Russia Flashcards
Why were the peasants, workers, liberals, nationalities, and radicals unhappy by the way Russia was governed by giving the tsarist regime.
(refer to only two urban middle classes)
- Peasants did not have enough land.
- Workers lived in terrible conditions.
- Liberals did not have much political freedoms.
- Nationalities did not have independence from the empire.
- Radicals wanted the overthrow of the regime, revolution.
Who supported the tsarist regime?
1) The army
2) The Okhrana
3) Conservatives
4) The Church
What did the peasants believe was the answer to their poverty?
More land.
What happened in 1905 with the peasants?
peasants were burning down landowner houses and taking landowner land. Brutal repression by the army had been used to end the unrest.
What were the different groups in Russia that wanted change, and what exactly did they want?
Radicals - wanted to overthrow the tsarist regime and the ruling classes. Liberals - wanted more political freedoms to prevent revolution. Conservatives - wanted to defend the interests of the gentry. Ultra nationalities - wanted to protect the Russian Empire. Social Revolutionaries (SR's) - wanted a new society based on the peasant commune. Social Democrats (SD's) were followers of Karl Marx. They were divided into: - the Bolsheviks who believed they could lead the workers in revolution and help create communism on their behalf. - the Mensheviks who thought communism in Russia was a long way off because it was not yet industrialised.
Who was Karl Marx?
Karl Marx was a German writer who died in 1883. He predicted the workers would lead a revolution to create a communist society where everyone was equal.
Why was Russia defeated in the First World War?
Military defeats - Although Russia had the world’s largest army in 1914, it was poorly led and badly equipped. The German generals were able to move their well-equipped and well trained men around on an efficient railway network, then strike at the Russians where they were most vulnerable. By 1917, large areas of the western Russian empire had been lost to Germany.
What were the economic effects of the war?
1) Germany blocked Russia’s trade routes, factories were starved of raw materials and economic activity dropped. Taxes had to rise to help pay for the cost of the war.
2) To raise more money, the government arranged loans from its allies, increasing Russia’s national debt.
3) The government printed more to money to pay for the war. Inflation pushed up prices twice as fast as wages.
What were the political effects of war?
1) The Duma (Russian Parliament) had supported the at first but, as the crisis deepened, Duma deputies criticised the failures of the tsar’s ministers.
2) In 1915, the Duma requested that the tsar replace his ministers with new ones supported by the Duma.
3) The tsar refused to share any power with the Duma. In response, the Duma became a centre of opposition to the tsar’s government.
What were the social effects of the war?
- The conscription of 15 million peasant men and their horses to fight meant food production dropped. The army requisitioned peasant crops and horses as well as prioritising the railway for the army. These factors meant there was less food for city populations as well as the countryside, leading to hunger and suffering.
- Possibly as many as 6 million refugees fled German occupation in the west. The government struggled to find them housing and food. Nationalist tensions increased.
- Economic problems meant many factory closures and job losses. Unemployment and food shortages meant growing social unrest.
How did the tsar become commander-in-chief?
1) In August 1915, the tsar decided to take command of the Russian armed armed forces as commander-in-chief.
2) His ministers warned him that this was a huge risk. The Russians people would blame the tsar directly for any further defeats.
3) The tsar left Petrograd in September 1915 to move to army headquarters. He left his German wife, Tsarina Alexandra, as his regent - head of state in his absence.
4) His actions lost him the respect of the military elite and the nobility - he had no military training and was away at war rather than in the capital.
Why did the February revolution in 1917 occur?
A mixture of long-term discontent with the government and short-term triggers, such as food shortages and demoralisation of the army.
What led to the Tsar’s abdication?
1) The tsar’s absence - On 22 February, Nicholas left Petrograd for army headquarters 780 km away, totally unaware of the rapidly growing crisis. On 25 February, Nicholas sent an order to the police and army in Petrograd to end the unrest immediately.
