The Russian Revolution

The February Revolution

War weariness, many losses, lack of resources such as food, and the unpopularity of the Tsar leads to the February Revolution in 1917.
Inflation was very high and hunger and poverty were widespread in Russia.
Desertions and uprisings in the Russian military became more and more common as Russia lost many battles.
The main reason was autocracy, meaning that the entire Russian state was controlled by the Tsar.
Many reforms were attempted however they were unsuccessful as they threatened the autocracy of the Tsar.
Inequality, economic problems, the Russo-Japanese war, corruption and violence were all problems and reasons for people to dislike the Tsar.

Rasputin was a mystical monk that was supposedly able to cure the Tsar's son's hemophilia.
This lead him to be in the close-circle of the Tsar.
The Tsar and the Tsarina were fond of him but other Nobles hated him.
The presence of a dirty drunkard alongside the Tsar made people dislike the Tsar and ruined his noble status.
The addition that the Tsarina was German also made the Tsar controversial.

After the strikes and protests of the February Revolution, the Tsar steps down and is replaced by the provisional government.
The provisional government decided to continue the war, despite what the people wanted.
In addition to the provincial government was the workers council, which would make decisions concerning workers and forward them to the city.
The leader of one of the most important worker councils was Trotsky, who was an influential Bolshevik.
After several revolutionary movements the Bolsheviks were able to take power during the October Revolution in 1917.
Small fighting and the storming of the Winter Palace.
The Tsar and his family were killed so that the whites (opposing side to the reds, or the Bolsheviks) couldn't use him as a figurehead in a revolution.

Russia went through a civil war from 1917 to 1922 (although dates fluctuate due to the nature of the fighting).
The Bolsheviks were very good at propaganda and recruiting.
Because of the 100-year problems of Russia's autocracy, propaganda was very effective.
The Bolsheviks managed to gather a large force.
The white forces, or Mensheviks were quite scattered and had difficulty fighting against the united Bolsheviks.
Eventually the fighting ceased.
Many high ranking Mensheviks escaped Russia or else they would be slain.
The birth of Soviet-Russia in 1922, also known as the USSR (Union of Socialist Soviet Republics).
"Peace, Land and Bread" was a famous Bolshevik slogan.
The idea was power being given to the people instead of the nobles.
The Bolsheviks wanted a tight-nit leadership where they get the name "Bolsheviks", meaning the minority.
The Mensheviks wanted a more broad leadership, which is where they got the name "Mensheviks", meaning majority.