New Russia Key Topics 1 and 2 Download Flashcards
Who were the Bolsheviks?
A dedicated group of communist revolutionaries led by Lenin. They believed Russia was ready for revolution.
How did the Tsar maintain power?
He had a large army and a secret police force called the Okhrana.
What impact did WWI have on the military?
Large areas of the Russian empire in the west were lost. The German overran all of Russian Poland and Lithuania and most of Latvia.
What impact did WWI have on the economy?
The war was expensive for Russia, forcing them to print too much money (leading to inflation), the government borrowed huge amounts of money from other countries, therefore falling into debt. Also taxes went up which hit ordinary people hard.
What impact did WWI have on society?
There was a huge decline in food production and food shortages grew worse.
What were the political effects of WWI?
In 1915 military defeats and criticism of the government forced the Tsar to allow the Duma to meet again after dissolving them in 1914. The Tsar refused to meet the Duma’s demands and by 1917 the Duma became a centre of opposition to his government.
Why did the Tsar’s advisers not want him to become commander in chief in September 1915?
He had no practical experience of warfare or of commanding armies in combat.
Why was the Tsar becoming commander in chief a mistake?
His new role meant he was usually at army headquaters and rarely in the capital so when things started to go wrong in Petrograd, in February 1917, he was not there to take charge. Also the army was poorly trained and poorly led by its generals.
What effect did the war have on the Tsar’s rule?
It severely weakened it and lost him the respect and support of many. When the revolt of early 1917 came there was nobody ready to come to his assistance.
January-February 1917
Mass protests in Petrograd
What happened on 23/02/2017?
International Women’s Day Protests
What happened on 27/02/2017?
Army mutinies, Duma Committee set up
What happened on 02/03/2017?
Tsar Nicholas abdicates; Duma Committee establishes Provisional Government
What were the triggers for revolt in February 1917?
Over the winter of 1916-17, food shortages and unrest among workers caused tensions to increase in the two great cities of Russia: the capital Petrograd and the second city, Moscow.
What were the short term triggers for revolt February 1917?
The final event, or ‘trigger’, for revolution was International Women’s Day, on 23 February. Shortage of bread was causing hunger and desperation in many families. Bread shortages were made worse by strikes in some city bakeries, and also by peasants holding onto their grain in the hope of getting better prices for it. It was this shortage of food that brought thousands of women out onto the streets of Petrograd. The demonstration combined with short-term causes to spark revolution.
Short term causes of revolution Feb 1917
The ‘trigger event’ of 23 February 1917 had such a dramatic effect because it accelerated problems that were already occurring. Looking back at the events of that month, we can see that the sequence of events led to the fall of the Tsar: strikes, demonstrations, the Tsar’s absence from the army and mutiny in the army.
Features of the strikes in February 1917.
During the winter, there had been a number of strikes protesting at the declining living standards of workers. This was nothing new: Russia had a history of industrial protests, which often led to clashes with police and soldiers sent by the government to end the strikes. The difference this time is that the strikes occurred at a time when more people than ever were dissatisfied with the government of the Tsar.
When did the Putilov steelworks get involved and what did they do?
On 18 February 1917, another strike, demanding higher wages, started in the huge Putilov Steelworks. The mood of the strikers grew even more challenging when the owners of the steelworks declared a lockout. This meant that they recused to let workers into their place of work and stopped paying them.
January 1917 Demonstration
On 9th January 1917, 150,000 workers had marched in memory of Bloody Sunday (1905) when the Tsar’s soldiers had opened fire on a peaceful demonstration and had killed many.
What happened on 14 Feb 1917?
Another large demonstration numbering about 80,000 took to the streets on 14 Feb 1917 in support of the Duma and demanding that it influences the Tsar.
What announcement on the 19th February made matters worse?
The mood on the streets was getting more dangerous as it was on the 19th February that the government announced that bread would soon be rationed.
How did the weather act as a cause of the February Revolution by increasing the suffering of the Russian people?
The demonstrations also increased in size because there was an unexpected improvement in the weather. The winter of 1916 to 17 had been very cold which had caused a lot of suffering to a civilian population that was already short of food and fuel as a result of the war. January and early February had been particularly cold with heavy snow. Railway traffic had been disrupted and Petrograd began to run out of flour for bread and fuel. .
How did a change in the weather act as a trigger for revolution?
Then in late February the temperature rose in an unseasonal way. The mild weather encouraged more people to come out onto the streets of Petrograd to protest.
What were the number of protesters?
Nobody had planned this combination of events - but the large numbers of protesters soon became too much for the police to control. Over the course of two days (23 to 25 Feb) the size of the crowds rose to about 240,000 and there were clashes with the mounted police.
How did the Tsar’s absence from Petrograd contribute towards the February Revolution?
The Tsar’s government was beginning to lose control of the capital city but the Tsar was miles away. Ever since he had taken over command of the military, he had spent most of his time at army headquarters. This was at Mogilev, which was around 780km away from Petrograd.
What did the Tsar do on 22 February?