2) The tsarina’s rule - As a regent, Tsarina Alexandra was unpopular with the people and with the Duma. She relied on the dubious advice of her friend, the mystical healer Rasputin, on how to govern, rather than the Duma. This infuriated the Duma who felt the tsarina should not be allowed to govern.
The February Revolution: triggers for revolt..?
1) The tsar being away from Petrograd.
2) Contempt for the tsarina.
3) Mutiny in the army.
4) Unusually mild winter weather.
5) Demonstrations in support of the Duma.
6) The International Women’s Day March.
7) Announcement of bread rationing.
8) Food Shortages.
What was the Provisional Government made up of?
Politicians from a mix of parties, but most were either liberals or radical SRs. Its first acts included:
1) releasing political and religious prisoners
2) promising full democratic freedom
3) ending the death penalty
4) taking over land belonging to the tsar
5) transferring power to zemstvos
The Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet
1) At the same time as some Duma deputies were forming the Duma Committee, revolutionary groups were setting up the Petrograd Soviet.
2) Across Petrograd, workers, soldiers and sailors elected representatives to the the Soviet.
3) When the tsar abdicated, 12 members of the Duma Committee formed the Provisional Government.
4) The Provisional Government was set up with the approval of the Petrograd Soviet.
5) The Petrograd Soviet’s executive and the Provisional Government held meetings in the same place.
What were the eight principles the Provisional government had to follow for the Petrograd Soviet to agree to support them?
1) Amnesty for all political prisoners.
2) Freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, right to strike.
3) No privileges of class, religion or nationality.
4) Elections for a Constituent Assembly.
5) Elected people’s militia to replace all police units.
6) Local government to be elected.
7) Military units that took part in the revolution to stay together. keep weapons and not be sent to the front.
8) Off-duty soldiers to have same rights as citizens.
Who was Alexander Kerensky?
Kerensky was a member of both the Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet and liaised between them. When he became leader of the Provisional Government in July 1917, he made some crucial mistakes that included:
1) Him continuing to support the war, which angered ordinary soldiers.
2) Him acting against the old ruling classes, which lost him support from conservatives.
3) His failure to control the Bolsheviks.
What was known as a time of dual power?
The period in which the Provisional Government and the network of soviets (headed by the Petrograd Soviet) were both trying to govern Russia. It was an incredibly difficult time for any government, but Dual power and the Provisional Government’s own weaknesses led to the Provisional Government’s collapse in October 1917.
What were some weaknesses and failures of the Provisional Government?
- lack of decisive leadership
- Lack of control over the military - Order Number 1 meant the Petrograd Soviet had the final say on military matters, not the Provisional Government. Continuing to fight the war rather than only defending Russia’s boarders was very unpopular.
- ‘Dual Power’ meant the Provisional Government was in a very weak position and there were areas it had no control over, such as the railways and postal service.
- Failure to hold a general election.
- Lack of legitimacy - not elected by the people (unlike the soviets).
- Failure to provide more land for the peasants.
- More democracy and free speech meant more criticism of the government.
- Failure to improve the economy - no quick way to solve shortages.
- Continuing to fight the war - the June Offensive was a failure, making the Provisional Government;s commitment to fighting the war even more problematic.
How was Kerensky related to the June Offensives?
Kerensky was War Minister when the Provisional Government decided to attack German and Austrian forces in June 1917. This became known as the June Offensive and was a disaster, with 200, 000 Russian casualties and further losses of Russian territory. After the June Offensive, Kerensky took over the leadership of the Provisional Government from Prince Lvov.
What was the state of the Provisional Government by August 1917?
By August 1917, the Provisional Government was seriously weakened. Soldiers were angry with the government because of the June Offensive.
What did the peasants and workers want from the Provisional Government?
Workers wanted the Petrograd Soviet to be in charge because they would benefit from that. Peasants wanted a government that gave them land. It was in this time of unrest that General Kornilov attempted to seize power.
What happened in the Kornilov Revolt?
1) In July 1917, Kerensky made Kornilov head of the army in order to improve army discipline.
