The Russian Revolution
During the time of the Russian Revolution (1917-1920), Russia was not participating in the ideas of the enlightenment. Russia was still going by the rules of autocracy, which means the Czar led a dictatorship. This entailed that you had to speak the Russian language and go to an Orthodox Church. Failure to participate in these traditions led to serious consequence and you were considered a dangerous rebel. During the February Revolution, Nicholas II (the Czar at the time)was removed from power after many riots in Petrograd (today known as St. Petersburg). The government was again shifted during the October Revolution, when Russia became known as the Soviet Union and the Bolsheviks took power. The Bolsheviks were a small extremist group that lacked popularity amongst most people and were unable to maintain power alone. This led them to present themselves as a dictatorship of the proletariat, which eventually led to the Russian Civil War in 1920.
Bloody SundayOn January 22nd, 1905, 200,000 workers from Russias lower class, went to Czar Nicholas II’s Palace to petition for better personal freedoms, working conditions and free elections.(Click on this link to read the full English translated petition.) When the Czar became overwhelmed by the crowds he ordered soliders to open fire, killing approximately 94-96 innocent civilans and injuring many others. This enraged many low class citizens and encouraged them to fight harder for the rights they demanded in their petition. Some things they were fighting against were eight hour work days and the regulation of overtime, not having equality before the law, and abolition of the system of factory inspectors.
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March RevolutionLeading up to the death of the Czar and his family was a city-wide strike that took place in March, 1917. This strike was led by women workers in Petrograd and led to riots and shortages in food and fuel. Soliders were sent by the Czar to stop the protests but the revolutionaries were successful. This forced the Czar and his followers out of power and eventually led to the death of him and his family.
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Work Cited: http://depts.washington.edu/baltic/papers/russianrevolution.htm
http://www.st-petersburg-life.com/st-petersburg/1917-russian-revolution
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/RUSsunday.htm
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/RUSmarchR.htm
Modern World History textbook, published by McDougal Littell
http://www.st-petersburg-life.com/st-petersburg/1917-russian-revolution
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/RUSsunday.htm
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/RUSmarchR.htm
Modern World History textbook, published by McDougal Littell