Russia:
1903-1905 – Russo-Japanese War
Fighting over Manchuria (Chinese farmland)
Japan wins
Fighting lasts only 3 months, but Russia and Japan cant agree on terms.
U.S. mediates- Japan gets everything
After Russia loses war, Russian people lose faith in gov’t; demand more voice
Czar Nicholas Romanov II gives in, cerates DUMA (People’s voice)
Nicholas II only care about himself and Romanov family (ruling family), eventually disbands DUMA.
Vladimir Lenin: Marxist revolutionary
With brother, led assassination against Czar Nicholas II
Was only one not executed (as a ‘kindness’ to his family, after his brother was killed)
Exiled instead
Eventually returns to Germany for Bolshevik Revolution; makes deal with Germany to be returned if he surrenders Russia once he is in power)
1914: WWI
Czar Nicholas II sends ‘best’ Russian soldiers (those that protected Romanov family) to front lines
Doesn’t go as well as expected; Czar Nicholas blames leaders, goes to lead himself
Leaves 8 yr. old son, Alexi (hemophiliac), and wife, Alexandra, in charge.
Alexandra ass around for help for Alexis condition, friends recommend Gregori Rasputin
Rasputin: Ordained Orthodox monk, medicine man, and advisor to Alexandra, potentially sleeping with her.
Helps to improve (not cure) Alexi’s condition.
Czar Nicholas II’s advisors tell him to come home to put a stop to Rasputin
Rasputin miraculously escapes 9 execution attempts, eventually leaves the country and no one knows what happens to him.
1917
‘Bolshevik Revolution’
Lenin comes out of hiding/exile; makes deal with Germany to transport him to Russia in exchange for what will become the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (Russia’s surrender to Germany in WWI)
March – Czar Nicholas II abdicates
Romanov family is taken to their summer home
They are promised to only be exiled if they abdicate peacefully, but are shot.
All but 2 children are killed immediately; Alexis and Anastasia survive the shooting, but Alexi dies