2) Kornilov and Kerensky agreed that more soldiers were needed in Petrograd.
3) However, Kornilov decided that Russia needed military rule. Kerensky saw this as a threat to the Provisional Government.
4) Kornilov sent troops to Petrograd on 24 August with orders to shut down the Petrograd Soviet.
5) Kerensky allowed the Bolsheviks to arm their supporters to defend Petrograd from Kornilov’s troops. These armed supporters were named the Red Guards.
6) At the same time, railway workers blocked Kornilov’s route to Petrograd and Bolsheviks met the troops and convinced them not to attack. The ‘revolt’ was over.
What was the significance of the Kornilov Revolt?
1) increased the popularity and influence of the Bolsheviks and weakened the Provisional Government further.
2) Kerensky’s plan to act as the saviour of Petrograd backfiered. The people saw the Bolshevik Red Guards - not Kerensky - as having defended Petrograd and the revolution.
3) The Bolsheviks had been predicting an attempt at counter-revolution, and the Kornilov Revolt seemed to prove them right.
4) Any trust soldiers hadfor their officers was lost altogether. The establishment of the Red Guards to defend Petrograd gave the Bolsheviks a military advantage.
5) On 31 August, the Bolsheviks won the most seats in the Petrograd Soviet election.
Why did the Kornilov Revolt fail?
Kornilov’s soldiers were no longer following orders and Petrograd workers acted to defend their revolution.
What was The ‘April Theses’?
In April 1917, Lenin set out a manifesto of how the working class should take control of Russia in a second revolution. His demands included:
1) End of war: a capitalist and imperialist conflict that threatened the revolution.
2) Transfer all power to the soviets: at every level of government, local to national. The Provisional Government should not be supported.
3) Take land from the rich landlords and give to the peasants through agricultural soviets.
Why did the support of the Bolsheviks grow?
1) Lenin’s April Theses meant the Bolsheviks had a clear and powerful message for the workers, peasants and soldiers.
2) Bolshevik newspapers in most Russian cities constantly criticised the failures of the Provisional Government.
3) The Germans secretly sent money to the Bolsheviks to fund their campaigning.
What was the July Days?
Riots and demonstrations against the Provisional Government (3 July and 7 July 1917) turned into an uprising: July Days.
- the uprising occurred due to food shortages, and the failure of the June Offensive. The Bolsheviks did not start it.
- Lenin believed the time could be right to overthrow the Provisional Government. Bolsheviks joined the demonstrations.
- The Petrograd Soviet did not support the July Days. Its Menshevik members did not trust the Bolsheviks.
- The Soviet agreed to help the Provisional Government. Troops were moved into Petrograd and put down the uprising.
- Many Bolsheviks were arrested as they were blamed for starting the revolt. Lenin escaped, fleeing back to Finland in disguise.
How did the Bolshevik Family react to Lenin’s return?
Lenin;s April Theses were a shock to the Bolshevik Party. Lenin had to work hard to persuade colleagues that Russia was ready for a second revolution. But his forceful personality and command of Marxist theory won the day.
What inflicted Lenin’s decision to seize power in October 1917?
The Kornilov Revolt in August 1917 increased Bolshevik support in Petrograd and humiliated the Provisional Government. By October 1917, the Bolsheviks had 340000 members, 60000 in Petrograd including 40000 armed Red Guards. Despite the failure of the July Days, Lenin felt sure the time was right to overthrow the Provisional Government. On 10 October, Lenin secretly returned to Petrograd. In a long and stormy meeting with senior Bolsheviks, Lenin managed to convince his colleagues to support a new attempt to seize power.
What and how did the Military Revolutionary Committee try to stop the Bolsheviks armed takeover?
1) Rumours spread that the Bolsheviks were planning an armed takeover.
2) Kerensky tried to send Bolshevik-influenced army units out of Petrograd.
