Nicholas post 1914 Flashcards

1
Q

What were some of the reasons Nicholas II had to abdicate?

A

-The war > the workers’ strikes, becoming commander in chief.
-Rasputin and his relationship with Tsar and Tsarina
-Economic distress and mismanagement
-People wanting more democracy

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2
Q

What were reasons that the First world war was so detrimental to the Tsar’s downfall?

A

-Military failures
-Difficult living conditions due to war
-Role of the Tsarina and Rasputin
-His failure to make political reforms

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3
Q

How did Military failures during WWI contribute to the downfall of Tsar Nicholas?

A

-A huge No. of Russians were killed in 1914 and 1915
-Disillusionment and anger about the way the tsar and govt were conducting the war

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4
Q

How did Difficult living conditions during WW1 contribute to the downfall of Tsar Nicholas?

A
  • war > acute distress in major cities > Petrograd and Moscow
    -Disruption of supplies > food, goods, raw materials > short supply
    -Prices rocketed and inflation was rampant
    -Lack of fuel > cold swell as hungry
    -Urban workers = hostile to Tsarist govt
    -Peasants became angry about conscription of all young men who rarely came back from the front
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5
Q

How did the Tsar’s failure to make political reforms during the war contribute to his downfall in 1917?

A

-Had chances to make concessions to political reform > may have saved him
-Could’ve had a constitutional monarchy > taken pressures off of the Tsar
-Duma > fully behind the Tsar in the war
-The ‘Progressive Bloc’ group emerged > suggested Tsar establish a govt of public confidence - meant letting them run the country > he rejected and retained autocracy

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6
Q

How did the Role of the Tsarina and Rasputin contribute to the downfall of Tsar Nicholas?

A

-Tsarina and Rasputin > left in charge of govt
-They made a terrible mess of the country > dismissed ministers frequently
-Cities deteriorated quickly > Food and fuel were in short supply
-Circulations of mockery cartoons of the Tsarina and Rasputin in bed > credited the tsar for putting them in charge
-Beginning of 1917 > few prepared to defend him

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7
Q

How did the Tsar contribute to his own downfall in 1917?

A

-Personality and leadership
-Attitude to political change
-Reform
-Misjudgements and mistakes

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8
Q

How did the Tsar’s Personality and leadership contribute to his downfall in 1917?

A

-Weak but obstinate, indecisive and lack of world knowledge
-did not have the skills or capabilities to rule
-Repression was his main weapon
-relied on the army as a police force

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9
Q

How did the Tsar’s attitude to political change contribute to his downfall in 1917?

A

-Resisted all forms of change pre 1905 > believer in autocracy > not keen on Zemstva or local govt.
-October Manifesto 1905 > never committed to it > missed opportunity to bring liberal intelligentsia to his side
-Did not want Dumas or representative body > fundamental laws
-No cooperation with Dumas 1906-1914 or with progressive Bloc during the war

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10
Q

How did the Tsar’s attitude to reform contribute to his downfall in 1917?

A

-Never supported Witte’s or Stolypins reforms > Didn’t want changes in society
-Wanted to protect > court power, landowning classes’ power > sided with right-wing groups that resisted reform
-Resisted extension Zemstva to western provinces
-No real concessions to workers > working hours and conditions > rejected trade unions or bodies representing workers

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11
Q

How did the Tsar’s Misjudgements and mistakes contribute to his downfall in 1917?

A

-Failed to see the seriousness of situation building in 1904 > blind to demands of liberals and workers > Bloody Sunday 1905 = loss of respect for Tsar \
-Appointment of nonentities to run govt after Stolypins death
-Support for Rasputin’s damaged royal family rep
-Going to the front line 1915 > personal responsibility for war
-rejecting proposals of the Progressive Bloc in 1916

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12
Q

When did Nicholas II go to the front lines?

A

1915

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13
Q

When did Nicholas reject the proposals of the Progressive Bloc?

A

1916

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14
Q

How many losses were there in WW1 for the Russians?

A

1.5million dead

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15
Q

What was the Russian Army like in 1916?

A

-Commanders and veteran soldiers = well equipped
-Pre-war army = mostly gone
-Higher proportion of older soldiers with no experience
-Brusilov offensive damaged moral

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16
Q

What happened at the Battle of Tannenberg in 1914?

A

-Russians took heavy losses
-Driven back
-Long retreat through 1915 due to this

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17
Q

What happened in the August of 1915 due to the war?

A

-Russia forced out of Poland Lithuania and Latvia

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18
Q

How many Russians were killed between May and December 1915 due to the war?

A

1 million

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19
Q

What happened at the Brusilov offensive in the Summer of 1916?

A

-general Brusilov launched a brilliant offensive
-Austrians were on their knees due to the offensive
-But Germans came and pushed back the Russians

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20
Q

What was the percentage growth in artillery and rifle output?

A

1000%

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21
Q

By 1916 were the Russians matching the Germans in shell production?

A

Yes

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22
Q

What happened to the number of strikes in February of 1917?

A

Increased dramatically ( No. of those on strike went from 100,000 on the 14th to 316,000 by the 27th)

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23
Q

What happened on Monday the 14th of February 1917?