Unaware of the crisis that was building in Petrograd, Tsar Nicholas II left the city on February 22nd to go to Mogilev. It was there that he finally received reports that the crowds were taking over the streets in his capital city.
What did the Tsar issue at Mogilev?
From Mogilev, the Tsar issued orders to his police and army in Petrograd that the unrest in the city was to be stopped immediately. It was the evening of 25 February and although the Tsar did not know it, this order was about to cost him his throne.
When did mutiny in the army become a cause of the February Revolution?
On the afternoon of 26 Feb, soldiers opened fire on protesters and killed 40 of them. This caused soldiers in other regiments to begin questioning their orders. That evening, some soldiers of the Pavlovsky Guards Regiment refused to obey commands from their officers.
What did the regiment do on 27 February?
The mutiny of the army was quickly put down, but on the next day things suddenly spiralled out of control. On 27th February, the same regiment that had shot the 40 demonstrators decided that it would no longer obey orders to use force against the crowds.
What did other regiments do?
Other regiments soon joined them. They refused to obey orders, and began to give weapons to the crowds on the streets. Many of the soldiers involved were young conscripts, who had recently been called up to join the army, along with more experienced soldiers who were due to be sent back to the front and who were tired of the war.
What did the polce do?
Faced with the crowds of demonstrators on the streets, the police stopped trying to keep order. Worse than this, other soldiers sent into the city from the Petrograd garrison were refusing to fire on the crowd too, and were beginning to mix with the demonstrators.
What happened by the evening of 28 February?
By the evening of 28 Feb, the military commander of Petrograd reported to the Tsar, by telegraph, that revolutionary crowds were taking over all of the railway stations in the city and had seized all artillery supplies to the garrison. He couldn’t use the telephone as control of the telephone exchange (from which land-lines were run) had been lost to the crowds. At this stage, the commander had few soldiers left who would obey the soldiers given to them by their officers.
What were the Duma’s actions?
As things began to fall apart in Petrograd, the members of the duma sent a petition to the Tsar. This asked him to create a cabinet that reflected the different parties represented in the Duma. It also asked him to let the Duma stay in session, as its time of meeting was about to come to an end. Despite all the problems that he was facing, the Tsar refused both of these requests. The Duma had thrown him a life line, but he had refused to take hold of it.
What about the Kadet Party?
One group of Duma members refused to stop meeting; these were members of the Kadet Party and other liberals who hoped to reform Russia. They formed a group called the Duma Committee. Faced with this, the ministers of the Tsar’s government held one last meeting which decided nothing and then many of them left Petrograd.
Military commanders withdraw support for the Tsar
Although the Tsar seemed incapable of decisive action, there were those in the Army High Command who knew that something had to be done in response to the chaos in Petrograd. They had two options.
What were the 2 options?
Option one was a military solution: send in more soldiers and hope they could crush the growing revolt. Option two was a political solution: try to do a deal with the members of the duma and hope that they could put a stop to the disorder.
Which option was picked?
Since they feared that soldiers could no longer be trusted, they decided on option two.
How did the abdication of the Tsar occur?
Tsar Nicholas II was on his way back to Petrograd from Mogilev when he learned that the route to the city was blocked by mutinous troops. Instead, he was diverted to the city of Pskov, where he was met by high ranking army officers and members of the duma. They suggested that, in order to save Russia, the Tsar should abdicate. There was a short discussion and the Tsar agreed. It was an astonishing anti-climax, and reveals how rapidly power had slipped out of the Tsar’s hands.
What happened to the Russian monarchy?
At first Nicholas considered handing over power to his son, the Tsarevich Alexsei. Due to Alexei being a haemophiliac (rare blood disorder), Nicholas instead offered to hand over power to his own brother, Grand Duke Michael. He declined and Russia became a republic. Hundreds of years of Tsarist rule had collapsed in a matter of days. This had not been planned by those who had persuaded the Tsar to abdicate. As with so much in the February Revolution, things just ran out of control and in directions that few could have predicted.
What did the Duma do?
The members of the duma formed themselves into a Provisional Government, which would govern Russia until a general election had taken place and a new government could be formed.
What was the goal of the general election?
Once this election had been held, the people’s representatives, forming a “Constituent Assembly” would then decide what kind of government Russia should have.
Finally, what happened to the Tsar in February?
The Tsar was finally sent to join his family outside Petrograd while the Provisional Government decided what to do with him.
The role of the revolutionary parties in the February Revolution
The surprising thing about the February Revolution is that it owed little to the revolutionary political groups, were caught by surprise by the sudden collapse of the rule of the Tsar. It was a revolution made on the streets, and the revolutionary parties had to run to catch up. Some of the leaders were in prison, some were in exile in Siberia, others in exile abroad. From his exile in Switzerland, Lenin could only follow the events back in Russia in the newspapers - with increasing frustration.
Petrograd and revolutionary parties in February
In Petrograd, it was only as things started to get out of control that some members of the revolutionary political groups helped organise protests - encouraging demonstrators and soldiers to rise up against the government of the Tsar and overthrow it.