3) Trotsky, as leader of the Petrograd Soviet, convinced the Soviet to set up a Military Revolutionary Committee (the MRC) to bring together all the Soviet- supporting soldiers in Petrograd.
4) By 21 October, most of Petrograd’s regiments had promised loyalty to the MRC.
How and what did Kerensky do to try and stop the Bolsheviks?
On 24 October, Kerensky ordered a crackdown on the Bolsheviks:
1) closing Bolshevik newspaper
2) blocking river crossings between the city centre and working class districts
3) calling for the arrest of the MRC.
Kerensky travelled around Petrogard in a car, looking for any soldiers who would defend the Provisional Government from the Bolsheviks.
The Bolsheviks seize control
1) On the night of 24-25 October, Red Guards seized more key areas of the city.
2) There was almost no opposition. On the night of 25-26 October, Bolshevik soldiers climbed through the windows of the Winter Palace and arrested the remaining members of the Provisional Government.
3) Many socialists left the Soviet in protest at the Bolsheviks’ actions. On 26 October, Lenin formed a Bolshevik government called the Council of People’s Commissars.
Why was the October Revolution successful?
1) The Provisional Government had become very unpopular and no one stood up to attend it.
2) Trotsky was an amazing planner who formed Red Guards into an effective fighting force.
3) Kerensky didn’t disband the Red Guards after the Kornilov Affair,
4) Kerensky didn’t take the Bolshevik threat seriously after the July Days.
5) Lenin made sure the Bolsheviks were in charge and not any other revolutionary group.
6) Lenin was single-minded with a clear plan of attack.
What types of early decrees were there?
1) Decree on Peace (8 November 1917)
- All countries should seek peace.
- Peace to be achieved without annexations (land seized) or indemnities (large fines).
2) Decree on Land (8 November 1917)
- Land taken from wealthy landowners now belonged to the peasants.
- In December, Church land was nationalised, too.
3) Decrees on workers’ rights (November-December 1917)
- Decree on work - 8 hour day.
- Decree pf Unemployment - unemployment insurance for those unable to work.
- Decree on Workers’ Control - workers’ committees now ran their own factories.
4) Decree on Nationalities (November 1917)
- All different peoples of the old Russian Empire could have their own governments.
- However, these governments remained under Bolshevik control.
How did the abolition of the Constituent Assembly come around?
1) Lenin had promised to hold a general election for the Constituent Assembly: however, the SRs won won with 53 per cent of the vote. The Bolsheviks got only 24 per cent.
2) The Bolsheviks then declared that a return to parliamentary democracy was a backwards step when Russia already had soviets.
3) The first meeting of the Constituent Assembly after the election was on 5 January 1918. It refused to pass the Bolsheviks’ key decrees or to accept the principle of all power to the soviets.
4) After one day, Lenin ordered the Red Guards to shut it down. It never reopened.
5) Soon after, all political parties apart from the Bolsheviks were banned.
The Cheka
1) On 7 December 1917, Lenin set up the Cheka - the Extraordinary Commission to Combat Counter-Revolution, Sabotage and Speculation.
2) Lenin said that the revolution was under threat from the class enemies of the workers and peasants - the burzhui or bourgeoisie. The burzhui were people who had been middle class or upper class before the October Revolution.
3) Bolshevik supporters often attacked anyone they suspected of being a burzui. It was easy to denounce people to the Cheka as being burzhui: they would be arrested and their houses and property could then be taken by poor people.
4) The Cheka became the main way in which the Bolsheviks used terror to consolidate the hold over Russia and the countries of the empire.
The execution of the tsar and his family
1) The former tsar, Nicholas, and his family were kept as prisoners by the Bolsheviks. In 1918 they were held in Yekaterinburg.
2) Nicholas and the royal family were a potential threat to Bolshevik power. Monarchists could use them to rally support for a counter-revolution.
3) On 17 July 1918, as anti-Bolshevik forced were closing in on Yekaterinburg, the Bolsheviks executed Nicholas, his wife and children, as well as four servants.
