1 - Revolutions Of 1917 Flashcards
Weakness of tsar
- unprepared/ ignorant/ refused to share power
Why were peasants discontented
- 85% of population
- subsistence farming - agriculture was poor
- low food production - frequent famine
- in WW1, army requisitioned crops
- wanted more land
Why were town workers discontented
- wanted better working conditions
- rapid industrialisation led by Sergei witte lead to poor conditions
- low wages
- overcrowded slums
- unsafe and long working hours
- ww1 - factored closed/ food priced rose
Why were liberals discontented
- wanted more political freedom
- more educated
Why did Russia loose 1914-1916 battles
- lack of infrastructure
- poor roads
- inadequate railway’s
- supplies and equipment
- lack of rifles/ bullets
- lack of medical care/ boots/ coats - disease
- poor leadership of generals
- lazy / overconfident
- outdated tactics - eg. Calvery
- lack of teamwork ~ poor communication
- move soldiers too far ahead of supplies in 1914
Leadership of tsar
- commander in chief of the Russian army
- political mistake - personally associated/ German wife and notorious Rasputin in charge/ riots / no experience
What was the battle they actually one in 1914
Battle of Gumbinnen
Social effects of ww1
- discontent - severe wintry weather (-30) - fuel/food shortages
- refugees fled german occupation but struggled to get food/housing
- conscription of 15 million horses and peasants - food production dropped
- army requisitioned horses + crops = unrest from peasants
Political effects of ww1
- tsar blamed for defeats
- German wife suspected to be a spy
- tsar lost respect of military elite and nobility
- commander in chief issues
Economic effects of ww1
- inflation
- job losses
- government arranged loans - increased national debt
- Germany blocked trade routes
- factories closed
- consumer goods became scarce + expensive
- lack of food production
What was the 1905 revolution
Bloody Sunday/ strikes and mutiny from navy/ October manifesto issued - freedom of speech, end to censorship and national parliament (duma)
When was Rasputin murdered
December 1916
Events of February Revolution
14th - demonstration in support of duma
18th - strike at putilov steelworks for higher wages
23rd - international women’s day - women joined protest
24th - 250,000 on strike
26th - soldiers ordered to fire, some shots but most of Petrograd garrison had deserted
27th - army mutiny/ looting - tsar orders duma to dissolve - 12 members refuse - ‘provisional committee’ (socialists)
1st - Petrograd soviet issuer order number 1 - authority from army officers to elected representatives
2nd - Nicholas abdicated
3rd - provisional committee becomes provisional government - runs country
When did the tsar abdicate
1917 March 2nd
When was international women’s day
1917 February 23rd
Who was the provisional government initially consisted with
Octoberists/ kadets - liberals
What did Lenin’s April thesis say
- end to war
- transfer power to soviets
- land to peasants
- PEACE BREAD LAND
When and why did Germany help Lenin return to Russia
Late April - hoping to initiate political unrest/ revolution and reduce war efforts
Overall triggers for February revolt
- food shortages in Petrograd
- announcement of bread rationing - ‘peace, BREAD, land’
- international women’s day March (23rd)
- tsar being away from Petrograd
- demonstrations in support of duma
- contempt for tsarina
- mutiny in army
- severe wintry weather
What was dual power
The shared power between PS and PG
What were some initial reforms of the PG
- releasing political and religious prisoners
- ending death penalty
- transferring power to the zemstvos
- freedom of speech/religion
- 8- hour working day
- recognition of trade unions
When did Alexander Kerensky become leader of PG
July 1917
What were the weaknesses and failures of the PG
- in a weak position due to PS having control over railways/post offices
- failure to hold general elections
- lack of legitimacy- not elected by the people
- failure to provide more land to peasants
- order number 1 - didn’t have control over the military
- continuing to fight in the war
- June offensive
What was the June offensive
- attacked German and Austrian forces in June 1917
- 200,000 casualties
- losses of land
- angered people more
What was the kornilov revolt
An attempted right wing coup
Events of kornilov revolt
August 1917 -
- kornilov made commander in chief for the armed forces
- wanted military rule and to protect the PG from a socialist Revolution
- sent troops to break up the PS
