Chapter 1- The condition of Russia before the revolution of February/March 1917 Flashcards
What were the 3 main groups of political opposition to the tsarist Regime?
- Liberals (Kadets, Octobrists and Progressives) - wanted moderate, non-violent reform and constitutional monarchy, created zemstva in 1864
- Social Revolutionaries - formed in 1901, suffered internal division, gained support of trade unions and middle class
- Social Democrats - lead by the intellegensia, supported the working class
How was the Tsarist rule organised?
- Tsar advised by ministers who he chose himself (couldn’t do anything without his approval
- provincial nobility and imperial bureacracy riddled with corruption
- supported by world’s largest army 6 million in 1914 –> 12 million during WW1 –> used as police force to surpress protests
What was the population distribution and industrial development in Russia like during the early 20th century?
- Just under 50% of Russia’s population lived in European Russia, significant migration occurring as peasants moved to districts in Outer Siberia seeking better opportunities
- notable industrial growth with bureaucratic oversight from the Okhrana. workers’ rights were limited despite their increasing numbers which resulted in many strikes (although they were banned
What happened with the revolution in 1905?
Opposition groups merged to pressure the tsarist autocracy following the loss at the Russo-Japanese war –> riots and strikes –> breakdown of control –> forced tsar into October manifesto (lead to creation of the Duma).
The Tsar then issued the Fundamental Laws in 1906 which limited the Dumas power and reaffirmed the autocracy.
Who was the Tsar in 1917? What were some of his attributes?
- Nicholas II (Romanov Dynasty) inherited throne in 1894 (26 y/o)
- Raised by reformist grandfather and reactionary father (Alexander III)
- brought up in sheltered environment with moral principles of autocracy instilled in him –> extremely unwilling for change
- very shy, bored by political affairs, over-cautious –> struggled to make decisions
- incapable to innovate
- scared of confrontation (dismissed ministers by note)
What was the state of Russia in 1913?
- marked 300 years of the Romanov rule
- violent wave of strikes over the government’s increasing incompetence and corruption
- significant modernisation and industrialisation was beginning to take place which subsequently began to undermine the autocracy
What happened at the Battle of Tannenburg in 1914?
- defeated by Germany (disastrous)
- 300,000 left dead or wounded
- thousands taken prisoner
- followed by defeat at Masurian Lakes –> retreat from East Pursia
How were the soldiers treated during the war effort?
- not enough suitable weaponry –> had to pick up weapons of fallen soldiers in front of them
- lack of proper clothing and footwear
- no proper medical care from gov –> union of Zemstva founded to provide it
- By Brusilov offensive (launched from Ukraine in June 1916 against Austro-Hungarian lines) many soldiers had been lost –> drop on morale –> 1.5 million dissertions by the end of that year
How did WW1 contribute to the Tsar’s down and the February 1917 revolution?
- In June 1915 Union of Zemstva + Municipal Dmas –> Zemgor chaired by Prince Lvov. Demanded to help with war effort –> shunned by Tsar
- In August the Progressive bloc was formed and told the tsar to form a government of public confidence (constitutional monarchy) –> he refused
- In September Tsar Nicholas II took role of Commander-in-Chief in September 1915 despite lacking military experience (all blame now on him if failed) –> imbalance of power in Petrograd
- 3 different prime ministers during war
How was the war effort funded? What were the effects of this?
- rise in taxes and loans
- damage to industrial and grain exports –> inflation of 300%
- rise in prices > wages
- shortage of men in countryside –>fall in food supplies
- non-military factories deprived of supplies –> closed own –> high unemployment –> strikes and protests
What were the economic effects of the war on Russia?
- West Russia occupied by Germans + naval blockades in baltic and black sea –> trade industry collapsed
- railway system collapsed (taken over for transport to the front) –> locomotive production halved between 1913 and 1916
- products abandonned near railways
- long queues to buy bread in Petrograd
What were the signs of discontent in Russia by 1917?
- many demonstrations and outbursts
- struggle to survive and get by increased distaste for rulers
- strikes and riots against employers and landlords
- desertion within army –> near mutiny with peasant conscripts
- Progressive bloc leaders Guchkov and Milyukov discussed possible coup with senior army officers in 1916
-In 1917 Prinve Lvov asked Tsar’s uncle Grand DUke NIcholas about taking the throne - Lenin suggesting civil war of proletarian soldiers against government
