opposition to tsarist rule 14-17 Flashcards
1
Q
Influence of Rasputin
Feature 1:
Damaged reputation of royal family.
Feature 2:
Was running the Russian government poorly.
A
Supporting detail:
- because rasputin appeared to heal alexis, the Tsar’s son, they trusted Rasputin heavily.
- As a result, he had damaged the reputation heavily.
- Because of his strong influence, he was seen as a puppeteer; and the Tsarina looked like fools.
- Alexandra, being german, also was accused of having an affair with Rasputin- and that Rasputin was purposely making Russia lose the war by betraying military secrets.
- The royal court and those in government
Supporting detail:
- Because of the influence of Ras[utin, the tsarina appointed new ministers according to his recommendations
- Alexandra would send letters to Nicholas which would influence his plan of attack on germany. For example, advancing near Riga being “necessary”
- He would send armies to trenches without food
- Discontent of the Russian people exemplified when the public rejoiced at his execution.
2
Q
Causes of february revol.
A
- Industrial workers still endured terrible working conditions
- Many nationalities still wanted independences from the rule of the tsar
- Peasants struggled in conditions of terrible poverty
- Contempt for the Tsarina and the influence of rasputin on the Tsar
- Nicholas had left petrograd on 22 february to return to army headquarters, so he was not even in the capital to take charge of the situation.
- 25 february named the second bloody sunday; more than 50 people killed
- soldiers questioning their supreme leader, should they join the people?
International women’s day
- thousands of women marched in protest against bread shortages.
- joined the striking workers
- govt. Announced bread rationing again after a winter of food shortages- people became desperate.
- 250k ppl marched to protest
- number far more than police could control. Clashes between these demonstrators and the police and army that led to the February revolution
3
Q
Army Mutiny
Feature 1: Started when soldiers opened fire on a second Bloody Sunday.
Feature 2: Made the fall of the Tsar certain.
A
Supporting detail:
- 26 february, Soldiers of the Pavlovsky regiment learned about the shooting of more than 50 people by trainee soldiers from another Petrograd regiment
- Shocked that russians soldiers were shooting russian citizens
- refused to obey orders to fire on demonstrators
- resulted in a mutiny, a rebellion by soldiers against the orders of their officers
Supporting detail:
- With the involvement of the soldiers, the revolution had properly begun.
- Running battles were taking place against the police forces.
- the number of soldiers who mutinied and joined the protests reached 150,000, adding to the 250,000 already protesting.
- The police force in petrograd was not big enough to fight this.
- Although soldiers could have been called from other parts of russia to help defend petrograd, army commanders were certain they too would join the protests if they had the chance- the world war had tired them already.
4
Q
Abdication of the Tsar
Feature 1: Triggered by the army mutiny.
Feature 2: The Tsar did all he could to stay in power.
A
Supporting detail:
- Nicholas II received reports of the mutiny in Petrograd on the 27th of february.
- he would order General Ivanov to take troops to enforce order-
- army leaders however, worried that bringing more troops would result in a larger mutiny.
- Senior members of the duma then urged NIcholas to abdicate in order to save Russia from destruction.
Supporting detail:
- Before he abdicated, he called upon General Ivanov to take troops to the capital and enforce order. The Tsar also decided to travel there himself.
- Ivanov’s troops began to show signs of mutiny. As a result, Duma representatives would convince him to abdicate. Before he did so, he only agreed so long as his brother, Grand Duke Michael would replace him.
- ultimately it would be futile as Michael was warned that continuing the autocracy of the Tsar meant a civil war.
- Russia became a republic in spring 1917
5
Q
Provisional government
Feature 1: the provisional government had major weaknesses
Feature 2: it made a number of mistakes once it was setup
A
- “dual control” meant they had no control over certain areas of the government. This was due to the petrograd soviet for example, having control over the railway system and the post service.
- this made int very difficult for the government to increase transportation of food to the cities. -> the people therefore didn’t view the provisional government as a strong source of authority.
- “order number 1” meant petrograd soviet had the final say in military matters. Therefore, the provisional government couldn’t work effectively if their actions depended on another organisation
- Petrograd soviet was elected, but the P.G was not. It was made up of deputies who had been elected under the duma- however this happened under tsarism. This weakened the authority and the trust of the government.
Supporting detail:
- They were desperate to continue WW1, as it was relying on other allied countries to invest in Russia’s recovery.- most ordinary people simply wanted out of the war
- delayed elections: intended to call elections to the constituent assembly, but found general elections very difficult to organise. Additionally, lots of problems needed attention. This appeared as though they purposefully delayed elections to stay in power.
- Delaying reforms: Peasants wanted more land taken from landlords. P.G did not act on this- they believed land reform should be decided by the constituent assembly. The P.G actually had little authority elsewhere regardless.
- free speech meant people were openly criticising the provisional government
6
Q
Impact of the Petrograd Soviet 1917
Feature 1: Ruled alongside the Provisional Government under dual control.
Feature 2: Did not challenge the Provisional Government directly.
A
Supporting detail:
- Both the petrograd soviet and the provisional govt. Were worried about tsarist forces trying to take back control of Russia. The soviet therefore didn’t want to weaken the provisional government
- Petrograd soviet was run by Mensheviks and other marxists, who wanted a socialist revolution
- They believed, however, that there had to be a bourgeois phase in Russia before there could be a socialist revolution. The P.G was a bourgeois government, which was why the soviet supported it.
- Petrograd soviet kept itself out of the duma because it did not want to blamed for all the wrong things going on in Russia
Supporting detail:
- Petrograd soviet aimed to use its power to influence government policies to make sure they were int eh interest of ordinary people and soldiers
- many principles such as freedom for political prisoners and abolition of the police were demands from the P.S.
