Russia Before Communism

Question 1

How was Russia governed in 1917?

Answer 1

Before communism, Russia had an autocratic government, ruled by Tsar Nicolas II.

Question 2

Who came after the Tsar 1917?

Answer 2

1. Council of Ministers - ran gov. departments day to day basis under Tsar instructions.
2. The Senate - supervised enforcement of Tsar’s rules.
3. Imperial Council - Personal advisors to the Tsar, pleased him out of fear.

Question 3

What was the role of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1917?

Answer 3

The Tsar allowed the Orthodox Church to be the official state religion of Russia so that he could appoint the patriarch (leader of the church). This alliance ensured he could make the church teach that he was appointed by God, increasing his power.

Question 4

How was the Russian population divided in 1917?

Answer 4

82% - Peasants
12% - Upper class
4% - Working class
1.5% - Commercial class (e.g. bankers)

Question 5

What was the role of the State Duma and Zemstva in Russia’s 1917 government?

Answer 5

State Duma - Russian parliament, could not pass laws without Tsar’s approval

Zemstva - Elected local government members, had minor responsibility. Voting organised so 70% were upper class members.

Question 6

Why was Russia difficult to govern in 1917?

Answer 6

1. Economic reasons - Couldn’t generate income as they hadn’t industrialised, e.g. only 15% Russians lived in cities.
2. Geographic reasons - Russia was too large to govern effectively and transport and communication were underdeveloped e.g. Russia covered 1/6 of the Earth’s surface.
3. Social reasons - Tensions within the population due to 22 ethnic minorities wanting independence e.g. Poles, Jews. Russians barely made 1/2 of the population.
4. Military - Peasants were conscripted into the army and weren’t very disloyal, resented their roles e.g. breaking up revolts against the Tsar.
5. Political - Legal system wasn’t fair and offered few rights generating resentment amongst Russians, e.g. Until 1870 trials were harsh and conducted without juries.

Question 7

What was the February Revolution?

Answer 7

The February revolution of 1917 began with commemorative strikes that gradually continued throughout January and into February, gaining support from army members and leading to demonstrations and mutinies, resulting in the end of the Tsarist rule following Tsar Nicolas II’s abdication.

Question 8

What were the causes of the February Revolution?

Answer 8

1. Incompetence of Nicolas II - Reigned for 24 years, leaving Russia on brink of collapse due to no practical knowledge e.g. said himself “I am not prepared to be a Tsar”.
2. Impact of WW2 - WW1 was a disaster for Russia, who suffered great losses and embarrassing defeats e.g. 30,000 killed in Battle of Tannenburg.
3. Actions of Rasputin - Rasputin was a spiritual healer that the royal family relied on to heal the Tsar’s son. However, their reliance made them look weak, and Rasputin was hated by Russians e.g. between 1915-17 14 ministers were dismissed due to his advising.
4. Social and Economic problems - The Tsar wasn’t dealing with problems e.g. inflation; 1914-16 earnings doubled but food and fuel prices quadrupled.
5. Defections in the armed forces - Soldiers often refused orders e.g. wouldn’t suppress demonstrations, instead joining protestors, arming themselves and opening prisons.

Question 9

Feb Rev - 9th Jan 1917

Answer 9

Strikes held in Petrograd to commemorate Bloody Sunday.

Question 10

Feb Rev - 14th Feb 1917

Answer 10

Strikes spread due to wages and working conditions, 10,000 in Petrograd alone. Duma reconvenes.

Question 11

Feb Rev - 22nd Feb 1917

Answer 11

Demonstrations begin in streets after workers at the Putilov arms factory in Petrograd are locked out.

Question 12

Feb Rev - 23rd Feb 1917

Answer 12

Women join protests for International Women’s Day - 150,000 in demonstration.

Question 13

Feb Rev - 25th Feb 1917

Answer 13

Police (Petrograd garrison) begin joining.

Question 14

Feb Rev - 27th-28th Feb 1917

Answer 14

Army ordered to step in and kill 50 protestors. Petrograd garrison mutinies and opens prisons. Petrograd soviet forms.

Question 15

Feb Rev - 2nd March 1917

Answer 15

Tsar Nicolas II abdicates leaving Russia in the hands of the Provisional Government.

Question 16

Problems faced by the Provision Government 1917

Answer 16

1. WW1 - Needed to leave to save Russia’s economy but couldn’t due to pressure from the allies e.g. offering loans to save their economy.
2. Countryside Crisis - Peasants were seizing land and attacking landowners, but this caused problems for everyone e.g. stopped farming led to famine.
3. Nationalism - Countries in the Russian empire wanted independence but losing them would have a negative impact on the gov. as they would lose valuable resources e.g. farming land.
4. Political Authority - Had little political authority so struggled to enforce any real changes e.g. they only represented the 12% upper class as they were never elected in.

Question 17

What was the most significant problem faced by the Provisional Government in 1917?

Answer 17

I think that their most significant problem was their lack of political authority as it links to all other factors - they couldn’t fix nationalism, the countryside crisis or make an effective decision regarding WW1 if they had no political authority.

Question 18

What were the Provisional Government’s successes?

Answer 18

1. Increased the rights of workers e.g. banned discrimination.
2. Gave the USSR the most civil liberties in the world for that time e.g. by abolishing censorship and the secret police to allow freedom of speech.
3. Put right things the Tsar did that people hated e.g. releasing political prisoners.

Question 19

What were the Provisional Government’s failures?

Answer 19

1. Didn’t effectively deal with their opponents e.g. Lenin & Bolsheviks July Revolution attempt 1917.
2. Nationalists staged uprisings so Russia were forced to give them independence e.g. Ukraine, caused Russia loss of resources.
3. Failing to deal with the countryside crisis led to disastrous impact on Russian agriculture e.g. famine.
4. Continued in WW1 causing a loss of army, and when soldiers returned home they left the army, so the prov. gov didn’t have a large personal army for protection.

Question 20

Was the Provisional Government a complete failure?

Answer 20

The Provisional Government was arguably a complete failure, as they did not deal with any of the problems facing them in 1917. Although they had some successes, they were triumphs for the Russian people and effectively worked against the government’s own aims.