The document summarizes the key events of the Russian Revolution from the rule of Czar Nicholas II to the establishment of Bolshevik rule under Lenin. It discusses the social, economic, and political causes of the revolution, including widespread unrest under the oppressive czarist regime. Major events like Bloody Sunday, the establishment and failure of the provisional government, and Lenin's return and seizure of power by the Bolsheviks in 1917 are summarized. The establishment of a communist government under Lenin and the Russian Civil War between the Reds and Whites that led to Bolshevik victory are also briefly outlined.

1. The Russian Revolution

2. Romanov Dynasty
(Russia's Last Ruling Family)

3. Romanov Dynasty (Russia's Last Ruling Family)
I. Czar Nicholas II (1894-1917)
A. Last Romanov Czar of Russia
B. Ruled Russia as an absolute monarch.
1. Strict censorship
2. Travel to and from Russia was limited.
3. Encouraged a large gap between the social classes.
4. Enforced his power with a harsh secret police.
For 303 years the
Russian Tsar came from
the House of Romanov.
Nicholas II didn’t want
to be the Czar, it was
inherited.

4. I. Social Causes
A. Czarist government denied personal freedom to people.
1. The Russian people wanted an end to Czarist rule.
B. Proletarians (City workers) wanted better working conditions.
C. Kulaks (Upper peasantry ) wanted more voice in government.
D. Russian minorities Demanded religious freedom and an end to discrimination
and forced nationalization.
Social Causes of the Russian Revolution

5. Economic Causes of the Russian Revolution
I. Economic Causes
A. The Russian economy was very unstable.
1. Wide-scale unemployment and starvation.

6. Political Causes of the Russian Revolution
I. Political Causes
A. The Revolution of 1905.
1. Resulted from the disastrous defeat of Russia by Japan in the Russo-
Japanese War (1904-1905)
a. Increased cost of living and higher taxes to pay for the war caused
widespread riots.
b. Defeats resulted in a damaged national morale.

7. Bloody Sunday
I. Bloody Sunday
A. January 22, 1905, a group of city workers marched to the Czar's Palace in
St. Petersburg (Leningrad) to demand reforms.
1. Workers were unarmed and the march was meant to be non-violent.
a. Workers fired upon by soldiers and massacred.
b. Massacre sparked further revolts throughout Russia.
Before Bloody Sunday many peasants and working class people
revered the Tsar and thought that he was on their side. They
blamed their troubles on the government, not on the Tsar. However,
after the shootings, the Tsar was perceived as an enemy of the
working class and the desire for revolution began to spread.

8. Duma
I. Revolution of 1905 ended with promised reforms
A. Czar Nicholas II ended Revolution by promising reforms.
1. Promised to establish a Peoples’ Parliament (Duma)
2. Guaranteed more freedom to individuals.
a. Within a few years, Czar Nicholas II broke his promises on the agreed
reforms.
1a. Czar Nicholas II imprisoned, executed, and banished leaders of
the Revolution.
Speech by Emperor Nicholas II on the opening of the State Duma

9. Rasputin “Mad Monk” from Siberia
I. Rasputin
A. Gregory Rasputin was a "holy man" from Siberi who gained a reputation for
being a healer and prophet.
1. After saving the life of Alexei, Czar Nicholas II's son, who suffered from
Hemophilia, Rasputin had tremendous influence over the Czar and his wife
2. Rasputin ill-advised the Czar and the Czarina about major decisions for
Russia, which later would prove catastrophic.
C. Rasputin earned a negative reputation in the last few years before his death.
1. Under the protection of the Czar, Rasputin indulged in a life of sexual
depravity and lust.
From his unkempt beard to his wild hypnotic
eyes, this mystical and mysterious holy man was
notorious for his physical and mental strength.
His political stranglehold on the Russian
Imperial Family, his incredible ability to read
peoples' weaknesses, and then manipulate them
to carrying out his evil will.
The only son of Nicholas II and
Alexandra, Alexei is fifth and
youngest child. Like his mother,
Alexei suffered from Hemophilia.

10. Rasputin “Mad Monk” from Siberia
I. How did Rasputin become associated with the Romanov family?
A. Came from Siberia to help Alexei with his hemophilia.
B. Alexei had fallen off his horse and had internal bleeding when Rasputin fist
came to his help.
C. After saving Alexei it was believed that Rasputin could heal through prayer,
because he saved Alexei when the doctors said that he would die.
1. The Romanovs believed they needed him after this to keep Alexei safe and
alive.
2. They believed him a holy man of god.