A

-58 factories > on strike in Petrograd
-News that bread would be rationed from the 1st of march
-Violent exchanges > police struggle to keep order

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24
Q

What happened on Wednesday the 22nd of February 1917?

A

-20,000 workers leave Putilov iron works after pay talks collapse

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25
Q

What happened on Thursday the 23rd of February 1917?

A

-International women’s day
-50 factories closed
-workers join women’s march
-240,000 on the street

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26
Q

What happened on Friday the 24th of February 1917?

A

-Crowds > overturn tsarist statues
-Revolutionary slogans > “La Marseille” was sung > red banners

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27
Q

What happened on Saturday the 25th of February 1917?

A

-Over half of capitals work force on strike
-Police chief shot and beaten
-Band of civilians > killed by soldiers
-Cossacks refuse to attack

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28
Q

What happened on Sunday the 26th of February 1917?

A

-Duma president sends Tsar a telegram
-troops firing at each other
-Popular discontent

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29
Q

What happened on Monday the 27th of February 1917?

A

-Use of military force
-40 deaths
-Volynskii regiment sergeant shoots a commander
-Army turns to protest

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30
Q

What happened on Tuesday the 28th of February 1917?

A

-Tsar offers to share power with Duma > Duma rejects

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31
Q

Why did the Army support the 1917 revolution?

A

-Army in 1917 > very different to the one at the beginning of 1914
-14 million men mobilised in war > half had been killed, wounded or taken prisoner
-Fundamental change within the army
-At the beginning of 1917, the generals considered Nicholas was a liability > happy to see him go > although still wanted to retain the monarchy
-Army > more sympathetic to the people > unwilling to suppress disorders > generals played a large role in suppressing orders

32
Q

What was the death toll of the February revolution?

A

-1500
-7000 injured

33
Q

What was Order Number One?

A

-A Charter of Soldiers’ Rights>

34
Q

What happened at the Petrograd Soviet?

A

-Order Number One

35
Q

What did Order Number Once promise?

A

-Units in the army to elect a deputy to the Soviet> agree political control of the Petrograd Soviet
-Military commission of the Duma to be obeyed
-All weapons > controlled by elected soldier’s committees > not officers
-All soldiers enjoy full citizens’ rights when off duty > no requirement to salute
-No honorific titles to be used for officers

36
Q

What was the dual authority?

A

-The soviet 27th February
-the Provisional govt 2nd March

37
Q

Who made up the Provisional government?

A

-Largely leading figures of various liberal parties
-Dominated by the Kadets and their leader Milyutov > Foreign Minister
-One socialist Minister (Kerensky) > Minister of Justice

38
Q

How was the body of the Provisional govt formed?

A

-Had been chosen by a committee of the Duma > not elected by the people.

39
Q

What powers did the Provisional govt have?

A

-Could not do anything without support from the Soviets
-Supported by the Middle class
-Had power over the army, the land, National determination
-No control over the economy

40
Q

Who made up the the Soviets?

A

-Workers
-soldiers
-Socialists > mainly Mensheviks and SR’s

41
Q

How was the body of The Soviets formed?

A

-Socialist intellectuals formed the leadership of the Soviets

42
Q

What powers did the Soviets have?

A

-Order Number One > Soviet stronger power in the dual government

43
Q

Why did the Soviet not take power when it had the opportunity?

A

-Marxist theory stated there would have to be a bourgeoise revolution.
-There were no Bolsheviks

44
Q

Why did the Soviets cooperate with the provisional govt?

A

-There was conflict between the left and the right
-left > Pro communism
-Right > Pro Tsar

45
Q

How did the Provisional govt deal with the war?

A

-Reform of may 5th > New coalition govt > 5 soviets joined > Menshevik leader amd Chernov joined

46
Q

How successful was the Provisional govt approach to the war?

A

-The Menshevik leader and SR leader would be associated with the war effort and could risk being criticised and losing support

47
Q

What was the Summer offensive and when was it?

A

-1917
-A major offensive on the Germans
-The offensive went ahead even though the socialists and Kadets did not agree with it
-Terrirtory was lost

48
Q

How successful was the Provisional govt approach to the Summer Offensive?

A

-The moderate socialist leaders in the govt lost their credibility with the soldiers and the workers

49
Q

What were the issues with the land?

A

-Significant unrest in the countryside.
-Peasants wanted more land > collapse of central authority meant no one stopped them

50
Q

How did the Provisional govt deal with the issues of land?

A

-Could not come to an agreement on what to do

51
Q

How successful was the Provisional govt in dealing with the issues regarding land?

A

-Peasants took land with or without consent

52
Q

What were the National minority demands of the provisional govt?

A

-Finns and Poles called out for outright independence.
-Ukraine wanted independence

53
Q

How did the Provisional govt deal with the National minority demands?

A

-The govt made concessions to the Ukranians wanting self-governed govt

54
Q

How successful was the Provisional govt in dealing with the demands of the National minorities?

A

-Liberals saw this as the break up of Russia

55
Q

How did the Provisional govt deal with the deteriorating economic situation?

