Dissent And Revolution Flashcards
1
Q
Nicholas’s personality:
A
- Nicholas believed in his divine right to rule
- he was stubborn and saw advice as criticism
- he undermined his ministers to stop anyone challenging his authority
2
Q
Nicholas and state duma:
A
- Nicholas was forced to allow a state duma to form in 1906
- Duma held meetings to debate politics and legislation
- Nicholas refused to share any real power with the Duma, frustrating those who were hoping for a more democratic approach to Russia’s government
- Nicholas remained responsible for Russia’s problems
3
Q
Opposition to tsarism:
A
Liberals: favoured a conditional monarchy and reform
Social revolutionaries: 1901. Represented peasant reforms, including land reform. Moderate wing gained influence after 1905
Social democrats: 1898. Represented the proletariat. Split into Mensheviks and Bolsheviks
4
Q
Russian war effort (part 1):
A
- lack of weapons, ammunition, equipment and clothing for Russian troops contributed to many defeats
- Battle of Tannenberg, around 300,000 russians were killed or wounded
- A union of Zemstva was set up to provide medical facilities
- Factory owners set up their own Congress to coordinate war production
- in June 1915, the All Russian Union of Zemstva and cities was formed
- Nicholas refused to let this civilian organisation take any part in his governments management of war
5
Q
Reasons for food shortages:
A
- conscription caused labour shortages, reducing food supplies
- peasants hoarded their grain rather than sell it
- Food supplies were prioritised for the army
- Railway system was turned over to transport military supplies
6
Q
Reasons for soaring costs of living:
A
- to pay for war, the government raised taxes and took on huge loans
- shortage of food and manufactured products raised prices higher and higher
- unemployment increased as non military factories were forced to close
7
Q
Causes of Feb/march revolution:
A
- news of bread rationing led to strikes on 14th Feb
- strikers joined the women’s day march
- 200,000 workers went on strike on 24th Feb. No obvious organisation from any of the radical political parties
- by 25th Feb, 250,000 people were on strike. Some Cossacks refused to attack the strikers
- Mutiny began in the volynskii regiment
8
Q
Petrograd Soviet (order no.1):
A
- all military units would elect a deputy to the Petrograd Soviet and agree to be under the control of the Petrograd Soviet
- the military commission of the Duma was only to be obeyed if it’s orders agreed with the Petrograd Soviets orders
9
Q
Areas of conflict with dual authority:
A
- PG wanted to improve discipline in the army and to stop desertions, but Soviet wanted soldiers, workers and peasants to assert their rights
- PG wanted to win the war, but Soviet wanted to end Russia’s involvement with the war immediately as long as land wasn’t lost
- PG was committed to holding elections but held back as any election would be won by SRs
- Soviet was essentially reactive
10
Q
Return of Lenin:
A
- only 23,00 members In the Bolshevik party in Feb 1917
- Soviets dominated by SRs and Mensheviks, only 40 Bolsheviks in PS
- Lenin returned to Russia on 3rd April 1917 in a sealed train, supplied by Germany
11
Q
Lenin’s ideology:
A
- Russian middle classes were too weak to carry out a revolution, workers and peasants needed to
- Soviets were a ready made government, primed for a socialist revolution
- rest of Europe seemed close to socialist revolution, Russia would surely be supported by socialist neighbours
12
Q
April thesis:
A
- peace: war should be brought to an immediate end
- bread: food shortages should end
- land: all land should be taken over by the state and allocated to peasants
Russia should be handed over to the Soviets to run
13
Q
Lenin’s role as leader:
A
- Lenin gained support from a mixture of persuasion, compromise, threats of resignation and appeals to the rank and file
- abandoned a call to immediately overthrow PG, convincing those who were worried about civil war
- claimed credit for social changes already happening in Russia
On 3rd June the PS passed a vote of confidence in the PG by 543 votes to 126
14
Q
July days:
A
- sailors from the Kronstadt naval base organised an armed demonstration in centre of Petrograd, with workers and sailors joining
- when demonstrations turned violent, Bolsheviks were blamed
- PG brought in troops to crush demonstrations
- Bolshevik newspapers were shut down and Lenin and Stalin fled
15
Q
Kornilov coup:
A
- Kerensky appoints Kornilov as Commander in Chief to bring back discipline
- PS criticised Kornilov’s army discipline and right wing views
- In August 1917, Kornilov orders troops to march in Petrograd in order to establish a military dictatorship
- Kerensky allows Bolsheviks to arm workers and half Kornilov’s advance
Trotsky became chairman of the executive committee of the PS
Bolshevik party membership had increased to 200,000
