1) The czars ruled over Russia for 300 years (the

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1) The czars ruled over Russia for 300 years (the
Romanov Dynasty, 1613-1917) but the last
century of their rule was marked by social
political unrest, with increasing revolutionary
activity - Army officers revolted in 1825 (the
Decemberists), demanding a constitutional
monarchy, with an elected legislature (learned
from French soldiers 13 years earlier). -
Multiple revolutionary groups developed through
the 1800s, seeking to overthrow the czars. -
Czar Alexander II was assassinated in 1881.
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2) The last four czars, and their openness to
reforms Nicholas I ? opposed Alexander II ? in
favor (and was assassinated!) Alexander III ?
opposed Nicholas II ? opposed
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3) Most czars favored AUTOCRACY Any form of
government in which ONE person (OR party) has
total political power. Can be an absolute
monarchy OR dictatorship 4) Alex III considered
the following dangerous 1. Anyone who
questioned the absolute authority of the czar
(DISSIDENTS) 2. Anyone NOT Russian Orthodox
Christian 3. Anyone who did not speak Russian
as their first language (i.e. any non-Russian
ethnic group) ALL were considered potential (or
actual) sources of revolutionary activity against
the czar. (consider Alex II had been
assassinated!)
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5) Czar Alexander III used, harsh autocratic
policies - strict censorship - secret
police - teacher reports on student activity
(creates distrust, paranoia!) -
deportation to eastern Russia (Siberia) for
punishing hard labor - outlawed non-Russian
languages in schools
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• 6) Religious group most persecuted Jews
• aka ANTI-SEMITISM
• Victims of organized mob violence destruction
  of property encouraged (or ignored) by the gov.
• POGROMS
• (WHY?)
• ? scapegoating (falsely blame them for
  national problems)
• ? small, vulnerable group easy target
• ? easily identified group in segregated
  communities

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• 7) Russian industrialization
• Similarities w/ Western Europe, U.S. (or
  anywhere!)
• Government policies designed to encourage
  industrial growth
• Terrible working conditions, early on
• (i.e. unsafe, dirty, long hours, low pay, child
  labor)
• Government outlaws labor unions (so no
  opportunity for improved conditions!)
• Workers sometimes responded w/ illegal strikes
• Difference
• Dissaffected working class (and peasants)
  increasingly turned to violent, REVOLUTIONARY
  activity, inspired by

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• 8) Karl Marx
• (why was there NOT a similar Marxist
  revolutionary reaction in Britain, the U.S., and
  Germany?)

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• 9) Not all Russian Marxist revolutionaries agreed
  on the GOALS and METHODS of revolution they
  would split into two factions
• Mensheviks ? preferred a more moderate, gradual
  approach in cultivating a broader and more
  democratic base of popular support among Russias
  working class in preparing for revolution.
• Bolsheviks ? a smaller, more radical group of
  ruthless and committed revolutionaries willing
  to sacrifice everything for more immediate
  change.

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Bolsheviks Mensheviks -
Revolutionary - Socialist - Evolutionary
(immediate) (delayed revolt)
- Proletariat overthrow of
- Top Down Bourgeoisie -
Bottom Up (dictatorial)
(democratic) - Marxist
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10) Bolshevik leader Lenin Leadership
Qualities - charismatic (engaging
personality) - well organized - well
educated (middle class background) -
ruthless - ambitious - gifted speaker Early
obstacles to revolution Self-exile to
avoid arrest imprisonment.
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11) Czar Nicholas IIs fateful decisions, which
will cost him his throne and end three centuries
of monarchy in Russia 1. Russo-Japanese War
(1904) Czar uses nationalism and militarism to
try and distract and unify Russians... initiates
a war with Japan (for imperial control of
Korea). Result FAILURE... Russians lost war to
a more industrialized Japan, thus magnifying the
scope of Russia's problems and poor leadership!
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11) End of the czars (continued) 2. Russia's
Bloody Sunday (Revolution of 1905) ?
200,000 workers gather peacefully to petition
for better working living conditions (i.e.
more personal freedoms) and an elected
legislature to represent them as a voice in the
government. Outcome - Czar's
security forces, feeling threatened, fire
upon crowd, killing hundreds, wounding
thousands - Workers respond with violent
national strikes - Czar forced to create a
national legislature, but he then dissolves it
within months... tensions remain!
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11) Failures of Czar Nicholas II (continued)
3. World War I ? - Under-equipped, poorly
trained, poorly led troops suffer massive
deaths civilians endure food fuel shortages.
- During war, Czar Nicholas II left for the
front (to inspire the troops), leaving
government administration in the hands of the
Czarina and Rasputin. - Rasputin was a
peasant advisor and family confidant (believed
to have special powers in ameliorating the
czars sons symptoms of hemophilia). -
The royal family permitted Rasputin to
influence government policy, infuriating
Russians of all classes.
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12) Russian Duma elected legislature
(i.e. Russian parliament, or congress) Had the
Russian Duma been implemented, Russia would
have become a constitutional monarchy and
may have avoided a violent revolution that
killed millions, and destroyed its monarchy
forever!