From Tsardom To Communism: Russia 1914-1924

Question 1

Why did the Tsar’s government collapse in March 1917?

Answer 1

1. The tsar was weak + found it difficult to make decisions
2. For hundreds of years Russians had believed that God had chosen the Tsar, fewer people now believed this + lost loyalty
3. The nobles were unhappy- wanted Tsar to share power with them, stronger Duma which they would lead
4. Peasants unhappy, want own land
5. Industrial workers unhappy, live in poor housing conditions + had very low wages

Question 2

What was the consequence of the growth of organised opposition to the Tsar’s government in 1905?

Answer 2

In 1905 some opposing groups tried to lead a revolution against the Tsar- stopped using army and police

Tsar had to give in a little, allowed Duma to meet for first time however had no real power

Question 3

What were the 3 main opposition groups to the Tsar’s government + what were their aims?

Answer 3

The kadets- businessmen + middle classes, did not really want a revolution but more power given to Duma

The social revolutionaries (SRs)- huge following among peasants, wanted Tsar removed + land given to peasants

The social Democratic Party (SDs)- wanted Tsar removed by power, tried to stir up workers. Split into 2 groups Mensheviks + Bolsheviks- more extreme, thought revolution coming soon wanted to seize power and make Russia communist

Question 4

What were the consequences of the First World War in Russia?

Answer 4

Seen as one of most important reasons as to why Tsar’s government collapsed

• War went badly, e.g. Battle of Tannenburg Russia defeated by Germany many casualties
• Tsar took personal command of army in 1915, losses seen as his responsibility
• 1917 desertion high
• railways could not cope with supplying army + people. Food shortages + shell shortages
• inflation

Question 5

What happened in March 1917?

Answer 5

The march revolution

• international women’s day
• spontaneous
• workers came out on streets to protest or went on strike. Government lost control of Petrograd
• soldiers ordered to fire but many mutinied and joined revolution
• Pskov rail line blocked at Pskov Tsar abdicated
• Duma took control of government- provision government (temporary) until proper elections

Question 6

Why did the provisional government only last nine months?

Answer 6

• members came from different parties argued among themselves
• had little experience of running things
• Kerensky + Duma wanted to carry on war, continued to lose, got blame
• Duma did not solve food shortages
• order number 1- Petrograd Soviet, soldiers need not obey orders that not been agreed
• soviets took control of their town, district or factory, prov gov couldn’t control the soviets

Question 7

What were the failed attempt to overthrow the provisional government?

Answer 7

• July 1917, Bolsheviks stirred up armed marches in Petrograd against prov gov- hoped to overthrow + gain power
  Leading bolsheviks arrested, Lenin escaped
• August 1917 commander in chief of army Kornilov tried to seize power
  Prov gov forced to get help from Bolshevik’s armed soldiersRed Guards

Question 8

What was the Bolshevik’s main slogan why did this gain them support?

Answer 8

Bread, peace, land
Bread- improve supply of food
Peace- end unpopular war
Land- give land to peasants

Question 9

How did the Bolsheviks manage to seize power in the November Revolution 1917?

Answer 9

• had own armed soldiers, red guards led by Trotsky + strong leadership from Lenin
• strong support in the soviets of Petrograd, slogan + credit of stopping Kornilov
• Nov 1917 red guards wielded important buildings in Petrograd, kerensky couldn’t gather enough loyal soldiers to stop them
• Bolshevik soldiers attacked winter palace where Duma leaders meeting + arrested them. And aurora fired shells in its direction. Little real fighting or opposition guarded by trainee cadets and women’s battalion. Prov gov surrendered

Question 10

What happened after the Bolsheviks gained control in Petrograd?

Answer 10

• opponents of Bolsheviks walked out of the Soviet in protest
• few days later seized Moscow too

Question 11

What did the Bolsheviks have to create in order to stay in power?

Answer 11

A one-party dictatorship

Question 12

What was the constituent assembly + what happened to it?

Answer 12

Would have replaced prov gov as gov. Organised by prov gov. November elections took place. Bolsheviks got only 24% SRs 40%

Bolsheviks closed it down at gunpoint after it had only met for one day

Question 13

What did the Bolsheviks do once they were in power?

Answer 13

• arrested leaders of other parties. 1921 all other parties abolished
• Cheka set up in Dec 1917. Organised Red terror enemies of Bolsheviks often tortured or executed
• took over factories
• peasants allowed to take over land
• treaty of Brest litovsk

Question 14

When was the Russian civil war?

Answer 14

1918- 1921

Question 15

Why did the Bolsheviks win the Civil war?

Answer 15

• whites disorganised + disunited. Generals did not trust each other and had different aims
• Trotsky gave reds great leadership
• reds controlled railways centred on Moscow, could use to move mean around quickly and defeat W armies 1 by 1
• foreign countries helping W only willing to give little support, soldiers unwilling, not fighting for cause unlike R- railways showed propaganda Trotsky gave speeches gave motivation. + R could present themselves as protectors of motherland
• W fighting large area of land, hard to coordinate attacks

Question 16

When was war communism?

Answer 16

1918-1921

Question 17

Why was war communism introduced?

Answer 17

• new communist government had to act harshly to survive

- Lenin had to make sure that R army had enough food + supplies to win battles

Question 18

What did war communism involve?

Answer 18

The government taking strict control of the economy

Working hours increased

Food in cities rationed

Red army patrols seized grain from peasants often at gun point

Question 19

What were the consequences of war communism?

Answer 19

Grain production fell as many peasants hid supplies rather than hand it over

Widespread famine by 1921 around 5 million died

Various strikes in Petrograd and other cities, most notably the mutiny at Kronstadt naval base

Question 20

When war the Kronstadt revolt?

Answer 20

March 1921

Question 21

What was the main reason for the Kronstadt revolt?

Answer 21

War communism added to the growing unpopularity of the Communist government. Some who previously supported felt not carrying out promises for better Russia for ordinary workers and peasants + concerned about lack of freedom under communist dictatorship

Question 22

Why was the government so worried about the Kronstadt rebellion?

Answer 22

It was a rebellion amazing their own best troops, had previously supported takeover. If they did not act quickly it might spread

Question 23

How was the Kronstadt revolt ended?

Answer 23

Trotsky sent army of 60,000 men’s across ice o defeat soldiers, 3 weeks of fighting, many injured.

Many rebel sailors were imprisoned or executed

Question 24

What was the consequence of the Kronstadt rebellion?

Answer 24

Lenin realised change was necessary. Had to change harsh policy to win back support of peasants and industrial workers- quickly improve food supply and general economic situation

Question 25

When was the NEP?

Answer 25

1921-1928

Question 26

What did the NEP involve?

Answer 26

Taking a step back from communism

• smaller businesses + factories allowed to return to private ownership.
• farmers, traders + businessmen could sell good for profit
• government stopped taking surplus crops
• Large industries kept under gov control

Question 27

What were the consequences of the NEP?

Answer 27

Production did increase but argued that all it could do was to bring production back to the level it was before WW1