The Russian Revolution

1
The Russian Revolution

• February-October 1917

2
Russia was Transformed

• From Russia to Soviet Union
• From monarchy (one ruler) to communism (ruled by
  the people)
• More to follow
• on communism
• not today!

3
Russian Monarchy

• Czar Nicholas IIKing of Russia.
• Royal blood, weak leader. As people criticized
  him, he became very oppressive.
• then people disliked him
• even more.

4
Russian Revolution changed

• Economy changed through industrialization.
• International relations-wanted to spread
  communism pulled out of WWI.
• Social structureeveryone was supposed to be
  equal (affected by economy also)

5
The Big Difference

• Intellectual types and working class people now
  ruled the government.
• No more royalty or people born into power.
• Elected officials. Soviet means council

6
Vladimir Lenin

• Leader of the Bolsheviks (revolutionaries)
• Gained power as people opposed
• Czar Nicholas II
• Worked hard to overthrow the monarchy
• The First Communist Leader put
• into practice the teachings of Karl Marx

7
August, 1917

• There was an attempt on Lenins life
• Lenin silenced opposition became an oppressive
  leader
• His oppression resulted in more opposition from
  the public
• The KGB did his dirty work Soviet
  intelligence

8
Lenins Sidekicks

• Joseph StalinBolshevik leader, friends with
  Leninworked for him in government.
• Leon Trotsky-Also a Bolshevik leader during the
  revolution, also work for him in government.
• Both were Lenins advisorswho would rule next?

9
Leon Trotsky

• Good friend/comrade
• to Stalin
• In charge of the
• military/peace talks
• Could have ruled Russia
• after Lenin, but Stalin beat
• him out.

10
Joe Stalin

• Came to power after Lenin
• Systematically dictated all industrial
  development, whether they made sense or not.
• People rebelled
• and he shot them

11
1933-1938 Living in Fear

• Anyone who disagreed with Stalin was arrested,
  exiled, or shot.
• Thousands of members of the Communist Party were
  punished for disloyalty.
• Stalins reign was said to be communist, but it
  was corrupt with totalitarianism.
• Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts
  absolutely.

12
Your Awareness

• George Orwell wrote to affect political change
• His writing exposes the corruption of power in
  government
• Thinkwhat would
• he write today?