Revolution+btb

__Causes:__ Russian workers had to work in very severe, and unpleasant environments. With the environment being as poor as it was, the economy was not doing to well, and began to break down. Also, the Imperialist States proceeded to put ruthless pressure on the soviets government. Russia’s government thinks that they rule a democratic constitution, even though they have nothing in common with the element to be have a democratic constitution. At the same time, Russia was at war with Germany (WW1). After the war began, the economy began to collapse. The people didn’t approve of the war, and they all needed food, and other necessary supplies. Many families began to starve, and chaos broke loose.

__Ideal:__ The people desperately wanted change. They gathered together 200,000 workers and their families, and made a petition asking for better working conditions, and more personal freedom. Nicholas 2nd (Tsar) ordered soldiers to fire into the crowd. More that 1,000 people were wounded, and many hundred people were killed. Many Russians quickly called the event "Bloody Sunday." Bloody Sunday caused a ripple effect of anger toward the government. Violence began to increase, and Nicholas 2nd reluctantly promised more freedom to the people. Nicholas 2nd also approved the Duma (Russia's first parliament) But because he didn't want to share his power, the tsar dissolved the Duma after about ten weeks. Many people were furious with how Nicholas 2nd was ruling, but Vladimir Lenin was one of the few to really do something about it. Lenin's brother Alexander, was hanged for trying to kill the tsar. Alexander's death only increased Lenin's anger toward the Russian government. Lenin then brought together the Bolsheviks, and gained control of many major Russian cities. Many workers, and civilians began to aid Lenin, for a chance for a better government.The military leader of the red army was Leon Trotsky. Trotsky commanded the Bolshevik Red army with great skill, and with much support. As Lenin's power grew, Lenin began to grow increasingly confident, soon, many Russians began to refer to him as " The Father of the Revolution". __Outcome:__ Three years after the revolution began, about 14 million Russians had died, and then a famine followed. Eventually, the Red Army destroyed all opposition. This showed that the Bolsheviks were able to seize power, and to defend it. The Russians tried to fix the gaps in society and government, but their were still holes. Russia's economy was once again shattered. Many good, hard working people left to other countries. Lenin developed NEP (New Economic Policy. NEP allowed peasants to sell their crops instead of giving them to the government. After seven years, Russia's farms and factories were producing as much as they had been before World War 1. In 1922 the country was named the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). Later the Bolsheviks renamed themselves the Communist Party. In 1924, the Communists created a constitution based on socialist and democratic principles. Although, the in reality, the communist party held all of the power. This means that Lenin had established a dictatorship of the Communist Party, not "a dictatorship of the proletariat," as Marx had wanted. Lenin then survived a stroke in 1922 which caused competition for people to start to head up the Communist party. The two best choices were Leon Trotsky, and Joseph Stalin. Stalin, in Russian, means "man of steel". Stalin began to place his supporters in positions of power. Lenin believed that Stalin was a dangerous man. Shortly before Lenin died in 1924, Lenin wrote, "Comrade Stalin has concentrated enormous power in his hands, and i am not sure that he always know how to use that power with as much caution as he should." In 1928, Stalin was in total command of the Communist party, and now stood ready to obtain absolute power as a dictator.