A Brief Overview of the Russian Revolution

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A Brief Overview of theRussian Revolution
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What is the Russian Revolution?

• The Russian Revolution is the name for a
  series of events in 1917 Russia, which destroyed
  the czarist autocracy and led to the creation of
  the Soviet Union.
• Czar (AKA tsar) the ruler of the Russian
  Empire
• Autocracy rule by one (monarch,
  dictator.)

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Why did it Happen?

• People were very unhappy with the way that the
  czar and his government were running the country.
  
• 1. People did not have a say in their
  government. The czar had the final say on
  everything.
• 2. The poor were very poor, while the rich
  were very rich.
• 3. They were mad about their involvement in War
  World I.

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Czar Nicholas II
He believed he was the unquestionable leader of
Russia appointed by God.
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Luxury Beyond Belief
This is the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. It
is the czar and his familys home. Three stories
high, the palace has 1,945 windows, 1,057 rooms
and 1,987 doors.
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Inside the Winter Palace
This was just one of the 8 palaces he owned,
which were staffed by15,000 servants.
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The Summer Palace
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Model of the Summer Palace
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Inside the Summer Palace
Yes, that is gold on the walls real gold.
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Inside the Summer Palace
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Artwork on the Ceiling of the Summer Palace
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The Life of the Peasants
While the czar and his family were enjoying their
many palaces and life of luxury, the other half
was living a very different life.
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Peasants at Work
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Broom Factory, 1910
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An Early Russian Factory
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Peasants at Home
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Weak Economy

• Even before the Russian Revolution, the peasants
  were unhappy with their lives .
• The economy was very weak. Mothers and fathers
  did not have enough money to buy food for their
  kids.

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1905 Protests
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Bloody Sunday
Czar Nicholas II had unarmed protesters murdered
in the streets in 1905.
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World War I

• Soldiers at the front were having a hard time,
  too.
• 1. not enough food
• 2. did not have shoes, warm clothes
• 3. often did not have weapons

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An Eyewitness Account

• Here with us the light has gone out of
  everything. We are hungry, dressed in rags, and
  barefooted. The food is very bad, and we have
  very little bread. The only meal we get is
  horse-flesh, and that is not fresh. We have got a
  horse of our own, but have nothing to feed it
  with, so we are thinking of eating it ourselves.
  There is no help for us anywhere. It is our fate
  to be thrown aside and forgotten by the world and
  to die of cold and hunger.
• A Russian Soldiers Letter to his nurse, 1917

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The Russian Revolution Begins

• The Russian Revolution started in 1917 and had
  two parts. The first part is the February
  Revolution.
• 1. People rioted because of lack of food, poor
  working conditions..
• 2. The czar abdicated (gave up) his throne.
• 3. A new, provisional government took over.

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February Bread Riot
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February (March) 1917
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The Revolution Continues

• The second part of the revolution was called the
  October Revolution. It is often called the
  Bolshevik Revolution. It was led by Vladmir
  Lenin, who believed in the ideology (ideas) of
  Karl Marx.
• They promised to get the country out of the war,
  which they did, and to give everyone
• Peace, Land, and Bread! which they did not.
• Czar Nicholas II and his family were
  executed.

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Nicholas II The Last Romanov Czar
r. 1894-1917
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The Czar His Family
Legend has it that his youngest daughter,
Anastasia, escaped execution. She did not.
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The Fighting Continues

• The revolution might have been over, but the
  fighting was not. A two year civil war divided
  the country.
• The Reds and the Whites fought for control of the
  country. A r a red
  army tank

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Which side are you on Cossack?
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The Civil War Ends

• The Reds won, with Lenin at the helm. He changed
  Russias name to the Soviet Union.
• It was now a communist country.