Russia 1917-1939

• Russia was ruled by autocracy, Tsar Nicholas II.
• The Tsar was believed to be chosen by God.
• The Russian people had little freedom.
• All unions of workers and strikes were forbidden.
• Newspapers and books were censored.
• Tsar were determinded to suppress all opposition through the OKHRANA (secret police).
• Oppentents to the tsar and his system were imprisoned without trial, or exciled to Siberia.

Bloody Sunday

• 22nd January 1905
• peaceful march to the Tsar's Winter Palace to petition for better working conditions.
• soldiers panicked and fired on the crowd killing hundreds.
• the Russian people lost all affection for the Tsar.

1905 Revolution

• there were strikes and a mutiny in the navy.
• in order to avoid more chaos, Nicholas II issued the OCTOBER MANIFESTO, in which he promised freedom of speech, to end censorship and a national parliment (duma).