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Period: to
Russian Revolution
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Reign of Czar Alexander III (1881-1894)
Alexander clung to principles of autocracy (total power for him). He imposed strict censorship codes on published materials
and written documents, including private letters to wipe out revolutionaries. He also made Jews the target of persecution and started waves of pogroms
Significance:
- People were becoming unhappy with his rule, which was one of the causes of the revolution. -
Reign of Czar Nicholas II (1894-1917)
Nicholas stayed with principle of autocracy.
His generals ordered soldiers to fire on Bloody Sunday.
Nicholas promised more freedom after the incident. He approved the creation of the Duma (Russia’s first parliament).
Nicholas was reluctant to share his power so he dissolved the Duma after 3 weeks.
Significance:
- He angered the Russians in taking full power & not granting rights to people. It played a part in eventually going to the Bolshevik Revolution. He also dragged Russia into WW1. -
Russo-Japanese War (Feb 1904 – Sep 1905)
Russia and Japan fought for control of Korea and Manchuria. They signed a series of agreements over the territories, but Russia broke them.
Japan attacked the Russians at Port Arthur, Manchuria. News of repeated Russian losses sparked unrest at home and led to a revolt in the midst of the war.
Significance:
- Proof of weakness of the Russians
- Adds to Czar Nicholas' negative reputation -
Bloody Sunday
On January 22, 1905, about 200,000 workers and their families carried a petition to the Winter Palace asking for better working conditions, more personal freedom, and an elected national legislature.
Nicholas II’s generals ordered soldiers to fire on the crowd. More than 1,000 were wounded and several hundred were killed.
Significance:
- This provoked a wave of strikes and violence that spread across the country and eventually led to the establishment of the Duma. -
Establishment of the Duma
After Bloody Sunday, Nicholas reluctantly promised more freedom. He approved the creation of the Duma (Russia’s first parliament).
They met first in May 1906. Its leaders were moderates who wanted Russia to become a constitutional monarchy similar to Britain.
Nicholas was hesitant to share his power, so he dissolved the Duma after ten weeks.
Significance:
- Russians were angry that Nicholas broke up the Duma soon after he promised more freedom. -
Russia's Involvement in WWI
In 1914, Russia joined World War I.
They could not handle war because they were unequipped. They suffered defeat after defeat.
In 1915, Nicholas moved his headquarters to the war front. From there, he hoped to rally his discouraged troops to victory. His wife, Czarina Alexandra, ran the government while he was away. She ignored the czar’s chief advisers.
Significance:
- Russians were angry that they were in WW1. This also led to Rasputin having a heavy influence on the Czarina. -
Death of Rasputin
Rasputin was a self-described “holy man,” and he helped Alexandra’s son, Alexis, who suffered from hemophilia, feel better. Alexandra allowed Rasputin to make key political decisions and he opposed reform measures & obtained powerful positions for his friends.
In 1916, a group of nobles murdered Rasputin. They feared his increasing role in government affairs.
Significance:
- Rasputin further made the Russians angry at the government. -
Bolshevik Revolution (1917-1920)
Bolsheviks took over government offices and arrested the leaders of the provisional government.
Lenin distributed all farmland among the peasants and gave control of factories to the workers.
The Bolshevik government signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany to stop fighting. They surrendered a large part of its territory to Germany & its allies. Russians were angry at the terms and objected to the Bolsheviks and their policies.
Significance:
- Bolsheviks gained control of Russia. -
Abdication of Czar Nicholas II/est. of Provisional Government
March Revolution forced Czar Nicholas II to abdicate his throne. Nicholas and his family were later executed.
Leaders of the Duma established a provisional government with Alexander Kerensky heading it. He decided to continue fighting in the war.
Conditions inside Russia worsened. Socialist revolutionaries, competing for power, formed soviets. In many cities, the soviets had more influence than the provisional government.
Significance:
- Beginning of Bolsheviks' rule and end of autocracy. -
Civil War
Bolsheviks fought Russians who were unhappy with them. Their opponents formed the White Army.
The White Army was made of different groups such as supporters of democracy, autocracy, or a different type of socialism.
They united against the Bolsheviks.
Leon Trotsky commanded the Bolsheviks. From 1918-1920, civil war raged in Russia. Several Western nations, including the United States, sent military aid and forces to Russia to help the White Army.
Significance:
- Bolsheviks take over Russia. -
Stalin's Rise to Power (1922-1927)
Stalin was a cold and hard leader. His name means “man of
steel” in Russian.
He began to climb to the head of the government between 1922 and 1927. He worked behind the scenes to move his supporters into positions of power.
By 1928, Stalin was in total command of the Communist Party.
Significance:
- Stalin was moved into position to become a dictator with absolute power. -
Leon Trotsky's Exile
Leon Trotsky was forced into exile in 1922. He lived in Mexico until he was assassinated in 1940.
Significance:
- This was important because Stalin was able to take control and head the Communist Party. -
Establishment of the USSR
Bolshevik leaders saw nationalism as a threat to unity and party
loyalty. so Lenin organized Russia into several self-governing republics under the central government.
In 1922, the country was named the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
Significance:
- This ensured that no one would revolt because of nationalistic feelings. -
Lenin's Death
Lenin died two years after having a stroke. Before he died, a competition for who would head the Communist Party started. Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky both wanted the position.
Lenin believed that Stalin was a dangerous man who did not know how to wield his power properly and did not want him as the head of the Party over Trotsky.
Significance:
- It led to a new head of the Communist Party.