Why was the Provisional Government set up?
After the Tsar had abdicated, the Pro Go acted as a temporary form of goverment until the next Constiuent Assembly.
What were the Pro Go’s first acts?
Release political and religous prisoners, promise full democratic elections, take over land belonging to the Tsar.
Why did the Pro Go carry on the war?
They needed the support of their western allies and they should fight on to achieve victory.
What was the ‘‘dual control”
When there were in fact two goverment in Russia the Pro Go and the Petrograd Soviet where they competed for power and stay in control.
How did the Petrograd Soviet interfere with the Pro Go.
The Petrograd controlled the railway system postal and telegraph services. These were key areas out of the PG’s control. Also through order number 1 which prevented full military control.
What was order number 1?
It is said that the army and the navy would only obey orders from the PG if the Petrograde Soviet approved.
Who was Kerensky?
Kerensky was in charge of the PG (along with Prince Lvov) until it was overthrown by the Bolsheviks.
What problems did the PG face?
They lacked legitmacy, the war crippled the economy and the dual power undermined their authority, failure to hold an election led to distrust.
How did order number one affect the PG ability to govern?
It meant that they could not impose their own rule or law without acceptance from the Petrograd Soviet and that they would have final say on all military matters.
What was the June offensive?
This was a huge failure for the PG and a failure for kKrensky and blow to Russian morale where there were over 200,000 Russian casualities and the Russian army driven backwards by the German forces.
What was the Kornilov revolt?
A point were Kornilov attempted to sieze power by invading Petrograd with brute force to restore discipline by destroying the Petrograd Soviet.
What were the efects of the Kornilov revolt?
Inceased popularity and influence of the Bolsheviks and people saw the Red Guard as protecting the revolution. Kerensky panicked and gave the Red Guard guns, Kerensky also released some important Bolshevik prisoners. Finally, many unhappy soldiers joined the Bolsheviks. The revolt and Kerensky’s reaction had given the Bolsheviks an army.
Why did the Kornilov Revolt fail?
Soliders were persuaded to desert and were no longer following orders, Petrograd workers defended the Petrograd Soviet. Railway workers disrupted the trains carrying soldiers to prevent Kornilov reaching the city.
What were the July days?
It was a protest againest the PG due to the June Offensive. On 3rd July, army units refusing to go to the front, supported by Petrograd factory workers and Kronstadt sailors marched on the Tauride Palace and demanded that the Petrograd Soviet take charge.
What was the Duma committee?
Tsar had ordered the duma to cease meeting and not re assemble until April. However, they ignored him and formed the Duma committee to work for political change and had formally established the PG after the abdication.
What is a soviet?
A committee of elected members representing workers, soldiers and peasants. They took charge of barracks, factories and farms.
How did the formation of soviets interfere with the PG?
Across the city, factory workers and mutinous army and naval untis elected reps to the new petrograd soviet and was becoming choatic.As the PG and petrograd
How did the petrograd soviet spread its ideas?
They had their own newspaper to do this called the “Izvestya”
When did Kerensky become in charge of the PG?
In 1917 after the failure of the June offensive in place of Prince Lvov.
What were the consequences of failing to hold an election?
Allowed to people to say that the PG lacked popular support and made it seem so they wanted to hold onto power creating distrust.
How did the PG fail to meet the peasants demands?
All the peasants wanted was more land and the PG failing to do so led to peasants siezing land by force and resented soldier sent by the PG to stop them. This also happened in July, 1917 and thousands of landowners were attacked and killed as peasants seized land across Russia.
Why did the PG not want to give land?
- It should wait for after a general election to make huge changes. 2. If land was redistributed soldiers would return from the front lines to get some. 3. The PG was afraid of Russia falling apart in violence and disorder.
Who was General Kornilov and what were his aims?
Kornilov had been made commander in chief with orders to restore discipline. He wanted to create a strong government and deafeat the revolutionary Petrograd Soviet.
What excuse did the Bolsheviks mention when seizing power from the PG?
When they seized power from the Provisional government in October 1917, they calimed they were doing so on behalf of the workers, peasant and soldiers of Russia.
Why did they condemn the Provisional Government?
For failing to reform Russia and take them out of war, which the bolsheviks were determined to do to show the people that they were capable of bringng these changes.
What was the Decree on Peace, November 1917?
The first decree passed by the All-Russian Congress of Soviets after the Bolsheviks had seized power.
What was the aim of the Decree on Peace?
It as called for all countries involved in the war to immediately begin peace negotiations and to create peace “without annextion and indemnities” (no country’s land to be seized by another or punish each other with huge fines).
Did the Decree on Peace increase support for the Bolsheviks?
Yes
What did the Bolsheviks hope that the decree on peace would do?
It might encourage German soldiers to begin their own Bolshevik style revolution and pread it across the country
Was the bolsheviks hope a success?
No, it did not happen
What was the Decree on Land, November 1917?
Distributing the land of ealthy landowners to the peasants.