- Kerensky allowed bolsheviks to arm and defend Petrograd - red guards
- railway workers blocked routes/ diverted trains
- bolsheviks persuaded troops not to attack
Significance of revolt
- increased popularity and influence of bolsheviks
- weakened PG
- people viewed bolsheviks as saving the revolution not Kerensky
- establishment of red guards gave Bolshevik military advantage - supporters were armed
When did Lenin return to Russia after his April thesis
April 3rd 1917
What were the July days
- riots and demonstrations against PG in response to food shortages, bread rationing, military defeats
- unsuccessful for bolsheviks - accused of being german spies/ arrested/ Pravda shut down
Events of October Revolution
10th - Lenin returns - hosted a meeting of central committee, agreed to an uprising
16th - MRC (military revolutionary committee) begin to organise in Smolny institute
23rd - Kerensky tried to remove Bolshevik threat - closed down Pravda/ blocked river crossings
24th - Aurora and other ships from Kronstadt point guns at winter palace/ red guards take control of key communication points eg. Bridges - little resistance
25th - Kerensky flees / Aurora fires signalling attack - stormed palace/ 6 deaths
26th - Bolshevik government formed by Lenin - council of people’s commissar - sovnarkom
How many members did the bolsheviks have by October 1917
340,000 members and 40,000 armed red guards
Role of Trotsky in October Revolution
- elected leader of Petrograd Soviet
- became dominant member of MRC
- made plans for the seizure of the government - smolny Institute
What was the MRC
Military Revolutionary committee
- Trotsky was dominant member
- controlled 20,000 red guards/ 60,000 Baltic soldiers/ 150,000 soldiers from Petrograd garrison
Role of Lenin in October Revolution
- persuaded bolsheviks to oppose the war
- ‘peace bread and land’
- support rose through decision to end war
- created red guard - funded by german money
- persuaded central committee to seize power - except zinoviev and kamanev
Why was the October Revolution successful
- Lenin was single - minded with a clear plan of attack
- Lenin made sure bolsheviks were in control
- Kerensky didn’t rake Bolshevik threat seriously until after the July days
- Kerensky didn’t disband the red guards after the kornilov revolt
- Trotsky was an amazing planner
- PG became very unpopular
Food shortages in feb 1917
1913 - 22000 wagons of grain reach moscow
1917 - only 700
Inflation feb 1917
400% inflation between 1914 - 1917
When was the strike at putilov works
18th feb - wanted higher wages due to inflation
When did the Petrograd soviet issue order number 1
1st march
What was order number 1
All matters regarding military affairs were only binding if approved by the PS - weakened PG
When did the Tsar abdicate
2nd march
Where was Lenin in exile
In switzerland
Impacts of July days
- lenin flees + other bolsheviks arrested
- pravda shut down
- kerensky appointed PM of PG and calls bolsheviks ‘german traitors’
When was Kerensky appointed PM
8th July 1917
Who was Kornilov
New Commander in Chief
Who is elected chairman in september 1917
Trotsky
What did lenin set up after the october revolution
Council of peoples Commissars - Sovnarkom - Lenin is head of this new government
What roles did the Key bolsheviks have in Sovnarkom
Lenin - head of government
Trotsky - Commissar of Foreign affairs (later Commissar of War)
Stalin - Commissar of Nationalities
Kollantai - Head of the womens department
What was the womens department called in the Sovnarkom
Zhentodel
Bread rationing feb 1917
at an all time low - only 50g
Army mutiny in feb 1917
Most of the petrograd garrison joined strikers by 27th feb
What was the smolny institute
Where trotsky plotted the revolution - orignally a girls school
Why did Kornilov want to attack the PS
- set up a military dictatorship
- if they wanted to defeat germany there needed to be stability at home
- didnt agree with PS wish to end the war
- wanted to save the PG
When was the provisional comitte set up
27th feb 1917
differences between PG and PS
The Provisional Government consisted mainly of Octoberists and Kadets. They only wanted moderate changes to the government of Russia.
Tthe Petrograd Soviet was made up of Social Revolutionaries and Mensheviks. They wanted to give power to the working classes.
political disagreement = DUAL POWER
Why did the PG continue the war
They feared that foreign investment from Britain and France would cease in the event of a Russian withdrawal.
peoples view on the war
WANTED PG TO END IT = FAILED TO DO SO