A

-In August 1917 the govt increased the price it paid for grain by 100%
-Sent out punishment brigades into the countryside to requisition grain
-govt couldn’t do anything against how the resources were channeled towards the war

56
Q

How successful was the Provisional govt in dealing with the deteriorating economic situation?

A

-Did not persuade peasants to bring grain to the cities as there were goods for sale but at an inflated price
-Made peasants hostile
-increasingly unable to meet the needs of the workers

57
Q

What were the mistakes made by Kerensky that impacted the provisional govt?

A

-Decided to launch an offensive against Germany in June
-The Kornilov coup undermined the relationship of the army and the provisional govt

58
Q

What were other factors towards why the Bolsheviks were successful in October 1917?

A

-Moderate socialists lost contact with their supporters > the workers and the socialists
-The govt failed to call the Constituent assembly early enough
-Kadets moved further to the right and became identified with reactionary military officers, industrialists and landowners

59
Q

How did Bolshevik policies strengthen their position in 1917?

A

-Opposed the Prov govt and urged its overthrow > Opposition to the Prov govt then became concentrated around the Bolsheviks
-Only party that opposed continuing the war > increased popularity
-Secured the tacit > support of the peasants with the promise of land distribution
-Radical policies were in tune with worker’s and soldier’s aspirations

60
Q

How did the Bolshevik party itself enable the Bolsheviks to be successful in 1917?

A

-Role of lenin > determined leadership > he could force through key policy decisions > April thesis
-Organisation was better than that of the other parties > broadly followed directives from the party leadership
-Trotsky’s role in persuading Lenin to postpone the date of the uprising > good tactic to use the All-Russian congress of soviets as the vehicle to seize power

61
Q

What slogan did the Bolsheviks utilise in 1917?

A

“Peace, Bread and All power to the Soviets”

62
Q

How can luck be seen to enable the Bolsheviks to be successful in 1917?

A

-the military and economic collapse in September and October offered a unique opportunity > The army was not in a position to do much > hunger was an important factor
-Radicalised workers who favoured soviet power were prepared to support
-Kerensky played into the Bolsheviks hand > half-hearted attempt to counter the uprising

63
Q

What was the April thesis?

A

-called for a worldwide socialist revolution
-“Peace, Bread and Land” > main concept

64
Q

How did weak opposition enable the Bolsheviks to stay in power?

A

-Opposition > unable to coordinate action against the govt > power of the soviet declined > no serious contender on the left to challenge their power

65
Q

How did political misjudgements enable the Bolsheviks to stay in power?

A

-SRs and Mensheviks > did not take action > though the Bolsheviks would collapse quickly and the constituent assembly would triumph
-Underestimated the Bolsheviks ability to survive

66
Q

How did the collapse of the army enable the Bolsheviks to stay in power?

A

-Meant officers and conservative forces could not count on any local troops to attack the Bolsheviks

67
Q

How did the workers and the peasants being distracted enable the Bolsheviks to stay in power?

A

-Declining living conditions and disillusion with revolution > difficult to rouse anyone for action

68
Q

How did attacks on opposition enable the Bolsheviks to stay in power?

A

-closed down the opposition press
-arrested key figures in other political parties
-closed down the constituent assembly before it could get underway
-Set up the Cheka to make arrests and deal with demonstrators and protestors

69
Q

How did the use of class warfare enable the Bolsheviks to stay in power?

A

-Deflecting antagonism onto the bourgeoisie
-Brought support from large sections of the working class who revelled in turning the tables on the rich and wealthy

70
Q

How did concessions to urban workers and peasants enable the Bolsheviks to stay in power?

A

-Lenin originally gave them what they wanted > real gains for these people in the October revolution

71
Q

What decrees were issued by the Sovnarkom in October 1917?

A

-Maximum 8-hour day for workers
-Social insurance to be introduced
-Opposition press banned
-Decree on peace
-Decree on land

72
Q

What decrees were issued by the Sovnarkom in November 1917?

A

-Right of self-determination granted to all parts of the former Russian empire
-Abolition of titles and class distinctions
-Workers to control factories
-Abolition of justice system
-Women declared equal to men and able to own property

73
Q

What decrees were issued by the Sovnarkom in December 1917?

A

-CHEKA set up
-Banks nationalised
-Democratisation of army > officers to be elected, army to be controlled by army soviets and soldiers’ committees, abolition of ranks, saluting and decorations
-Marriage and divorce > civil matters no longer linked to the church
-Church land nationalised

74
Q

What decrees were issued by the Sovnarkom in January 1918?

A

-Workers’ control of railways
-Creation of the Red army
-Church and state separated

75
Q

What decrees were issued by the Sovnarkom in February 1918?

A

-Nationalisation of industry
-Socialisation of land

76
Q

What were the terms of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk March 1918 ?

A

-Finland remained an independent state > and defeated a Bolshevik uprising with the help of the Germans
-Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania became independent republics
-Russian-held land in Poland became independent
-Germans set up semi-independent govt in Belarus, Ukraine and Georgia

77
Q

What did Russia lose as a result of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?

A

-62million people > 1/6 of the population
-27% of farmland
-26% of Railway lines
-74% of Iron ore and coal reserves