History of Russia - 3rd Hour History

• Czar


  The Russian word for "emperor", the leader of the government in pre-Revolution Russia
• Levels of Russian society


  • Officials (including military)
  • Nobles
  • Middle classes
  • Peasants
  • Industrial workers
• During WW1, Czar Nicholas II of Russia left his wife in charge of the Russian Empire, who then came under the influence of Grigory Rasputin, who was a Russian mystic who began advising on government matters and decisions until he was killed in 1916
• In 1917, Russia began rationing its supply of bread


  Leading to the Russian military turning against the Russian Royal Family
• As a result, Czar Nicholas I was asked to reign, leading to a new democratic government being established under new president Aleksander Kerensky
• Bolsheviks


  A small Marxist party, under the guidance of their leader V.I. Lenin, got the support of the Soviets, which were councils of Russian representatives of working-class Russians
• Soviets


  Councils of Russian representatives of working-class Russians
• Things the Bolsheviks promised


  • Peace
  • Land
  • Bread
• The Bolsheviks would rename themselves the Reds before signing the Treaty of Brest - Litovsk, officially taking Russia out of WW1
• After taking control of Russia, the Communists founded the USSR, also known as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
• 4 principles the Soviet Union (USSR) was founded on


  • Government owns everything
  • 1 political party
  • No individual rights
  • Vow to stir up revolution
• As the new leader of the USSR, Lenin spurred economic growth using his position as general, until he was succeeded as leader by Leon Trotsky in 1925
• Stalin's 5 Year Plans had a goal of transforming Russia from a agricultural economy into a industrial economy
• Russia's collectivization of agriculture during this time would lead to severe famine and mass death among the Russian people, estimated to be near 20 million people