Nicholas post 1914 Flashcards
What were some of the reasons Nicholas II had to abdicate?
-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
What were reasons that the First world war was so detrimental to the Tsar’s downfall?
-Military failures
-Difficult living conditions due to war
-Role of the Tsarina and Rasputin
-His failure to make political reforms
How did Military failures during WWI contribute to the downfall of Tsar Nicholas?
-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
How did Difficult living conditions during WW1 contribute to the downfall of Tsar Nicholas?
- 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
How did the Tsar’s failure to make political reforms during the war contribute to his downfall in 1917?
-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
How did the Role of the Tsarina and Rasputin contribute to the downfall of Tsar Nicholas?
-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
How did the Tsar contribute to his own downfall in 1917?
-Personality and leadership
-Attitude to political change
-Reform
-Misjudgements and mistakes
How did the Tsar’s Personality and leadership contribute to his downfall in 1917?
-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
How did the Tsar’s attitude to political change contribute to his downfall in 1917?
-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
How did the Tsar’s attitude to reform contribute to his downfall in 1917?
-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
How did the Tsar’s Misjudgements and mistakes contribute to his downfall in 1917?
-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
When did Nicholas II go to the front lines?
1915
When did Nicholas reject the proposals of the Progressive Bloc?
1916
How many losses were there in WW1 for the Russians?
1.5million dead
What was the Russian Army like in 1916?
-Commanders and veteran soldiers = well equipped
-Pre-war army = mostly gone
-Higher proportion of older soldiers with no experience
-Brusilov offensive damaged moral
What happened at the Battle of Tannenberg in 1914?
-Russians took heavy losses
-Driven back
-Long retreat through 1915 due to this
What happened in the August of 1915 due to the war?
-Russia forced out of Poland Lithuania and Latvia
How many Russians were killed between May and December 1915 due to the war?
1 million
What happened at the Brusilov offensive in the Summer of 1916?
-general Brusilov launched a brilliant offensive
-Austrians were on their knees due to the offensive
-But Germans came and pushed back the Russians
What was the percentage growth in artillery and rifle output?
1000%
By 1916 were the Russians matching the Germans in shell production?
Yes
What happened to the number of strikes in February of 1917?
Increased dramatically ( No. of those on strike went from 100,000 on the 14th to 316,000 by the 27th)
What happened on Monday the 14th of February 1917?
-58 factories > on strike in Petrograd
-News that bread would be rationed from the 1st of march
-Violent exchanges > police struggle to keep order
What happened on Wednesday the 22nd of February 1917?
-20,000 workers leave Putilov iron works after pay talks collapse
What happened on Thursday the 23rd of February 1917?
-International women’s day
-50 factories closed
-workers join women’s march
-240,000 on the street
What happened on Friday the 24th of February 1917?
-Crowds > overturn tsarist statues
-Revolutionary slogans > “La Marseille” was sung > red banners
What happened on Saturday the 25th of February 1917?
-Over half of capitals work force on strike
-Police chief shot and beaten
-Band of civilians > killed by soldiers
-Cossacks refuse to attack
What happened on Sunday the 26th of February 1917?
-Duma president sends Tsar a telegram
-troops firing at each other
-Popular discontent
What happened on Monday the 27th of February 1917?
-Use of military force
-40 deaths
-Volynskii regiment sergeant shoots a commander
-Army turns to protest
What happened on Tuesday the 28th of February 1917?
-Tsar offers to share power with Duma > Duma rejects