Russian Revolution, Rise of Bolsheviks

• Imperialism is a form of capitalism where a state or government protects capitalists and investors.
• These teachings became the basis for expanding Bolshevik power.

Russian Revolution

• Workers staged revolts due to maltreatment by factory owners around Feb. 1917.
• Women workers launched a revolt in Petrograd.
• There were fierce battles between the government and the workers.
• Czar Nicholas II was overthrown and replaced by Georgy Lvov as Prime Minister.
• Czar Nicholas II's family tried to leave Russia in 1918 but were killed by Bolsheviks.
• After the revolt three factions fought for power:
  • The Provisional Government under Alexander Kerensky
  • The dictatorship of General Lavr Kornilov
  • The Petrograd Soviet, part of the Bolsheviks, under Lenin
• Civil war broke out in Russia from July to October 1917 between the three factions.
• Other workers and farmers joined Lenin's ranks.
• They easily gained support with propaganda.
• Over 200,000 Bolshevik supporters were recruited.
• From November 7 to 8, 1917, a widespread revolt overthrew the Provisional Government and Dictatorship.
• Lenin became the leader of Russia and implemented a national industrialization policy, the New Economic Policy (NEP).
• The NEP focused on government control of the entire economy to alleviate poverty.
• It reformed agriculture and introduced industrialization.
• The NEP did not last due to the poor usage of agriculture in industrialization.
• Effective policies of the government included equal rights for men and women, and participation of poor workers and farmers in government.
• Russia expanded and was renamed the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in 1922.
• The Bolsheviks were renamed the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and became the sole ruling party.