Shifting Power

Revolution in Russia

• Russia faced many internal problems keeping them behind most of Europe, Japan, and the U.S.

  • Did not promote economic growth, did not support entrepreneurs.

  • Slow to expand education and transportation.

• Russia’s weakened military led them to lose against the Ottoman empire in the Crimean War (1850s) and to Japan in the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05)

• Bolsheviks: Organization that represented the revolutionary working Russian class who seized power of the country and set up a communist government.

• Communism: Political and economic system set up to distribute resources and wealth evenly to the public.

• The implementation of Communism in the soviet government concerned the capitalist world, shaping future conflicts.

Upheaval in China

• Qing dynasty faced internal problems that weakened the government.

  • Ethnic distinct governed.

  • Unstable food supply and increased famines.

  • Low government funding.

• Tensions grew from China’s negative response to European influence.

• The Qing dynasty was overthrew and replaced with a republic for a short time in 1911. Ruled by Sun Yat Sen (Christian), the republic was based off democracy, nationalism, and livelihood (end economic exploitation). Republic was later overthrew by Chinese communists.

Ottoman Collapse

• By start of 20th century, Ottoman Empire was very weak and relied on being a trade center.

• The Young Turks emerged and proposed a constitution similar to the rest of Europe.

• Turkification: Plan by the Young Turks to make all citizens of the Ottoman empire to identify with Turkish culture. (Example of forced cultural assimilation)

• The Turks resented European economic policies which influenced the Ottoman Empire into siding with Germany in WW1.

• After Germany’s defeat in the first world war, the Ottoman Empire was dismantled and replaced by a small nation state named the Republic of Turkey (1923).

• The Republic of Turkey, led by Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk), implemented many reform policies for a country like European democracies.

  • Suffrage and education for all.

  • Limited Islamic influence on government.

Power Shifts in Mexico

• Dictator Porfirio Diaz (ruled 1884 - 1911) oversaw a period of stability in Mexico but allowed foreign investors to take over resources and almost all land was owned by the wealthy 1%.

• Mexican Revolution: From 1910-1920, political revolution sparked by Porfirio Diaz jailing his opposing candidate Francisco Madero, that overthrew dictator Diaz and instituted a constitutional republic.

• The Mexican Revolution brought

  • A new constitution with goals of land distribution, suffrage for all, and public education.

  • The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) who dominated Mexican politics yet described as corrupt.