Russia Topic 2

Question 1

Why did the begin of WW1 increase popularity for the Tsar

Answer 1

The people of Russia felt patriotic and proud of their country

Question 2

Why did the Russian people blame the Tsarist government for their defeat in the war

Answer 2

Because there wasn’t enough weapons or supplies for the army
- 1/3 of the army had no rifle
- soldiers did not have enough uniform for the cold
- they did not have enough food to eat

Question 3

What did the Tsar make himself, and why did this make all the people blame him for the failures of the war

Answer 3

Made himself the commander in chief of the Russian forces despite having no military experience
- Now all defeats were blamed directly on the Tsar

Question 4

How much did WW1 cost Russia

Answer 4

17 billion roubles

Question 5

Around how many casualties did Russia suffer

Answer 5

2 million

Question 6

What did the Russian government do to vodka

Answer 6

They introduced prohibition to reduce drunkenness, unfortunately vodka made up 25% of taxes so they had to increase other taxes

Question 7

How were the peasants affected by WW1

Answer 7

• Soldiers took what they need from the peasants harvests to feed the army
• Peasants were not allowed to sell their grain to make money
• There was not enough people to work on the fields as all the soldiers had been sent to fight

Question 8

How were factory owner affected by WW1

Answer 8

• 500 factories closed down as all the workers were sent to fight
• Being forced to make equipment for the army so couldn’t make goods to sell and make money
• lack of money meant they had to sack people

Question 9

How were factory workers affected by WW1

Answer 9

• Shop prices were high due to inflation but wages did not increase
• struggling to afford what little food was available

Question 10

How were railway drivers affected by WW1

Answer 10

• Had to focus on getting food to the army
• therefore food was not getting to the cities and people were starving

Question 11

How was the Duma affected by WW1

Answer 11

• The Tsar suspended the Duma to concentrate on winning the war

Question 12

How were members of the middle class affected by WW1

Answer 12

• Inflation meant that money became worthless
• Their savings became less and less valuable

Question 13

Why was Tsarina in control

Answer 13

• When the Tsar left to take on the role as commander in chief he left his wife in charge and named her the regent
• She was given power to govern in his absence

Question 14

How did the Tsarina contribute to the growing unpopularity of the Tsar

Answer 14

1. She was a dedicated autocrat so refused to listen to the Duma, she dismissed ministers who disagreed with her and replaced them with ones she preferred
2. She was German, rumours that she was deliberately trying to lose the war
3. She was obsessed and dependent on a monk, Rasputin

Question 15

How did Rasputin damage the Tsar’s reputation

Answer 15

• Rumours of him having an affair with the Tsarina
• Cartoons showing him as the real leader and Tsar and Tsarina as his puppets
• People didn’t like him as he was a sinner

Question 16

How did Rasputin make the Tsar even more unpopular

Answer 16

• The duma was angry that the Tsar would rather listen to a mad monk than them
• The Tsar’s advisors were jealous of Rasputins influence over the royal family
• People were unhappy with the way Tsarina and Rasputin ran the country while the Tsar was away

Question 17

When was the February revolution

Answer 17

1917

Question 18

What were the immediate causes of the February revolution

Answer 18

• The Tsar being away from Petrograd
• Food shortages in Petrograd
• Dislike for the Tsarina
• Announcement of bread rationing
• Industrial unrest, strikes
• The army’s mutiny
• The women’s day march

Question 19

What did the international womens day march protest about

Answer 19

Bread rationing

Question 20

Due to the unusually mild winter what could people do

Answer 20

Gather outside, in higher numbers than the police could control

Question 21

How did the February revolution begin

Answer 21

Clashes between demonstrators and the police and army

Question 22

What was the turning point for the protestors and the soldiers in the February Revolution

Answer 22

• When the Tsar ordered them to open fire onto the protestors
• It was called the second ‘bloody sunday’
• Soldiers were forced to make a decision, to follow their Tsar or join the people

Question 23

What happened with other army regiments due to hearing about soldiers firing into protestors

Answer 23

• They started to mutiny
• They refused to follow orders to fire at the demonstrators

Question 24

How did the mutiny of the army make the fall of the Tsar certain

Answer 24

Without the soldiers support, the Tsars government had no real way of controlling the city,
- as the police force was not big enough

Question 25

How many of the army mutinied

Answer 25

150,000

Question 26

How many demonstrators was there

Answer 26

250,000

Question 27

Once the Tsar had abdicated, who took charge of Russia

Answer 27

The provisional government and the Petrograd soviet

Question 28

How long did the Prov Gov say they would be in control for

Answer 28

Until democratic elections were held by the Constituent assembly

Question 29

What did the provisional governments 8 principles set out

Answer 29

• Civil rights for people
• Freedom of speech
• Banned discrimination
• Released political prisoners
• allowed political prisoners to return to Russia

Question 30

Who was the Petrograd soviet made up of

Answer 30

Workers and soldiers who supported the revolution

Question 31

What was the situation called to reflect the fact that the Provisional Government was ruling with the support of the Petrograd soviet

Answer 31

Dual control