THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION
Before the revolution
Characteristics of the Russian Empire in 1900
An autocratic government
Tsar had unlimited power and authority
Civil rights were not recognised
Political parties were repressed
Semi-feudal economy
Land owned by a wealthy minority and worked by a peasant majority
1890
Bussines owners
Proletarians
Social unrest
Three quarters of the population was peasant
They suffered hard working conditions
Causes of the revolution
Autocratic power of Tsar Nicholas II decreased for various reasons
Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905)
Russia and Japan fight for control of Manchuria
New unpopular taxes were imposed
Bad organised army
Public hostility towards the tsar
Appearance of political parties
Political parties were created against tsar
Unhappy about the lack of rights
Unhappy about miserable conditions
1905 revolution
Protestants went to tsar's house to complain about working conditions, tsar answered as another protest but this one called the Bloody Sunday
Social Democratic Workers' Party met in secret and soviets formed in San Petersburg to organise a protest
Tsar accepted and he authorised the formation of a parliament
Soon after the parliament was dissolved and autocracy re-established
Participation in WWI
Allied with France and Great Britain in 1914
Many soldiers but few weapons and food
Continuous defeats the army suffered under the leadership of the tsar caused further discontent among the people
1917 revolutions
February revolution (provisional government)
Successful revolution of workers
Tsar Nicholas II forced to abdicate
Provisional government was formed
They proclaimed Russia a republic
This political government failed
The Petrograd Soviet was formed
Bolsheviks led by Lenin won the support of soviets
October revolution (Bolshevik government)
Attacked the provisional government headed by Lenin
Established proletarian government
Lenin becames Russian leader
After his death in 1924 Stalin succeeded him
First actions of Lenin's government
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
With Germany, allowed Russia to withdraw from the war
Expropiate land and distribute it among the peasants
Change the name of Bolsheviks to Communist Party
Founded the Third International, to coordinate parties around the world
Creation of the USSR
When?
Created in 1922
Established territorial organisation and governmental institutions in 1924
Political organisation
Economy
Communism put into practice
Political power held to the soviets
Choose the people who hel executive power
The only political party
Interests of the workers
New economic policy
Allowed some capitalist systems to exist to increase the production
Peasants could sell their produce
New artisans and trading companies set up
State controlled the important sectors
Large industries
Foreign trade
Banks
