Reasons for the Tsars Abdication

Question 1

World war 1 and defeats

Answer 1

• Had very inexperienced soldiers and officer since many were appointed from being aristocrats so tactics were useless
• 1/3 of army had no guns so had to pick up from dead people - industry couldn’t produce enough.
• Had serious defeats : 1914 battle plans uncoded over radio and suffered 30,000 deaths
• battle at Tannenberg took 100,000 prisoners
• Generals refused to work with each other
• by 1914 1/4 of Russian army killed / captured etc so they sent out second levy who were untrained farmers etc.
• By 1915 Russia retreated loosing troops ( 2 mill troops dead or imprisoned.
• Tsar now took fall control

Question 2

World war 1 and defeats result

Answer 2

• Russian people back at Russia stop supporting tsar questioning his authority to rule.
• since the second levy weren’t as indoctrinate less likely to turn against him
• Now he is at the front he is TOTALLY RESPONSIBLE to blame
• By end of war 1.7 mill dead , 8 mill casualties and Tsar is to blame for the defeats and outcome showing proof of him not being worthy of status.
• the justification too get rid of him / final straw / without a doubt his fault / all blame on him.

Question 3

Economic dislocation due to WW1

Answer 3

• since peasants brought to city for 2nd Levey and to help make guns etc , less food is produced and since agriculture is backwards its even slower causing food shortages.
• living conditions were awful and since more peasants coming to city it made it worse - no trade unions- need for more weapons meant longer hours , tiredness and injury as a result.
• cost of war exceeds to 3 billion rouble ( exp up inc down)
• banned vodka which was 30% of gov avenue so workers etc wouldn’t be drunk.
• lost trade since it used to be with Germany now at war - lost export since turkey sided with Germany only way was through there.
• hyper inflation

Question 4

Economic dislocation due to WW1 results.

Answer 4

• workers now strike and rapid increase of discontent growing
  protests about food
  -Wc in cities getting angrier at Tsar as he was the one who declared the war
• long term effects before combined with war.

Question 5

Tsar himself

Answer 5

• takes control of the army taking all responsibility
• Belief in divine right and that he was chosen by god meant that he had to take charge but leaves wife in charge - she has no exp of ruling
• she’s of German birth so doesn’t fit well with the Russians.
• relies on Rasputin and decisions made causes mass unstableness
• Refused to co - operate with progressive bloc
  and duma who wanted to stop revolution. they caused his abdication in the end.
• he looses support from aristocracy
• no understanding or influence since out of touch from Russia
• refused working with PB who only wanted reformation/ not flexible / arrogant / strong belief in divine right.

Question 6

Rasputin - escape goat to blame.

Answer 6

• was a trusted member of royal court from healing actions for tsars son
• gave spiritual help to aristocracy and prostitutes for sexual desires.
• Tsarina turns to Rasputin for help - abuses position effecting Gov succession of ministers
• letters leaked and rumours spiralled of tsarina and Rasputin together (song)
• pamphlets circulated saying tsar and wife controlled by Rasputin - questions their eight to rule
• gov unstable as incompetent minsters selected causing aristocracy to question tsar.

Question 7

opposition in duma

Answer 7

• Duma reassembled in 1915
• demanded a ministry of national confidence instead of his cabinet
• members from duma form progressive bloc who wanted reform - freedom of speech , ctrl of police , and competent minsters but wanted to work together avoiding rev.
• in 1917 Rodzianko warned unrest is imminent blaming tsarina for discharging minster and that the refusal of PB meant unrest was closer

Question 8

opposition in duma result

Answer 8

• loosing support for him (duma)
• ignoring PB shows how inflexible he is to make changed .
• Tsar too indoctrinated by divine right he doesn’t indulge in conversation.
• since he refuses to work with PB unrest in Petrograd and many strikes & protests about food shortages - needs to change attitude or else.
• on way back Tsar is stopped at railway station by soldiers
• since so inflexible members of duma go out and demand he abdicate forcing most loyal supporters to go against him and enforce him to resign.