DO NOW

• What reason did Russia have for withdrawing from

WWI?

• Why do you think that reason happened?

• What effect will this event have on Europe?

 RUSSIA
AND THE
BOLSHEVIK
REVOLUTION
 THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: INTRODUCTION

Russia is a huge and complicated country, with a long and

difficult history. In order to understand the events of the
Russian Revolution, we need to understand how things got as
bad as they did.

As we go through these slides, use the timeline as a notetaking

guide. This will be useful for the rest of the unit!
 THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: INTRODUCTION

Historians date the beginning of Russia

back to the year 862.

For four hundred years, the early

Russian people built up a Christian,
European-like civilization.
THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: INTRODUCTION

In 1237, the
Mongols took over
Russia – ruling it for
over two hundred
years.

Russia started to
fall behind Europe
in every way.
 THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: INTRODUCTION

By the 1500’s, Russia had kicked the

Mongols out and begun to build up their
nation again.

In order to hold this huge country together,

many Russian rulers (known as Tsars)
became cruel and harsh to their people.

Ivan the Terrible

THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: INTRODUCTION

In the eighteenth century, a Tsar

named Peter the Great began a
program of Westernization.

He built a navy, a new capital at St.

Petersburg and he forced his nobles
and other people to dress more like
western Europeans.
THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: INTRODUCTION

Alexander I was Tsar of Russia from

1801 to 1825 (put this on the timeline).

He was convinced Russia was a major

world power, and he built up the army
to prove it.
 THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: INTRODUCTION

In 1812, Napoleon Bonaparte led the

Grande Armee into Russia. You
should remember how that turned
out…

Russia is now a major European

power, but the majority of the people
are still poor and not free at all.
THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: INTRODUCTION

Nicholas I was Tsar of Russia from

1825 to 1855.

He was terrified of revolution and

started a secret police force to stamp
out any talk of revolution or civil rights.
 THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: INTRODUCTION

Between 1853 and 1856, Russia fought against Britain and

France and the Ottoman Empire in the Crimean War.

Russia lost the war badly, and they realized that they needed
to industrialize. The new Tsar would have to make some big
changes.
 THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: INTRODUCTION

Alexander II was Tsar of Russia from

1855 to 1881.

In 1861, Alexander signed an order

which freed the serfs from their
bondage. This was supposed to help
Russia industrialize.

In 1881, Alexander II was assassinated

by a group of radicals.
THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: INTRODUCTION

Alexander III was Tsar of Russia from

1881 to 1894.

He helped to industrialize Russia, but

also persecuted Jews and non-Russian
peoples.

His rule was harsh, since he feared

assassination his entire life.
 THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: INTRODUCTION

Nicholas II, the last Tsar of Russia ruled

from 1894 to 1917.

Nicholas never wanted to be Tsar, and

wasn’t very good at it.

In some ways, he is a bit like King Louis

XVI of France. Remember him?
THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: INTRODUCTION

Nicholas II was unpopular, and when

Japan challenged Russia over the
ownership of a few Pacific islands, he
decided to go to war.

Russia lost the Russo-Japanese War in

1904-1905. This was an
embarrassment to Russia and the Tsar
and would lead to revolution…
 THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: INTRODUCTION

After the humiliating loss,

Russians marched on the capital
asking for a representative
government, better working
conditions and fair wages.

The Tsar’s soldiers opened fire

This is also known as the
on the crowd in an event known
Revolution of 1905.
as Bloody Sunday in 1905.
THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: INTRODUCTION

In 1914, the Archduke Franz

Ferdinand was assassinated
starting a long chain of events
which ended with Tsar Nicholas II
pushing Russia into World War
One.

Russia lost millions of men and the

Tsar’s days were numbered…