AS FP1 : Causes of the February Revolution Flashcards
Causes - Social
How many casualties were there by the end of 1914? How many had this grown too by 1917?
By the end of 1914 Russia had suffered 1 million casualties on the front, by 1917 this number had risen to 8 million.
- Profound social impact of the War Effort.
Causes - Social
How many desertions were there by the end of 1916?
1.5 million
Causes - Social
How many rifles were there for every 3 soldiers?
What was the impact of this?
There were 2 rifles for every 3 soldiers, this led to increased desertions but also damaged Nicholas’s reputation with the military - an institution which he relied upon to prop up the autocracy.
Social and Economic State of Russia 1917
How much did government spending increase after the beginning of the war?
From 4 million to 30 million roubles.
Social and Economic State of Russia 1917
What did inflation and immigration result in?
Historiography Quote
Food shortages due to rising prices and an icreased demand. The war years were “times of acute hunger if not famine.” (Rowe and Waller)
The war effort
What was the problem with the Russian Army?
- Incompetent generals who lacked experience
- Russian soldiers poorly educated
- Russian Industry was underdeveloped
The First World War exposed the weaknesses of the Russian Army, they achieved victories but many were short lived e.g Battle of Tannenberg lead to Great Retreat 1915
Social and Economic State of Russia 1917
What had inflation risen to by 1917?
200%. Money was virtually worthless by 1917.
Social and Economic State of Russia 1917
What percentage of its total grain requirements did Petrograd recieve in 1917?
Only 48%
Social and Economic state of Russia
What were the rations for the army in 1917?
Only 2000kcal per day
Social and Economic State of Russia 1917
When was there a munitions crisis what was its effects?
1915 - The Russian artillery units were only allowed 3 shells per day.
Social and Economic State of Russia 1917
What happened to the cost of living between 1914 and 1916?
There was a 300% rise in the cost of living.
Causes - Social
What happened in 1915 that was a major failure for the Tsar?
He declared himself head of the Russian army, he was poorly qualified and now any mistakes or failures could be blamed on him.
- Undermined the Tsar’s political authority.
Discontent
Why was it problematic that the Tsarina was left in charge?
- The Tsarina was German - hostilities developed as they were at war with Germany
- Rumours that the Tsarina and the Tsar were under the control of Rasputin ; Rasputing was a symbol of political corruption for Russia. Undermined the Tsar’s political authority.
Discontent
How many times did the prime minister change between 1915 and 1916?
3 times
Ministerial leapfrog - Rhodzianko
Russian Politics
What was the name of the alliance of Duma deputies?
The Progressive Bloc
Russian Politics
What did the Tsar do concerning the progressive bloc which caused the middle classes to turn against him?
The Tsar refused to co-operate with the progressive bloc and refused the suggestion of a constitutional monarchy ; his focus on autocracy caused social and political discontent.
Urban unrest
How many workers were on strike by 1916?
880,000
Response to the inflation, rationing and shortages.
Rural Unrest
What effect did the war have on Rural Russia?
Young,male peasants were conscripted creating a shortage of labour.
Grain prices were kept low, resulting in peasants not making any profits ; in turn they turned to substinence farming.
Social and Economic State of Russia 1917
What happened as a result of the army taking over transport?
Between 1913 and 1916 the railway system virtually collapsed under the strain of war, severe food and fuel shortages + food was left to rot as there was no way of transporting it.
Causes - Social
How many casualties were there at the Battle of Tannenberg in 1914?
There were 300,000 casualties.
Causes - Social
What did the state fail to provide during the war - what did this result in?
The government failed to provide necessary medical care or organaise production effeciently for war.
The National union of Zemvsta was set up to provide medical facilities and factory owners and business men set up a Congress of Representatives of Industry and Business.
This greatly undermined the political authority of the Tsar and damaged his reputation as a ‘benevolent’ leader - adding to the social discontent.
Causes - Political
What was the impact of Rasputin’s influence in government?
Rasputin interferred in government appointments, particularly after 1914 - his reputation as a womaniser and drunkard who was corrupting Russia damaged the Tsar’s reputation with those who he relied upon the prop up his autocracy -
e.g
- Politicians (e.g Stolypin distrusted him)
- Civil Servants
- Orthodox Bishops
- Military officers.
Causes - Political
What was Nicholas’s style of government? What was the consequence of this?
Nicholas pitted his ministers against eachother to preserve his own power, shortly after coming to power he dismissed a zemvsto petition for a national assembly as a “senseless dream” and while he did agree to a state duma in 1906, he did all in his power to limit their influence.
His reluctance to innovate + constant financial problems + disorganisation did much to weaken political authority by 1917.
- Loss of respect for the monarchy
- Disillusionment
- Loss of the support of the middle class / those who propped up the autocracy.
Causes - Social
Stolypin’s reforms exercised brutal repression in the country side - how many people were found guilty and hanged by these courts?
37,000
So much so that the noose became known as ‘Stolypin’s neck-tie’.
Causes - Social
How much did the prison population in Russia increase by between 1905 and 1913?
The prison population rose form 98,000 in 1905 to 259,000 in 1913.
This is indicitative of the Tsar’s autocracy, the Ohkrana and police state.
Creates social discontent.
