2. Opposition to Tsarist Rule 1914-17 Flashcards
What were the economic effects on Russia from WW1
- Cost Government 17 billion roubles
- Many of Russia important economic areas (coal mines) were captured and Russias access to Europe was blocked making trade impossible
- 15 million men went to war so there wasn’t enough labour in the fields and farms
- The government introduced prohibition but vodka sales made up 25% of tax receipts so country national debt increased
What were the social effects on Russia from WW1
- Not enough food for both the army and the cities, so through requisitioning the army took food from the peasants to the soldiers on the front line.
- Railway transport focused solely on on getting food to the army do by the time it got the cities it was often rotten
- Inflation was high so more and more people struggling to buy food
- There were 2 times as many women then men
- The number of jobs decreased dramatically as the factories didn’t have enough materials to keep going. In the first 3 months of the war 150,000 workers had lost their jobs
What were the political effects on Russia from WW1
- The fourth Duma was suspended in August so the government could focus on winning the war
- The Tsar took over the military so people blamed him when the war was going badly
- When the Duma began again it was very critical of the Tsarist government under the influence of Rasputin
Why was the Tsarina so fond of Rasputin
The tsar and tsarinas son Prince Alexis suffered from a disease called haemophilia where his blood wasn’t able to clot. Doctors weren’t helpful so the tsarina turned to Rasputin who seemed to help Alexis. She soon became very close to him and took his advice such as who to appoint as ministers
What were the events of the February revolution
- 23 Feb International Women’s day protest
- 23-25 Feb there was the Petrograd protest march and many clashes with the police
- 25 Feb Nicholas orders army to stop the unrest
- 26 Feb Soldiers open fire on protesters killing 50
- 26 Feb Pavlosky regiment refuses to obey orders
- 27 -28 Feb soldiers join workers to capture weapon stores
What events occur on the 1 and 2 march 1917
- Tsar Nicholas reaches the city of Pskov
- Senior army leaders join the Tsar in Pskov and urge him to abdicate
- The Tsar agrees to abdicate in favour of his brother Michael
- Michael refuses the crown and the provisional government is formed
What was a result of the economic problems due to the war
The government decided to print more money and this led to inflation, so the money lost value. So prices went up but wages stayed low and people’s savings were worth a lot less.
What were the immediate causes of the February revolution
- Tsar not being in Petrograd
- Contempt at the Tsarina
- Announcement of bread rationing
- Food shortages
What were the events on international women’s days 1917
- On 23rd Feb thousands of women marched in protest against bread shortages, they joined the already striking workers
- This is because the government announced bread rationing starting on 1st March, after a harsh winter of food shortages
- Between February 23-25 a quarter of a million people marched through the streets of Petrograd, which led to clashes with the police
What did Nicholas order in response to the International women’s day protest
- On 25 Feb he ordered the police and soldiers to enter Petrograd and end the unrest
- The next day the soldiers opened fire on the protestors killing more the 50 people
What were the events of the Army mutiny
- On the 26 Feb the soldiers of the Pavlosky Regiment were shocked to learn about the shooting
- They couldn’t believe Russian soldiers were shooting Russian civilians
- So they refused to obey orders to fire on demonstrators
What events occurred on the 27-28 February 1917
- The soldiers joined with workers to capture Petrograd’s main weapon store
- They took over 40,000 rifles and 30,000 revolvers
- They also broke into prisons and released political prisoners
- The number of soldiers who protested and mutinied reached 150,000
What were the events of Nicholas’s abdication
- Nicholas after hearing of the mutiny travelled to Pskov where things also didn’t look good and many troops were showing signs of mutiny
- Army leaders and members of the Duma came to Pskov and urged him to abdicate
- His brother Michael did not accept the crown
- Russia became a republic in spring 1917
What were the effects of the Tsarina being in control
- She refused to deal with the Duma
- She was German and this made her deeply unpopular with the rest of the country
- She was obsessed with Rasputin which weakened he authority of the royal family
What were the effects of Nicholas taking control of the army in 1915
- The Tsar would be blamed for all military defeats
- He had no military experience
- He was away from Petrograd where mass protests were going to occur
