Russian revolution: Cause, effect + significance

Question 1

Russo Japan war 1904-05

Answer 1

Cause: Russian expansionism in East Asia, especially in Manchuria and Korea.

Effect: Russia’s defeat weakened Tsar Nicholas II’s authority, leading to domestic unrest.

Significance: The war exposed Russia’s military inefficiency and catalyzed the 1905 Revolution.

Question 2

Bloody Sunday 9 January 1905

Answer 2

Cause: Worker protests for better conditions and political reforms.

Effect: Massacre of peaceful demonstrators led to widespread anger and the 1905 Revolution.

Significance: Symbolized the regime’s brutality, further alienating the people from the Tsar.

Question 3

October Manifesto 17 October 1905

Answer 3

Cause: Rising revolutionary activity and widespread protests after Bloody Sunday.

Effect: The Tsar granted some reforms, including a constitution and the establishment of the Duma.

Significance: Although it temporarily eased tensions, it failed to satisfy reformers, leading to continued unrest.

Question 4

Fundamental State Laws 23 April 1906

Answer 4

Cause: The Tsar’s response to the October Manifesto, aiming to solidify his control.

Effect: Gave Tsar Nicholas II the power to dissolve the Duma and ruled with decree.

Significance: Ensured the continuation of autocracy, undermining any real democratic progress.

Question 5

Lena River Massacre 17 April 1912

Answer 5

Cause: Striking gold mine workers demanded better working conditions and wages.

Effect: The Russian army opened fire on the workers, killing hundreds and increasing unrest.

Significance: It galvanized the workers’ movement, contributing to the radicalization of the labor class.

Question 6

Germany declares war on Russia
19 July 1914

Answer 6

Cause: Russia’s alliance with Serbia, and Germany’s support of Austria-Hungary in the conflict.

Effect: Russia entered World War I, which strained its resources and military, exacerbating internal tensions.

Significance: The war’s devastation exposed the weaknesses of the Tsarist regime, leading to its downfall.

Question 7

Tsar Appoints Himself Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces
5 September 1915

Answer 7

Cause: Military failures and the desire for direct control of the war effort.

Effect: The Tsar took personal responsibility for the military, but his decisions worsened the situation.

Significance: The move alienated many military leaders and elites, weakening the Tsar’s political position.

Question 8

February revolution
1917

Answer 8

Cause: Widespread discontent due to military defeats in World War I, food shortages, and economic instability under Tsar Nicholas II.

Effect: Mass protests, strikes, and mutinies led to the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II, ending over 300 years of Romanov rule.

Significance: The February Revolution paved the way for the establishment of the Provisional Government and marked the beginning of Russia’s transition from autocracy to a more democratic government, though it was short-lived.

Question 9

Provisional Government
March 1917 – October 1917

Answer 9

Cause: The collapse of Tsarist authority led to the formation of a provisional government by liberal and moderate socialist forces.

Effect: The Provisional Government failed to address key issues such as land reform, the war, and worker rights, leading to growing disillusionment.

Significance: Its failure paved the way for the Bolshevik Revolution and the eventual rise of Lenin.

Question 10

October Revolution
25 October 1917

Answer 10

Cause: Deep dissatisfaction with the Provisional Government’s inability to address Russia’s problems, particularly the war and economic hardship.

Effect: The Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, seized power in a coup and established a communist government.

Significance: The October Revolution marked the beginning of Bolshevik rule and the establishment of the Soviet state.

Question 11

Constituent Assembly Meets and is Dissolved
January 1918

Answer 11

Cause: The Bolsheviks’ refusal to accept the results of the elections, where they had lost the majority.

Effect: Lenin and the Bolsheviks dissolved the Constituent Assembly after only one day, consolidating their power.

Significance: The dissolution marked the end of the idea of a democratic, representative government in Russia.

Question 12

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
3 March 1918

Answer 12

Cause: Lenin’s desire to withdraw from World War I to focus on consolidating power in Russia.

Effect: Russia signed a peace treaty with Germany, ceding large amounts of territory.

Significance: The treaty was controversial, as it demonstrated the Bolsheviks’ willingness to sacrifice territory for peace and internal stability.

Question 13

Decree on private ownership
6 December 1917

Answer 13

Cause: The Bolshevik desire to nationalise industry and eliminate capitalist ownership.

Effect: The decree aimed to abolish private ownership of land and property.

Significance: It marked the beginning of state control over the economy and the move towards socialism.