- Order number 1 was a problem for the prov govt. The government had no real control.
- Lenin used the petrograd soviet as a means of revolution. He believed that bolsheviks were ready for a bolshevik revolution. He would work to get control of the petrograd soviet executive- this would lead to the october revolution of 1917.
7
Q
April Theses
Feature 1:
Lenin declared an end to the Provisional Government.
Feature 2: Policies that appealed to a wide range of people.
A
Supporting detail:
- Proposed “ending all co-operation with the Provisional government and with any other party helping the provisional government” such as the mensheviks, and the SR party.
- proposed educating the workers and peasants sot aht they could see that all power must go to the soviets; the soviets must then take over state power from the P.G.
Supporting detail:
- He proposed a campaign to end the war; it was a war between capitalists that offered nothing to the proletariat, only death and suffering
- proposed landlords estates being given away to the peasants
- believed that industry should be controlled by the soviets, and that all banks should combine into one state bank.
8
Q
Growing support for the Bolsheviks
A
- The bolsheviks were successful in recruiting around 10,000 armed workers’ militias, called the red guards, to the party.
- They would be funded by Germany for their activities, they hoped Lenin’s plans would succeed, and Russia would pull out of the war.
- By June 1917, bolshevik newspapers appeared in most of russia’s industrial cities, strongly criticising the p.g.
- april theses provided a strong clear message to take into the factories, navy and army. Explained how the party would end the war- how it would govern the country for ordinary workers, not the wealthy
9
Q
July Days
- 3 and 7 july
Feature 1: Was started by frustrated anarchist revolutionaries.
Feature 2: Damaged the Bolsheviks.
A
Supporting detail:
- Because of continuing shortages, complete failure of the june offensive with over 2 million soldiers deserted, effective bolshevik propaganda, anarchist revolutionaries convinced soldiers to join an anti government demonstration.
- THe bolsheviks initially tried to prevent this demonstration, but then decided it had come the time to unite those who supported anti government
Supporting detail:
- However, the petrograd soviet did not support the demonstration; other parties in the soviet did not trust the bolsheviks
- Soviet leadership met with leaders of the provisional government and agreed to work together.
- A thunderstorm on 4 July dispersed the crowds. On 5 July, the government brought troops back from the front and asked them to surround Bolshevik headquarters. - Trotsky and hundreds other bolsheviks were arrested
- Lenin would flee to Finland.
10
Q
Kornilov Revolt
Feature 1: Started when Kornilov wanted too much power.
Feature 2: Kerensky and Provisional Government restored control with Bolshevik help.
A
Supporting detail:
- Kornilov wanted Kerensky to introduce martial law and break the power of the soviets. Many of Russia’s middle class supported this- they feared workers seizing their homes, businesses and belongings.
- Kerensky saw this as a challenge to his leadership and dismissed him
- Kornilov sent troops to petrograd anyways
- In fear of Kornilov taking power, Kerensky approached the Petrograd soviet to defend the city.
- Kornilov was arrested on 1 september
Supporting detail:
- Alexander Kerensky had taken a lot of the credit for putting down the july days uprising
- accused members of the Bolshevik leadership of being german spies
- Kerensky planned to restore discipline in the army. He elected General Kornilov to maintain control
11
Q
Bolshevik Takeover October 1917
Feature 1: Lenin was instrumental to its success.
Feature 2: Organised by Trotsky.
A
Supporting detail:
- Lenin would return to russia from finland. He would put forward a case for an armed takeover of power
- On 26 october, Lenin would form a Bolshevik government called the Council of People’s commissars
- April theses introduced radical thinking. “Peace land and bread” were simple but effective slogans which made a lot of sense to ordinary russians
- Senior Bolsheviks could not agree on the best way to seize power. Lenin however, convinced other Bolsheviks that the time was right to seize power by force, and developed the strategy to make this a success
Supporting detail:
- Trotsky was the one who organised the Bolshevik takeover of power in petrograd, following Lenin’s strategy.
- In comparison to Moscow’s unorganised attempts and taking over, Trotsky organised a plan in petrograd meant there was very little opposition, and troops would be used effectively.
- HIs brilliant speeches were very important in the increase in support for the Bolsheviks once he joined the party in 1917.
- Trotsky’s role as president of the Petrograd Soviet gave the BOlsheviks control of the MIlitary revolutionary committee
12
Q
Role of Lenin October 1917
Feature 1: Decided to act in October.
A
Supporting detail:
- Lenin would return to russia from finland. He would put forward a case for an armed takeover of power
- On 26 october, Lenin would form a Bolshevik government called the Council of People’s commissars
- April theses introduced radical thinking. “Peace land and bread” were simple but effective slogans which made a lot of sense to ordinary russians
- Senior Bolsheviks could not agree on the best way to seize power. Lenin however, convinced other Bolsheviks that the time was right to seize power by force, and developed the strategy to make this a success
13
Q
Role of Trotsky October 1917
Feature 1: Gave the revolution legitimacy
A
Supporting detail:
- Trotsky was the one who organised the Bolshevik takeover of power in petrograd, following Lenin’s strategy.
- In comparison to Moscow’s unorganised attempts and taking over, Trotsky organised a plan in petrograd meant there was very little opposition, and troops would be used effectively.
- HIs brilliant speeches were very important in the increase in support for the Bolsheviks once he joined the party in 1917.
- Trotsky’s role as president of the Petrograd Soviet gave the BOlsheviks control of the MIlitary revolutionary committee