The need for peace with Germany in 1917-18
1) Many Bolshevik supporters were soldiers and sailors who were desperate for an end to the war and a ‘breathing space’ as Lenin had promised.
2) Lenin said, ‘We must make sure of throttling the bourgeoisie and for this we need both hands free’. Ending the war would mean the Bolsheviks could concentrate all their forces on wiping out political opponents within Russia.
3) Lenin and Trotsky were certain that there would soon be a revolution in Europe and any treaty they signed with Germany would no longer have any effect.
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
- Lenin gave Trotsky the responsibility of negotiating a treaty with the Germans. None of the allies came to the conference.
- Trotsky demanded a peace treaty with no losses to Russia. The Germans ended the ceasefire and advanced into Russia. It seemed possible that they would capture Petrograd.
- The Russians could do nothing to stop the German advance. Lenin demanded that Trotsky get a peace deal at any price.
- The treaty was signed on 3 March 1918
Significance of the treaty
In exchange for peace, Russia lost a huge area of its former western territories: Ukraine and the Baltic provinces, Finland and parts of Poland. It also lost Georgia (Stalin’s homeland).
This meant the loss of:
- 74 per cent of Russia’s coalmines and iron one
- 50 percent of its industry
- 26 per cent of its railways
- 27 per cent of its farmland
- 26 per cent of its population: 62 million people.
Russia also had to pay the Germans 300 million gold roubles.
Reactions to the treaty
- Soldiers were pleased that the war had ended, and Russians (and the Bolsheviks) were relieved that the threat of German invasion was over.
- The Bolsheviks believed that German workers would be disgusted by the harsh terms of the treaty. This would then be another reason fro GErman workers to rise up in the revolution, like the Russian workers.
- The Left SRs waled out of the government in protest at the treaty and they even assassinated the German ambassador, hoping to re-spark the war.
- Nationalists and conservatives were horrified at the losses to Russia and its empire. It became vitally important for many Russians to fight to stop the Bolsheviks, so that Russia could be saved from humiliation and destruction. They began to form into armies, the ‘White armies’, to fight the Bolsheviks, the ‘Red Army’.
Reasons for the Civil War
- The huge territorial losses from the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk appalled many Russians.
- Nationalists and conservatives had everything to lose from the Bolsheviks’ Russia.
- Former moderates, Mensheviks and some SRs opposed the Bolshevik dictatorship
- they had wanted the Constituent Assembly.
- The Bolsheviks also made enemies of the ‘Czech Legion’, 40 000 Czech troops who took control of the Trans-Siberian Railway.
- Nationalities within the old Russian Empire wanted to break away from Russian control.
- Monarchists wanted to reinstate the tsar.
Effects of the Civil War on the Bolsheviks
- Terror tactics to ensure control. Once they had captured an emeney area, teh Cheka, the Bolsheviks political police, hunted down any suspected opponents and executed them.
- Harsh discipline to ensure obedience. Red Army deserters were shot. If a Red Army unit retreated one man in every ten would be executed.
- Ideological victory. Winning the Civil War against so many opponents strengthened the Bolsheviks’ belief in their revolution.
- Centralised control. The war strengthened the Bolsheviks’ belief in highly organised control from the centre.
- Russia under threat. The involvement of former allies like France and Britain made the Bolsheviks fear foreign invasion.
Bolsheviks strengths in the Civil War
- Trotsky led the Red Army and reintroduced discipline, making it an effective and unified fighting force.
- Effective propaganda: a constant message that only the Bolsheviks would look after ordinary Russians.
- Tactical alliances that meant not having to fight everyone at once.
- Control of most of Russia’s industries (for weapons) and railways.
- Central Russia also contained most of Russia’s population - who could be conscripted into the Red Army.
- Control of central Russia - this meant shorter distances to supply their armies.
- War Communism: introduced by Lenin to tackle the economic crisis.
- The Red Army - conscription built the army up to a powerful fighting force of over 5 million soldiers.