11. Rasputin Control Over the Romanov Family and the Government
I. Rasputin control over the Romanov family and the government
A. Against the advice of many, the Czar and Czarina felt that they needed
Rasputin and would do anything to keep him around.
1. This gave Rasputin considerable personal and political influence over the
royal family.
2. Rasputin’s influence also distracted the royal family from the rise and
increasing power of the Bolsheviks and other socialists.
Rasputin quickly developed a
reputation for his heavy
drinking, all-night carousing,
and unabashed womanizing.
One of his best pickup lines
was to tell women that they
would be purified of all their
sins if they spent the evening
with him.
One night he exposed himself
to patrons at a restaurant, but
when the police arrived they
could do nothing because he
had a permanent get out of jail
card from the Czar.

12. Russia and the First World War
I. Russia joined the Allies and entered WWI in August 1914
A. Myth of the Russian steamroller
1. Sheer numbers were believed to overwhelm any opponent.

13. Russia and the First World War
I. Incompetent Leaders & Poor Training
A. Czarist military officers were incompetent.
a. Military positions given because of family influence, not ability.
B. Russian soldiers were treated badly.
1. Forced military service (Conscription).
2. Improper or no military training provided.
3. Poor or little equipment to fight.
a. One-out-of-every-five soldiers did not have rifles.
4. Very little food to fed the troops.

14. Russia and the First World War
I. Reality of Russian preparedness:
A. Soldiers had little to gain from war.
1. Soldiers didn't believe in the cause and wouldn't gain from it.
a. Thought a victory would benefit only the wealthy upper class.
B. The Russian military suffered the most causalities during WWI.
C. The Czar's best soldiers (loyal) were sent to fight war.
1b. The Czar was left without protection from radicals.
D. Czar Nicholas II went to the front to take over the army due to the Russia’s
recent defeats.
1. Unfortunately, the Czar quickly proved to be as incompetent and the
officers he dismissed.

15. How the First World War Affected Russia.
I. How the First World War affected the Russian Home Front during the war:
A . Inflation
1. Most Russian soldiers were farmers.
a. Their absence from their farms created severe food shortages.
2. Widespread poverty
a. Poor working conditions for factory workers.

16. The March 1917 Revolution
I. The Collapse of Czarist Russia
A. March 1917, rioting against the war erupted in St. Petersburg.
1. Soldiers joined the rebellion instead of suppressing it.
B. March 15, 1917, Czar Nicholas II abdicated.
Soldiers joined the rebellion instead of suppressing it.

17. Results of the Provisional Government
I. Results of the Provisional Government:
A. Between March and November 1917, a Provisional Government was
established and led by Alexander Kerensky.
B. Positive results of the Provisional government:
1. Guaranteed civil liberties, freed political prisoners, and tried to establish
a Western type of democratic government.
C. Negative results of the Provisional government:
1. Strikes, military desertions, and slow reforms paralyzed the provisional
government.
2. Decision to remain in the war was not popular among the people.
Alexander Kerensky

18. Vladimir Lenin (1870-1924)
I. Lenin was considered the "Father of Modern Communism“
A. Lenin was exiled by the Czar for plotting revolutionary activities.
1. Returned in 1917 with the help of the Germans.
a. Germany wanted Russia out of the war and knew Lenin’s
return would cause chaos.
2. Lenin believed that the Communist Revolution should be swift
and violent to achieve its objectives.
Lenin returned to
Russia in 1917
with the help of
the Germans.

19. Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 (Communists)
I. Bolsheviks gathered strength as people joined their cause.
A. Organized groups of workers, peasants, and soldiers called Soviets.
B. Bolsheviks promised to get Russia out of the First World War.
C. Peace, bread, and land became the rallying cry of the Bolsheviks.
1. Peace for Russia
2. Land for the peasants
3. Bread for the hungry
D. November 1917, Bolsheviks seized power.

20. Russia Under Bolshevik Rule
I. New government called the Council of People’s Commissars.
A. Headed by Vladimir Lenin, Leon Trotsky, and Joseph Stalin.
B. Russia withdrew from the First World War in March 1918.
1. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.
a. Made peace with the Central Powers.
b. Russia lost ¼ of it’s land to Germany.
1b. 80% of its iron and coal reserves.
c. Treaty was nullified after the war ended at Versailles.

21. Russian territory surrendered to Germany as a result of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Map of Results of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

22. The Russian Civil War of 1917-1920
I. The Russian Civil War of 1917-1920
A. The Red Army (Bolsheviks) led by Leon Trotsky fought against the
White Army (Provisional government supporters.)
B. Allies joined and supported the White Army forces after WWI.
1. Allies were against the Bolshevik Revolution.
a. Bolsheviks refused to pay back the Czar's debts.
b. Allies did not fight, only supported and supplied the White Army.

