RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

The Russian Revolution occurred in 1917 when the peasants and working-class people of Russia
revolted against the government of Czar Nicholas II. Vladimir Lenin led a group of
revolutionaries known as the Bolsheviks. This new government created the
country of the Soviet Union.

CZARS
Prior to the revolution, Russia was ruled by a czar, a powerful monarch
with complete power. Czars commanded the army, owned most of the
land, and even controlled the church. Life for the working-class people
and peasants was extremely difficult before the Russian Revolution.
They were paid little, often went without food, and were exposed to
dangerous working conditions. Aristocrats treated peasants like slaves
and did not give them many rights under the law. They were treated
almost like animals.

BLOODY SUNDAY
On January 22, 1905, an event known as Bloody Sunday occurred, spurring the Russian Revolution.
The population of major Russian cities had grown rapidly, resulting in overcrowding and poor living
conditions for Russian industrial workers. There were frequent food shortages across the
Russian Empire. Many workers marched to the czar’s palace to present a petition for better
working conditions. Soldiers fired upon them, and many were killed or injured. Prior to Bloody
Sunday, many peasants and working-class citizens revered the czar and believed he was on their
side. After the shootings though, the czar was seen as an enemy of the working class and the
desire for revolution started to spread. Czar Nicholas II promised to form groups of
representatives, called Dumas, to work toward reform.

WORLD WAR I
Russia entered World War I in August 1914. They supported the Serbs and
their French and British allies against Germany. The Russian government
forced working class and peasant men to join the Russian army. Even though
the army had great numbers, they were not trained to fight. Many were
sent into battle without shoes, food, or even weapons. Nearly two million
Russian soldiers were killed over the next three years in the war. Russians
blamed the Czar for entering the war and getting so many of their young
men killed. Getting involved in World War I proved to be disastrous for the
Russian Empire. The economy was greatly disrupted by the expensive war
effort. Czar Nicholas II left the Russian capital of Petrograd (St.
Petersburg) in 1915 to take command of the Russian Army front. His wife,
Czarina Alexandra started firing elected officials while Nicholas was away.
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Her advisor, Grigory Rasputin, increased his influence over politics and the
royal Romanov family. Rasputin was murdered by Russian nobles on
December 30, 1916 to remove his influence. Most Russians had lost faith in
the leadership of the czar and many wanted to overthrow him.
FEBRUARY REVOLUTION
In early 1917, a group of Russian workers decided to strike. They gathered to discuss politics,
but it turned into a riot. Czar Nicholas II ordered the army to suppress them, but the
soldiers refused to fire on the people. The army began to mutiny against the czar, so
Nicholas II was forced to abdicate, or leave the throne. This ended centuries of Romanov rule
in Russia. A new government took over and was run by two political parties: the Petrograd
Soviet, representing workers and soldiers, and the Provisional Government, the traditional
government without the czar. Alexander Kerensky was the minister of war and Russia
continued to fight in World War I. This was largely unpopular and increased food supply issues.
Peasants looted farms and food riots erupted in cities throughout the Russian Empire.

BOLSHEVIK REVOLUTION
The two sides ruled Russia over the next several months. The
Bolsheviks were one of the main factions of the Petrograd Soviet.
They were led by dictator Vladimir Lenin and believed the new
Russian government should be Marxist, or communist. In October of
1917 Lenin took full control of the government in what is known as
the Bolshevik Revolution. The main leaders of the Bolsheviks were
Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, and Leon Trotsky. The Bolsheviks and
their allies took over government buildings. Russia became the first
communist country in the world with Lenin as the dictator.

NEW GOVERNMENT
Russia exited World War I by signing a peace treaty with
Germany called the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in 1918. Russia was
forced to give land to Germany. The new government controlled
all industry and changed the economy from rural to industrial.
They seized farmland from landholders and distributed it among
peasants. Women were given equal rights as men and religion
was banned from many aspects of society.

USSR
A civil war in Russia broke out between the Bolsheviks (Red Army) and the anti-Bolsheviks
(White Army) from 1918 to 1923. On July 17, 1918, Czar Nicholas II and his entire family
were executed by the Bolsheviks. The Bolsheviks ended up winning the war in 1923 and
named their new country the USSR (United Soviet
Socialist Republics). After Lenin died in 1924, Stalin
consolidated power and forced Trotsky out. The Russian
Revolution led to the rise of communism as a political
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belief system around the world. It also paved the way

for the Soviet Union to become a world power that
eventually went head-to-head with the United States
during the Cold War.
Name_________________________________________

THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

MATCHING: Match each term with its description.

A. Lenin felt the Russian government should be this type

1. _____ February Revolution
(communist)

B. There was a civil war in Russia between this and the Red
2. _____ Vladimir Lenin
Army

C. Name given to the event when the government killed

3. _____ World War I
protestors

4. _____ White Army D. Russian workers went on strike during this

5. _____ Czar Nicholas II E. Leader of the Bolsheviks during the Russian Revolution

6. _____ Bolsheviks F. Revolutionaries in Russia

7. _____ Bloody Sunday G. Absolute monarch of Russia prior to the Revolution

8. _____ Marxist H. Almost 2 million Russians were killed in this conflict

TIMELINE: Put the events below chronological order. Place a 1 beside the event that
occurred first and a 5 beside the event that happened last.

Lenin and the Bolsheviks took over and created a Communist government.

Bloody Sunday occurred when the Russian military killed peaceful protestors.

The February Revolution occurred and Czar Nicholas II abdicated the throne.

A Russian Civil War occurred between the Red and White Armies.

Russia entered World War I against Germany.

MULTIPLE CHOICE: Choose the best answer from the choices provided.

9. What was the immediate result of Bloody Sunday?

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A. Nicholas II was forced to abdicate his throne.

B. Russians supported the czar even more.
C. Russians began revolting against the czar.
D. The Russians entered World War I.
10. Which of the following was NOT true about Russia and World War I?
A. Russia went to war with Germany in 1914.
B. Russia fought on the Central Powers with Germany.
C. Czar Nicholas II forced men to join the army.
D. Russian soldiers were unprepared to fight.

11. Which event caused Czar Nicholas II to abdicate his throne?

A. The February Revolution
B. Bloody Sunday
C. World War I
D. His father died

12. What happened to Czar Nicholas II and his family?

A. They were exiled
B. They were executed by the Bolsheviks
C. They were forced to fight in World War I
D. They were forced to move to Germany

13. How did the Lenin and the Bolshevik government change Russia after they took over?
A. They took all farmland from people and made it government owned.
B. Women were considered second-class citizens.
C. The government allowed freedom of religion.
D. They moved the Russian economy from rural to industrial.

14. Which of the following best completes the analogy below?

Czar: Pre-Russian Revolution :: ___________ Post-Russian Revolution
A. Nicholas II
B. Stalin
C. King
D. Dictator

15. Who was blamed for the massive loss of Russian life during World War I?
A. Joseph Stalin
B. Leon Trotsky
C. Czar Nicholas II
D. Vladimir Lenin

SHORT ANSWER:

16. How was the post-Russian Revolution government different than pre-Russian Revolution
government?
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