Revolutions in Russia

14-1 part 1

Unrest-do not write

• Czars oppressive rule and ruthless treatment leaves people unhappy–Army officer revolt 1825–Student revolt 1881•Alexander II

assassinated

Alexander III

• Runs Autocracy – govt. where one has total power–Enforces strict

censorship•Private letters• Teachers report

students

Pogroms• Alexander III wants

uniform Russian culture–Can only speak Russian– Jews become main

target • Cannot buy land or

live amongst Russians• Pogroms – organized

violence vs Jews

Sergey Witte• Wants to move country

forward economically–Builds up steel industry –Has Trans-Siberian

Railway built– worlds longest continuous railroad• European Russian

now connected to Pacific Ocean

Revolution Movement

• Industry grows – people unhappy –hard work, child labor,

low wages–gap between rich &

poor grows• Revolutionary movements

grow with Marxist ideals

Russian Marxist• Two groups–Mensheviks – wanted

broad base of supports–Bolsheviks – wanted small

# of committed people willing to sacrifice everything• Led by Vladimir Ilyisc

Ulyanov (LENIN)

Russo-Japanese War• Dispute over Korea &

Manchuria–Russia breaks

treaties – think Japanese are beneath them and can be defeated easily– Japanese win war

– embarrassment for Russia

Bloody Sunday• 200,000 workers carry petition

to Czar’s palace for better working conditions, freedoms, and elected govt.–Nicholas II not there so

generals order soldiers and police to fire on crowd–500-1000 unarmed people

die

Duma• Nicholas II forced to reform–creates Duma – Russia’s first parliament– later disbanded and future Duma’s had

no real power

Russia - WWI

• Enters war unable to handle economic and military costs of war

• Have weak generals and soldiers poorly equipped–4 million

killed/wounded/prisoner after 1 yr

Czarina Alexadra

• She’s left in charge as Nicholas II is at front

• Listens to Rasputin instead of advisors

Rasputin

• Self-described “holy man” who is there to help heal Alexandra’s son

• He makes political decisions, opposes reforms, and puts friends in powerful positions– later murdered for this

WWI Problems• Troops morale down–mutiny and desertion occur

• At home food, fuel, and supplies low–Prices inflated because of this

People Want Change