarchy for hundreds of years leading up to World War I and the Russian Revolution. People had slowly become unhappy with unbalance of power and new leaders arose to spur the people towards something new… WHY?

Russia after WWI Russia was a MESS after World War I. - No match for Germany - Spent too much $ on war effort - Economy was in shambles - Moderates started to become radicals - Overthrow the Czar!?

The February Revolution MAYHEM IN THE STREETS! Protesters hit the streets and start to become violent. Russian guards open fire, but eventually join the movement. Imperial Government forced to resign eventually to the “Duma” “a legislative body in the ruling assembly of Russia and the former Soviet Union. ”

Today’s Goals - Learn more about the start of the Russian Revolution - Investigate more about Communism - Think about the famous Russian leader Vladimir Lenin - Was he a good leader or a bad leader?

The Bolshevik Revolution - The February Revolution was soon followed up with the October (Bolshevik) Revolution - The Bolsheviks staged a coup in which they took over the government and assumed political power. - Vladimir Lenin was a big part of this, and became the new leader of the USSR Vladimir Lenin

“Peace! Land! Bread!” - The Bolsheviks desired to create a communist economy and had a battle cry of “Peace, land bread. ” - Immediate goal: Get Russia out of WWI as soon as possible - Eventually implements a communist command economy.

Communist Economy Overview - Essential feature / overview: - Government agencies are involved in production planning and make economic decisions - Government decides how to produce products, how much should be made and who get the products - Everything is owned by the state; there are no private businesses

Vladimir Lenin - Leader of Bolshevik Revolution - Started the USSR (Soviet Union) - Today is seen as a highly controversial figure in history. - WHY?

Pros and Cons of Vladimir Lenin PROS CONS - Ended a centuries old absolute monarchy - Improved the lives of the lower classes - Persuasive - Modest; not greedy - Got Russia out of WWI - Executed those who opposed him (Romanov family) - Brought about the Red Terror (estimated 500 k to 2 million killings) - Paranoid & Manipulative - Paved the way for Joseph Stalin Video

Your turn to decide - Take the next 8 - 10 minutes - Pair up with your table partner and make a decision, support it with facts and be prepared to be defend your statement. - Write a paragraph on your worksheet.