Question 14

Decree on Religion
9 February 1918

Answer 14

Cause: The Bolshevik commitment to secularism and the desire to eliminate the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Effect: The decree aimed to separate church and state, nationalising religious property.

Significance: This marked the start of the Soviet Union’s anti-religious policies, which would continue for decades.

Question 15

CHEKA
December 1917

Answer 15

Cause: The need to protect the revolution from internal and external threats, particularly counter-revolutionaries.

Effect: The CHEKA became the Soviet secret police, responsible for purging enemies of the Bolshevik state.

Significance: It marked the beginning of the Bolsheviks’ reliance on terror to maintain control.

Question 16

Russian Civil War
1918-1921

Answer 16

Cause: The Bolshevik seizure of power and opposition from various groups, including monarchists, liberals, and foreign powers.

Effect: A devastating civil conflict between the Red Army (Bolsheviks) and the White Army (anti-Bolshevik forces) that resulted in Bolshevik victory.

Significance: The war consolidated Bolshevik power and led to the establishment of the Soviet Union in 1922.

Question 17

Attempt on Lenins life
30 August 1918

Answer 17

Cause: Growing opposition to Bolshevik rule, including from the Socialist Revolutionaries and other factions.

Effect: Lenin was severely wounded but survived, leading to increased repression against his enemies.

Significance: The assassination attempt marked a turning point, pushing Lenin to implement harsher policies and intensify the Red Terror.

Question 18

Tsar and family assasinated
July 1918

Answer 18

Cause: The Bolshevik desire to eliminate any potential rallying point for monarchists and counter-revolutionaries.

Effect: The entire Romanov family was executed in Ekaterinburg, symbolizing the definitive end of the Russian monarchy.

Significance: The murder marked a final rupture with Russia’s imperial past and solidified the Bolshevik control over the country.

Question 19

Polish-Soviet War
February 1919- March 1921

Answer 19

Cause: The Soviet attempt to spread revolution to Poland and the need to secure the western border.

Effect: Poland, with support from France, defeated Soviet forces and secured its independence.

Significance: The war’s outcome ensured Poland’s sovereignty and marked a setback for Soviet territorial expansion in Europe.

Question 20

War Communism
June 1918 to March 1921

Answer 20

Cause: The necessity for the Bolshevik regime to control the economy during the Civil War and to support the Red Army.

Effect: State control over industry, forced requisitions of grain, and suppression of opposition.

Significance: War Communism resulted in economic collapse and widespread famine, contributing to growing discontent and leading to the eventual introduction of the NEP.

Question 21

Treaty of Riga
March 1921

Answer 21

Cause: The end of the Polish-Soviet War and the need to resolve territorial disputes between Soviet Russia and Poland.

Effect: The treaty recognised Polish independence and set the Soviet borders in the West.

Significance: The treaty effectively ended the Soviet hopes of spreading revolution to Poland and marked a shift in Soviet foreign policy.

Question 22

Kronstadt Uprising
7 March 1921 – 17 March 1921

Answer 22

Cause: Widespread discontent among sailors and workers in Kronstadt due to harsh conditions under War Communism.

Effect: The rebellion was crushed by the Red Army, leading to further centralization of Bolshevik power and the suppression of dissent.

Significance: The uprising was a key event in the growing rift between Bolshevik leadership and revolutionary groups, leading to the introduction of the New Economic Policy (NEP).

Question 23

Sovnakrom
October 1917

Answer 23

Cause: The Bolsheviks, following their October Revolution victory, needed a governing body to consolidate power.

Effect: Sovnarkom was established as the central executive authority of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR), headed by Lenin and composed primarily of Bolsheviks.

Significance: It marked the formal establishment of Bolshevik rule in Russia, centralizing power and initiating the process of consolidating the new socialist government.

Question 24

June offensive
18 June 1917

Answer 24

Cause: The Provisional Government, under pressure from the Allies, launched an offensive to gain momentum in World War I and improve morale.

Effect: The offensive failed disastrously, with Russian forces retreating and suffering heavy casualties, leading to widespread disillusionment with the Provisional Government.

Significance: The failure of the June Offensive contributed to the weakening of the Provisional Government and increased support for the Bolsheviks, who were opposed to continued involvement in the war.

Question 25

Kornilov affair
27 Aug 1917 – 13 Sept 1917

Answer 25

Cause: General Kornilov, commander of the Russian army, attempted a coup against the Provisional Government, believing it was too weak to restore order in Russia.

Effect: The coup attempt failed, but it exposed the weakness of the Provisional Government and strengthened the Bolsheviks’ position, as they played a key role in organising defense of Petrograd.