23. Russian Civil War Map
American soldiers in
Russia during the Russian
Civil War.
Western Allies supported
the White Forces during
the Russian Civil War

24. The Russian Civil War of 1917-1920 Cont’.
C. By 1920, the Bolsheviks (Reds)
controlled most of Russia.
1. Capitalists, priests, Czarist officers,
and nobles were arrested by the
Communists and murdered.
2. In July 1918, during the height of the
Russian Civil War, Czar Nicholas II
and his family were murdered by the
Communists.
Leon Trotsky
brilliantly led the Red
forces to victory
during the Russian
Civil War.
Lenin ordered that the Czar and his entire family to be ruthlessly gunned
down by Bolshevik forces during the Russian Civil War.

25. Lenin’s New Economic Plan (NEP) of 1921
I. Lenin’s New Economic Plan (NEP) of 1921
A. Agreed to a temporary compromise with capitalism to get the Soviet
Union’s economy moving.
1. Farmers were allowed to sell their surplus.
2. Allowed small, privately-owned businesses to operate.
3. Encouraged foreign investment.

26. The Birth of the USSR
(Union of Soviet Socialist Republic.)
I. The Bolsheviks announced the formation of the USSR in 1923.
A. The USSR was made up of 15 republics (Russia was the largest)
B. Primary principles of the Soviet Union.
1. Based on the principles of communism (socialism) set forth by Karl
Marx, a 19th century German political philosopher.
2. Abolished capitalism- free market economy
3. Atheism- denial of the existence of God.
a. Worship of Soviet Party leadership.
4. Abolition of class distinctions.
a. Was everybody really equal?
1a. NO!!! Only members of the Communists Party benefited.
2a. Russia became industrialized and militarily powerful at the
expense of individual civil liberties and rights.
5. Encouragement of Communist revolutions throughout the world.

27. The Death of Lenin
I. Lenin’s problems and stress in his fight against the White Russians led
to health problems.
A. Lenin died in 1924, from complications of a stroke.
Lenin’s body is still on display today
in Moscow
One of the last photos taken
of Lenin after he suffered a
stroke.
Before his death in 1924, Lenin
attempted to warn the Bolsheviks not
to trust Stalin.

28. Soviet Power Struggle
I. Lenin’s untimely death sparks a power struggle within the Communist ranks
between Trotsky vs. Stalin
A. Leon Trotsky:
1. A visionary and Lenin’s chosen successor.
2. Commanded the Red forces during the Russian Civil War.
3. A powerful speaker and well-liked.
B. Joseph Stalin:
1. A nationalist and ruthless.
2. Appointed by Lenin as the General Secretary of the Communist Party.
a. Stalin took advantage of his political position.
3. Made false charges and forced Leon Trotsky to leave the country in
exile.
a. Stalin later had Trotsky assassinated in Mexico City in 1940.
Stalin had
Trotsky
blacklisted
from the
Party and
later
assassinated.
In his youth Stalin
studied for the
priesthood, but found the
life as a criminal and
radical revolutionary
more attractive.

29. Stalin Emerged as Leader of the USSR
II. Joseph Stalin obtained complete power and became dictator of the USSR
in 1928 as the leader of the USSR.
A. Joseph Stalin was a nationalist and ruthless.
B. Russia was transformed into a leading self-supporting industrialized
nation.
C. Stalin was both worshipped and feared by communists throughout the
world.

30. Terms to Know
Romanov Dynasty
Czar Nicholas II
Proletarians
Kulaks
Revolution of 1905
Russo-Japanese War
Bloody Sunday
St. Petersburg
Duma
Conscription
Rasputin "Mad Monk“
Alexander Kerensky
Vladimir Lenin
Bolsheviks (Communists or Soviets)
Peace, bread, and land
Leon Trotsky
Joseph Stalin
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Russian Civil War
Red Army vs. White Army
New Economic Plan
USSR
Karl Marx

31. Concepts to Know
Describe the leadership of Czar Nicholas II.
Describe the social, economic, and political causes of the Russian revolutions
(1905 & 1917)
Why did the Russian army do poorly during WWI?
Who was Rasputin? Describe his role in the downfall of Czarist Russia.
Describe the revolution(s) in Russia in March and November 1917
Explain how Lenin was able to come to power in Russia.
Describe the Russian Civil War and the roles Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin
played.
Explain the five principles of the USSR.
Explain the death of Lenin and the power struggle between Trotsky and
Stalin.