1) Russia entered World War I in 1914 and suffered heavy losses which contributed to unrest among the Russian people and weakening of the Russian economy. 2) In 1917, two revolutions took place in Russia - the February Revolution which overthrew the Russian monarchy, and the Bolshevik Revolution in which the Bolsheviks under Vladimir Lenin seized power. 3) A civil war ensued between the Bolshevik Reds and opposing White forces, which the Reds eventually won, establishing the Soviet Union under communist rule led by Lenin and later Stalin.

1. From the Aftermath of World War I to World War II
6th Grade Social Studies
Mr. Ellis
THE 20TH CENTURY: CONFLICT &
CHANGE IN EUROPE

2. • Russia began the 20th century with defeat at the hands of the
Japanese during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905.
• Russia’s defeat caused many to question the power and influence
of the Czar. Massive protest against the Czar by citizens in 1905
(Bloody Sunday). Soldiers at the Czar’s Winter Palace responded
with force, killing peaceful protesters.
• Dumas (legislative body) formed in 1906 to address concerns of the
Russian people, but held no real power.
• Russia entered World War I in 1914. By 1917, Russia was reeling from
heavy losses of men and material (approx. 1.5 million Russian
soldiers died during WWI).
• At the time, Russia lacked the industrial resources of Germany
(Central Powers).
• Sources:
• Rosenberg, J. (n.d.). The Russian Revolution of 1917. Retrieved from
http://history1900s.about.com/od/Russian-Revolution/a/Russian-Revolution.htm
• Russian Revolution. (2009). Retrieved June 25, 2015, from http://www.history.com/topics/russian-revolution
RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

3. • Russian Czar (emperor with absolute power) Nicholas II
(1894 to 1917)was ruler during Russo-Japanese War and
World War I.
• Russia’s economy was floundering, as it was largely
agrarian and had relied on serfdom for hundreds of
years. Industrialization had been slow to come, and
workers labored under terrible conditions. Power was
centralized in the hands of an elite few.
• Nicholas II largely ignored civil unrest and declining
economic conditions in Russia as he left to lead troops
personally at the Eastern front (Sept. 1915).
• Nicholas II left his wife (of German heritage) and her
advisor, the “holy man” Rasputin, to see to the affairs of
the government. Rasputin held enormous power, but
was unpopular. He was killed in Dec. of 1916.
• Source:
• J. Llewellyn et al, “Russia before World War I” at Alpha History, Retrieved from
http://alphahistory.com/worldwar1/russia/
• Firstworldwar.com. (n.d.). Retrieved June 25, 2015, from
http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/nicholasii.htm
RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

4. • There were actually two revolutions (The February
1917 Revolution & The Bolshevik 1917 Revolution).
• In 1917, most Russians were poor peasants, with a
small working class emerging in the cities.
Workers struggled for rights.
• Feb. 23rd – March 8th 1917 – Workers in Petrograd
protest working conditions and lack of food.
• Nicholas II abdicates the throne on March 15th,
1917.
• The Dumas forms a provisional government
under Kerensky (a liberal reformer) – continued
fighting with the Allies (an unpopular decision).
• Sources:
• J. Llewellyn et al, “Russia before World War I” at Alpha History,
Retrieved from http://alphahistory.com/worldwar1/russia/
• Firstworldwar.com. (n.d.). Retrieved June 25, 2015, from
http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/nicholasii.htm
FEBRUARY 1917 REVOLUTION

5. • Soviets – Local/community groups (councils) of
academics, workers, soldiers seeking change.
• Kadets – Constitutional Democratic Party –
advocated for Constitutional Monarchy
• Mensheviks – Minority division of the Social
Democratic Party. Leon Trotsky (another key
figure) was originally a member.
• Bolsheviks – Majority radical members of Social
Democratic Party. Founded by Vladimir Lenin.
Marxist ideology.
• Marxism – Theories and ideas of Karl Marx.
Advocated for a class less society. Socialist
Order.
• Source:
• Menshevik | political party, Russia. (n.d.). Retrieved June 27, 2015, from
http://www.britannica.com/topic/Menshevik
• Richard, C. (n.d.). The Bolshevik-Menshevik Split. Retrieved June 27, 2015, from
http://www.historytoday.com/richard-cavendish/bolshevik-menshevik-split
COMPETING INTERESTS & THE
BOLSHEVIK REVOLUTION

6. • Lenin (lawyer, Marxist, Revolutionary 1870-1924) had been in
exile – He returned to Russia after the February Revolution.
• Lenin turned against the provisional government. His
Bolshevik’s seized control October 25th 1917. Lenin becomes
head of the government.
• Lenin advocated for worker control of factories.
• Lenin ended Russian involvement in World War I (peace with
Germany), but soldiers returning home still had to face lack of
resources and land.
• The Russian civil war pitted Lenin’s Reds (Bolsheviks) against the
Whites (loyal to Czar). Millions of Russians died in the conflict,
and Bolshevik’s emerge victorious. The government and
economy are decimated.
• Rosenberg, J. (n.d.). The Russian Revolution of 1917. Retrieved from
http://history1900s.about.com/od/Russian-Revolution/a/Russian-Revolution.htm
• Russian Revolution. (2009). Retrieved June 25, 2015, from
http://www.history.com/topics/russian-revolution
THE BOLSHEVIK REVOLUTION AND CIVIL
WAR

7. • July 16-18 of 1918 – Nicholas II and his entire
family are assassinated.
• 1922 the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is
created.
• Lenin dies in 1924.
• Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin vie for power.
• Stalin becomes leader of the Communist Party
and rules through brutal means. His plans to
rapidly modernize the Soviet Union created
massive hardship for peasants and farmers.
• Stalin would go on to make peace, through a
nonaggression pact, with Germany just prior to
World War II. Germany would later violate the
pact, drawing Russia to the side of the Allies.
AFTERMATH OF THE RUSSIAN CIVIL WAR