The The Russian RevolutionRussian Revolution

A summary…A summary…

Government and SocietyGovernment and Society

Russian monarchs ruled with absolute Russian monarchs ruled with absolute power:power: Empire huge and diverse (many ethnic groups)Empire huge and diverse (many ethnic groups)

Society mainly agriculturalSociety mainly agricultural Serfs: agricultural workers considered part of

land Poor living conditions Not allowed to leave property on which they were

born

The Decembrist RevoltThe Decembrist Revolt

Click on the link below, read and answer the Click on the link below, read and answer the appropriate questions.appropriate questions.

http://www.thenagain.info/webchron/easteuhttp://www.thenagain.info/webchron/easteurope/decrevolt.htmlrope/decrevolt.html

Reforms of Alexander IReforms of Alexander I

Freed the serfs; gave them right to own Freed the serfs; gave them right to own landland His belief: continued terrible living conditions would His belief: continued terrible living conditions would

lead to rebellionlead to rebellion

New judicial systemNew judicial system Allowed some self-governmentAllowed some self-government Reorganized army and navyReorganized army and navy

Czar Alexander III and Czar Czar Alexander III and Czar Nicholas IINicholas II

– CensorshipCensorship

– Secret police watched schoolsSecret police watched schools

– Russian was the official languageRussian was the official language– Poor working conditionsPoor working conditions

– Gap between the rich and poorGap between the rich and poor

IndustrializationIndustrialization

Number of factories doubled between Number of factories doubled between 1863 and 19001863 and 1900– Low wages, poor working conditions, Low wages, poor working conditions,

child laborchild labor Fourth in steel productionFourth in steel production Trans-Siberian Railway – Trans-Siberian Railway – world’s world’s

longest continuous rail: connected west longest continuous rail: connected west with Siberiawith Siberia

Russo-Japanese WarRusso-Japanese War19041904

– Russia was a threat to Japanese empire-Russia was a threat to Japanese empire-building in Eastbuilding in East

– Click on link, read article and answer Click on link, read article and answer appropriate questions.appropriate questions.

http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0842745.htmlhttp://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0842745.html

Revolutionary IdeasRevolutionary Ideasearly 1900searly 1900s

Marxists (Karl Marx – Communist Marxists (Karl Marx – Communist Manifesto)Manifesto)

– The workers would rule and everyone The workers would rule and everyone would be equal (Communism)would be equal (Communism)

– Socialist Republic:Socialist Republic:no private propertyno private property

State controls the production & State controls the production & distribution of goods and social classesdistribution of goods and social classes

Revolutionary IdeasRevolutionary Ideasearly 1900searly 1900s

Vladimir LeninVladimir Lenin– MarxistMarxist– Leader of Bolsheviks (Marxist political Leader of Bolsheviks (Marxist political

group)group)

Revolution of 1905Revolution of 1905

Bloody Sunday (Jan. 1905)Bloody Sunday (Jan. 1905)

– 200,000 people went to the Tsar’s palace 200,000 people went to the Tsar’s palace with a petition for better working conditions, with a petition for better working conditions, freedom and a legislaturefreedom and a legislature

– Soldiers fired on the crowd killing between Soldiers fired on the crowd killing between 500 and 1,000 people500 and 1,000 people

Revolution of 1905Revolution of 1905

Aftermath of Bloody Sunday:Aftermath of Bloody Sunday:– Rebellions broke out around countryRebellions broke out around country– Workers went on strikeWorkers went on strike– University students protestedUniversity students protested

Czar Nicholas promised reform but didn’t Czar Nicholas promised reform but didn’t follow through…follow through…

Revolution of 1905Revolution of 1905

October: massive workers’ strike leading October: massive workers’ strike leading to:to:

October Manifesto issued by NicholasOctober Manifesto issued by Nicholas– Promised a constitutionPromised a constitution– Guaranteed individual freedoms of speech and Guaranteed individual freedoms of speech and

assemblyassembly– Gave right to vote to manyGave right to vote to many– Promised not to pass any laws without Promised not to pass any laws without

approval of Duma approval of Duma (assembly that would approve (assembly that would approve all laws)all laws)

Revolution of 1905Revolution of 1905

Nicholas hoped that October Manifesto Nicholas hoped that October Manifesto would end revolution…would end revolution…

But he liked his absolute power.But he liked his absolute power.

In 1906 Czar ended 1In 1906 Czar ended 1stst Duma meeting Duma meeting when it made too many demandswhen it made too many demands

He made some other reforms but He made some other reforms but unhappiness of people didn’t go unhappiness of people didn’t go away…away…