Russia: A Background

Russia: A BackgroundTsar Nicholas II autocratic and ineffectiveMassive personal wealthBacked by an army of 1 million & secret policePress was censoredPolitical Parties bannedCritics/opponents were exiled

He ruled a massive country6.6 million square miles the biggest country in the world (9 time zones!) Russia: A BackgroundMany Russians worshipped the Tsar and peasants typically had a picture of the Tsar on a wall of their hut.

His word was law

He appointed his ministersBut did not have to listen to themAnd he could hire and fire them at will

Russia wasOnly 40% ethnic Russians80% were peasants subsistence farmers 60%+ = illiterateLife expectancy = 40Low tech and low investmentLand ownership rareLand owned by the Commune

Distributed SummarizingDuring the time described, Russia was like ____________ because _________________________. Share your answer with a partner.

Russian Rev - Scene from Dr. Zhivago Bloody Sunday Massacrehttp://movieclips.com/tc4jF-doctor-zhivago-movie-peaceful-protest/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ympPmSWYCE

Dr. Zhivago - Deserters meet officerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etw-D8OadGk

Dr. Zhivago - The Revolution - narratedhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7B-nlmdX0g

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Rasputin8Rasputin with Admirers

10March Revolution (1917)1917- protests spread through St. Petersburg and the Royal palace is taken over.Czar abdicatesProvisional government (Duma) takes control lead by Alexander KeresnkyProvisional government unpopular after decision to stay in WWI11October (Bolshevik) Revolution-1917Lead by VI Lenin Peace, Land, and BreadWon support of people (especially peasants)12

Russian RevolutionThe Russian army was big but poorly equipped; -lost many battlesThe czar was seen as a poor military and political leaderThere were not enough workers in the factories and farms which caused shortages of food and materialsThe railway system was weak; therefore, troops and towns could get suppliesRussian Revolutionstarted in 1917 - had two parts.1st - February Tsar (Czar) was overthrown.People were unhappy They starved while the wealthy lived in luxury.Upset about being involved in WWI blamed the upper classesRussian Revolution2nd - the October Revolution (Bolshevik Revolution)Led by Vladimir LeninAfter two years of civil war, the communist forces gained controlRussia became the communist country of the Soviet UnionCommunism continued in Russia until nearly the end of the century1918 1918 March The Bolsheviks accept the peace of BrestLitovsk, ending WWI with Germany.1919-19201919 White Armies (Royal and Menshevik troops) attack the Reds (Bolsheviks) from all directions.

1920- Reds defeat WhitesRule of Lenin 1920-1924Economic Reforms included the New Economic Plan (NEP)-moderate mix of capitalism and socialismPolitical Reforms-Bolshevik party became Communist Party-Russia becomes the United Soviet Socialist Republics19

20CommunismA Form of SocialismCentral Planning of the Economy by the State

Govt (Communist Party) makes decisions on individual jobs and pay

1924Lenin DiesPower VaccuumLeon Trotsky vs. Joseph StalinStalin takes controlNow must decide how he will maintain powerDecides to create a totalitarian state22

Characteristics of a Totalitarian StateDictatorship- Absolute AuthorityDynamic Leader- Vision for the nationState Control Over All Sectors of SocietyBusiness, Family Life, Labor, youth groups, housing, religion, education, the artsState Control Over the IndividualObedienceDenies basic libertiesOrganized ViolenceUses force to crush opposition

24Stalins Totalitarian StateState Control of the Economy5 year plan, collective farmsPolice TerrorGreat Purge, crush oppositionReligious PersecutionControl of the individualPropaganda (socialist realism)Molding peoples mindsEducationControlled by the government25