Causes Or Beginnings Of 1917 Revolution

Question 1

Military defeats

Answer 1

WWI was a total disaster for Russia.
Russian army suffered defeat after defeat at hands of Germany.
Effort and cost of waging war meant terrible suffering for soldiers and civilians alike. About 2 million soldiers were killed as were a similar number of civilians.

Question 2

Leadership

Answer 2

1915 Tsar Nicholas II took personal command of the army.
He thought taking charge of his army would inspire but he knew little about the command and organisation of large military forces. The series of defeats continued.
The organisation of the Russian army deteriorated and there were massive shortages of ammunition, equipment and medical supplies.
Nicholas II decision to take charge meant he was increasingly seen by the Russian people as having personal responsibility for the military disasters inflicted on Russia.

Question 3

Governance

Answer 3

Tsarina Alexandra was left under control while Nicholas at war.
She gained increasing influence over the appointment of ministers to the government.
She was determined no member of imperial government should be in a strong position to challenge the authority of her husband.
This meant she appointed increasingly weak and ineffective men.

Question 4

Rasputin

Answer 4

Rasputin was a very unorthodox monk from Siberia.
Myths spread he performed miracles.
He came to Royal family’s attention because their only son suffered from the blood disease haemophilia.
Alexandra was convinced Rasputin could control young boys illness.
He had lots of influence over Tsarina Alexandra.
To Russian people Rasputin symbolised everything wrong with the imperial government.
Rasputin was murdered at the end of 1916

Question 5

Industry

Answer 5

Russian industry moved into crisis during the war.
Vital raw materials from overseas no longer reach Russia.
Shortages of raw materials and finished goods grew worse.
Army faced major shortages of supplies and weapons.

Question 6

Agriculture

Answer 6

Millions of peasant farmers were conscripted into the army.
This meant serious shortage of manpower on farms=fall in production.
By 1916 serious shortages of food in the city shops and the price of even most basic goods was rising steeply.

Question 7

Transport

Answer 7

The underdeveloped Russian railway system now had to cope with the pressures of moving large quantities of troops and supplies to the battlefronts.
This made it more difficult to keep the cities supplied with food.

Question 8

Inflation

Answer 8

By 1916 the value of the rouble had fallen substantially, leading to soaring prices.
This made life increasingly difficult especially for poorer people.