Russian Revolution

• Russia's rulers in the 19th century were resistant to modernization and held all the power
• Tsar Alexander II attempted to reform the country by freeing the serfs, but they were still burdened with debt
• Russia's defeat in the war with Japan led to public outrage and unrest
• Workers in Russia started to strike for better working conditions
• Russia wanted to industrialize and modernize
• A peaceful protest led by Father Gapon called for more freedom and better working conditions
• There was growing discontent and calls for change, including the assassination of Tsar Alexander II
• Tsar Alexander III succeeded his father and continued the autocratic rule in Russia
• Rasputin, a holy healer, became close to the royal family and influenced them.
• The Russian economy was improving, but World War One was about to begin.
• Lenin met Joseph Stalin, who was good at fundraising for the Bolsheviks through illegal activities.
• Stolypin cracked down on the Tsar's opponents and sentenced thousands to death.
• The Mensheviks were less radical and worried about Lenin's attitude leading to a one-man dictatorship
• Lenin's uncompromising ideas caused a split in the socialist party, leading to the formation of the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks
• Lenin remained in Europe, writing his socialist newspaper and waiting for an opportunity to overthrow the Tsar
• Lenin's faction, the Bolsheviks, were more radical and loyal to his ideas
• Lenin joined a party of Russian communists in Europe and founded a communist newsletter
• Lenin went into exile in Siberia for publicly expressing his admiration for Marx
• Lenin was influenced by Karl Marx's manifesto on capitalism and class warfare
• Nicholas's decision to party with the French tarnished his image.
• Nicholas II was unprepared and timid as Tsar.
• Lenin was expelled from university for participating in a student protest.
• Nicholas promised free pretzels and beer at his coronation, resulting in a deadly stampede.
• Alexander introduced the Okhrana, a secret police force to repress dissenters.
• Alexander felt his dad's reforms weakened the Tsar's authority.
• Russia was massive and had many ethnic minorities.
• Alexander repressed religious minorities and non-Russians.
• The rule of the Tsars was becoming outdated, leading to calls for republics, democracies, and communism.
• Lenin's older brother was executed for plotting to kill the Tsar.
• Nicholas believed he was chosen by God to rule Russia.
• Vladimir Lenin was a member of Russia's middle class and a proponent of communism.
• Sailors in the military started to mutiny, adding to the unrest.
• Nicholas agreed to share power with the Duma, but ultimately wrote new laws to maintain his own authority.
• The event became known as Bloody Sunday and resulted in the death of around 200 civilians and the injury of 800 more.
• The 1905 revolution began with strikes, demands for political power, and peasant unrest.
• Pyotr Stolypin, the Tsar's top advisor, implemented agricultural reforms and used violence to suppress dissent.
• Workers, including Leon Trotsky, set up local councils called Soviets to coordinate strikes and support the workers.
• Lenin believed that armed revolution by the workers was the only way to achieve real change.
• Nicholas II, the Tsar, was blamed for the incident and his reputation plummeted.
• Sergei proposed a manifesto that would give the liberals an elected assembly called the Duma, but did not address the demands of other groups.