Factors contributing to Bolshevik seizure of power 1917 Flashcards
Incompetence of the Tsar
Failure to appropriately handle continuous dissatisfaction
Problems of peasantry remained unresolved; redemption payments, high taxes, periodic famines politicised peasants
Insistence on continued repression
Continued use of the Okhrana
Incompetence of the Tsar
Russification continued, 600 new restrictions placed on Russian Jews
Russo-Japanese War 1905, embarrassing defeat
At Zemstvo Congress, over 5000 telegrams received urging delegates to press the Tsar for civil rights
Incompetence of the Tsar
October Manifesto 1905, promised a Duma, quickly became clear that he had no intentions of compromising his position
Fundamental Laws 1906, undermined the idea of a Duma before it even began
During war the Tsar declared himself as Commander in Chief and took direct control of the military. Absent from Petrograd and left the Tsarina in control
War
Reaction to the war was inadequate, sale of alcohol was banned at the end of 1914-> taxes fell and expenditures rose
Yupsov created ZEMGOR to aid war effort, but Tsar refused to work with them
By Xmas 1914 there were already shortages, 15 million conscripts were mobilised and the war cost 1500 roubles
War
Soldiers lacked the basics like waterproof footwear and rifles (2 rifles per soldier by 1915). Almost half the men were killed resulted in major change in officer corps
Shortage of fertiliser and labour, money offered by the government was low and the value of money started to fall-> peasants hoarded their grain-> shortages in towns
Railway was unorganised, clogged by the military moving soldiers and equipment-> rolling stock not available to ship grain to the cities, food rotted in the countryside
War
Unemployment increased in cities as factories laid off workers as they were unable to get raw materials
By 1916 prices had increased fourfold, whilst wages had only doubled
1905 Revolution
First time government was faced by a combination of threats from the three main opposition classes
Tsarist regimes ill judged policies that turned disturbances into a direct challenge to his authority
Bloody Sunday was the beginning of the revolution in which there was an organised march of workers to improve working conditions, 150,000 turned up
1905 Revolution
Bloody Sunday led to a national outbreak of disorder amongst workers with strikes in towns and cities
In February, 400,000 workers went on strike, railways heavily affected with some cities brought to the brink of starvation
Mutinies in the army and navy, June, the crew of the battleship ‘Potemkin’ murdered their own officers and sailed the ships away, they were rebelling against the brutality of navy life and their conditions of service.
Bolshevik Propaganda
After 1905 membership declined and opposition remained largely underground, revival in 1912 with the Pravda, fizzled out during war due to feelings of loyalty and nationalism
Lack of support for the P.G in 1917-> rise in Bolshevik support-> by October there were over 250,000 members
June 1917- 105 seats and the members of the Bolshevik Red Guard were directly going into factories to recruit members
Bolshevik Propaganda
Influence of Lenin was significant
Returned from Finland and immediately began to gain support for the Bolsheviks
‘Peace, land and Bread’ slogan
April theses, promised end to war and redistribution of land to the peasants
21 speeches
