Opposition to Tsarist rule 1914-17: the impact of war and the February Revolution

Question 1

Explain how Russia was affected by the First World War.

Answer 1

• Factories and fields had less workers/farmers
• Railway system failed to cope with the war
• Inadequate supplies to the front
• Food shortages in the towns
• Coal shortages leading to power failures
• Food and material shortages
• Food prices rose
• Russia lost many battles.
• The Germans and Austrians pushed deep into Russia. In the Spring of 1915 they invaded 300 miles into Russia.
• Heavy casualties. In 1914 the Battle of Tannenberg resulted in 90,000 surrendered Russians and the next week the Battle of the Masurian Lakes resulted in the death of 100,000 Russians. In 1916 the Brusilov Offensive ended in failure. It killed 1,000,000 Russian troops.
• The war resulted in condemnation of the Tsar
• The Tsar left to take personal command of the army in August 1915, leaving a weak government under the control of his inexperienced and incompetent wife. He refused to choose new ministers for the Duma. His wife relied too heavily on Rasputin up until his death in December 1916. She dismissed sound ministers and replaced them with officials who weren’t able to cope with the demands of war. Alexandra was also unpopular as she was German herself. Mistakes thanks to her would’ve no doubt looked almost like sabotage.
• Many new jobs were created in armament factories and on the railways
• Peasants left the countryside to work in cities and towns
• There was hunger and discontent
• The German-sounding Saint Petersburg was changed to Petrograd
• The winter of 1916-17 caused fuel shortages and food shortages.

Question 2

Explain the causes of the February Revolution of 1917.

Answer 2

• Long-term problems included the difficulties of ruling Russia, the weakness of the Tsar and the large discontent.
• Short-term problems included the Tsar’s failure to learn from the mistakes of 1905 and allow the Duma any power.
• An exceptionally cold winter meant trains couldn’t run, causing even greater shortages of food and fuel. The Tsar and his wife ignored frequent warnings from the Duma and their own secret police.

Question 3

Outline the events of the February Revolution.

Answer 3

On the 23rd of February 22,000 workers were locked out after a breakdown of pay talks. Other workers strike in support of them. On the 24th, women, who were now demonstrate, calling for bread. More workers go on strike. Large crowds appear, striking for food or for better pay, these are dispersed and even shot at by the army. On the 27th of February troops fired on the crowds, killing 40 and thee President of the Duma advised the Tsar to form a new government urgently. The Tsar ordered the Duma to stop meeting. By the 26th of February 250,000 workers are on strike in Petrograd.

On the 28th soldiers began mutinying and refused to fire on the striking crowds. They formed the Petrograd Soviet and the Duma set up a Provisional Government. The Tsar attempted to return to Petrograd on the 1st of March, but his Generals told him that they’d no longer support him. This was the killing blow for him; without his army to back him, he had no power. The Tsar abdicated in favour of his brother on the 3rd of March 1917, but his brother refused.

Question 4

Explain why the Tsar had to abdicate.

Answer 4

The war was certainly a large reason for his abdication. Defeats undermined the army, and economic problems alienated much of the population. Lack of food and shortage of fuel and materials meant that people froze or starved to death. War production meant that there were fewer consumer goods and the railway system couldn’t cope with the war. Couple this with the winter of 1916-17 and there were huge shortages across Russia. Furthermore, many men had gone off to fight in the war meaning that there were less workers which meant less output.

However, we may also argue that Russia was already unstable and that the war merely hastened the process that was already starting to occur. Peasant unrest because of land shortages, workers unrest because of low wages, long hours and poor living conditions were long-standing issues. The middle class and some nobles had also been stressing political reform, but the Tsar refused to dilute his power and hand off chunks to the civilian population. Revolutionaries had also been working in Russia for many years, even assassinating the former Tsar in 1881. The Tsar was an indecisive leader who loved his power and relied heavily upon the advice of his wife and the support of his Secret Police and army. His wife being German and his links with Rasputin did not help his reputation either. The revolutionaries he repressed, the intellectuals he refused to listen to and the workers he mistreated and allowed to be misrepresented all wanted change, and for most of them that meant deposing the Tsar and toppling his autocratic regime.

Question 5

Explain two features of Rasputin’s influence.

Answer 5

Rasputin had increasingly more influence over the Tsar and Tsarina. They believed he possessed magical powers of healing, seemingly healing their son of his haemophilia temporarily.

Rasputin was able to influence the conduct of government when the Tsar left to command his army. He is alleged to have influenced the Tsarina in the sacking and appointing of several government ministers. This wouldn’t be an issue if he was a competent leader, which he wasn’t. Under his influence the government became more corrupt and unable to perform its functions.