The Russian Revolution is the name for a series of events in 1917 Russia, which destroyed the czarist autocracy

and led to the creation of the Soviet Union.

Czar (AKA tsar) the ruler of the Russian Empire Autocracy rule by one (monarch, dictator.)

People were very unhappy with the way that the czar and his government were running the country. 1. People did not have a say in their government. The czar had the final say on everything. 2. The poor were very poor, while the rich were very rich. 3. They were mad about their involvement in War World I.

He believed he was the unquestionable leader of Russia appointed by God.

This is the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. It is the czar and his familys home. Three stories high, the palace has 1,945 windows, 1,057 rooms and 1,987 doors.

This was just one of the 8 palaces he owned, which were staffed by15,000 servants.

Yes, that is gold on the walls real gold.

While the czar and his family were enjoying their many palaces and life of luxury, the other half was living a very different life.

An Early Russian Factory

Even before the Russian Revolution, the peasants were unhappy with their lives . The economy was very weak. Mothers and fathers did not have enough money to buy food for their kids.

Czar Nicholas II had unarmed protesters murdered in the streets in 1905.

World War I

Soldiers at the front were having a hard time, too. 1. not enough food 2. did not have shoes, warm clothes 3. often did not have weapons

Here with us the light has gone out of everything. We are hungry, dressed in rags, and barefooted. The food is very bad, and we have very little bread. The only meal we get is horse-flesh, and that is not fresh. We have got a horse of our own, but have nothing to feed it with, so we are thinking of eating it ourselves. There is no help for us anywhere. It is our fate to be thrown aside and forgotten by the world and to die of cold and hunger.

A Russian Soldiers Letter to his nurse, 1917

The Russian Revolution started in 1917 and had two parts. The first part is the February Revolution.
1. People rioted because of lack of food, poor working conditions.. 2. The czar abdicated (gave up) his throne. 3. A new, provisional government took over.

The second part of the revolution was called the October Revolution. It is often called the Bolshevik Revolution. It was led by Vladmir Lenin, who believed in the ideology (ideas) of Karl Marx. They promised to get the country out of the war, which they did, and to give everyone Peace, Land, and Bread! which they did not.

Czar Nicholas II and his family were executed.

Nicholas II: The Last Romanov Czar

[r. 1894-1917]

The Czar & His Family

Legend has it that his youngest daughter, Anastasia, escaped execution. She did not.

The revolution might have been over, but the fighting was not. A two year civil war divided the country. The Reds and the Whites fought for control of the country. Ar
a red army tank

The Reds won, with Lenin at the helm. He changed Russias name to the Soviet Union. It was now a communist country.