Significance: The Kornilov Affair led to a significant loss of confidence in the Provisional Government and further discredited liberal and moderate forces, pushing many workers and soldiers into the Bolshevik camp

Question 26

10,000 Workers March on Strike in Moscow
23 February 1921

Answer 26

Cause: Discontent with the Bolshevik government’s failure to alleviate economic hardships.

Effect: A large-scale strike in Moscow, reflecting the growing dissatisfaction among the urban proletariat.

Significance: The strike was one of several signs that the Bolsheviks were losing support from the working class, paving the way for the NEP.

Question 27

Martial Law Declared in Petrograd
25 February 1921

Answer 27

Cause: The worsening political and social unrest in Petrograd.

Effect: Martial law was imposed as a response to the strikes, protests, and general dissatisfaction with the government.

Significance: The declaration of martial law marked the increasing authoritarian nature of Bolshevik rule, leading to more state repression.

Question 28

The Kronstadt Revolutionary Committee Publishes ‘What Are We Fighting For?’
March 1921

Answer 28

Cause: The disillusionment of the Kronstadt sailors with the Bolshevik government.

Effect: The publication of the manifesto outlined demands for more political freedoms, free trade unions, and an end to War Communism.

Significance: It became a rallying cry for opposition to the Bolshevik regime and a precursor to the growing challenges the Bolsheviks would face

Question 29

Tenth Party Congress
8 –16 March, 1921

Answer 29

Cause: The need to address the growing discontent within the party and the country, including the failure of War Communism and the Kronstadt Uprising.

Effect: The Congress marked the beginning of the shift from War Communism to the New Economic Policy (NEP), with Lenin advocating for more pragmatic economic policies.

Significance: The Congress demonstrated the Bolshevik leadership’s flexibility and willingness to adapt in the face of crisis.

Question 30

New Economic Policy (NEP)
March 1921 – 1928

Answer 30

Cause: The economic collapse caused by War Communism and the Civil War, and the need to restore stability.

Effect: The NEP allowed for limited private enterprise, agricultural reform, and the re-establishment of market mechanisms.

Significance: The NEP marked a temporary retreat from socialist policies and played a crucial role in stabilizing the Soviet economy.

Question 31

Grain requisitioning
1918-1921

Answer 31

Cause: Following the Bolshevik revolution, there was an urgent need to feed the urban population and the Red Army during the Civil War, and to control agricultural production.

Effect: The state requisitioned grain and other produce from peasants, often using force, leading to widespread peasant unrest and resistance, particularly in rural areas.

Significance: Grain requisitioning was one of the key policies of War Communism, but it contributed to the collapse of agricultural production, famine, and widespread peasant revolt.

Question 32

July days
16-20 July 1917

Answer 32

Cause: Mounting frustrations among workers, soldiers, and sailors in Petrograd over the Provisional Government’s failure to end the war, address economic hardships, and deliver promised reforms. Radical Bolsheviks and anarchists encouraged demonstrations to pressure the government.

Effect: The protests escalated into an armed uprising, but the Provisional Government managed to suppress the unrest with military force. Bolshevik leaders, including Lenin, were accused of treason, and many went into hiding or were arrested.

Significance: The failure of the July Days temporarily weakened the Bolsheviks, damaging their reputation as leaders of revolutionary change. However, it also exposed the fragility of the Provisional Government, and the Bolsheviks would recover and gain strength by October.

Question 33

Pyotr Stolypin

Answer 33

Cause: Appointed Prime Minister in the wake of the 1905 Revolution, Stolypin sought to stabilize Russia by addressing peasant unrest and strengthening the monarchy through reforms and repression.

Effect: Stolypin introduced agrarian reforms, including the encouragement of private land ownership through “Stolypin’s land reforms,” aiming to create a class of loyal, prosperous peasants. However, he also implemented harsh measures against political dissidents, including summary executions (earning the nickname “Stolypin’s necktie” for the noose).

Significance: Stolypin’s reforms had mixed results—while they empowered some peasants, they alienated others and did not stem the revolutionary tide. His assassination in 1911 ended any hope of a gradual, peaceful evolution toward stability.

Question 34

Sergei Witte

Answer 34

Cause: As a high-ranking minister under Tsar Nicholas II, Witte sought to modernize Russia’s economy to strengthen the state and alleviate some social tensions.

Effect: Witte implemented significant reforms, including industrial expansion, railway construction (such as the Trans-Siberian Railway), and the adoption of the gold standard, which stabilized Russia’s currency and boosted foreign investment.

Significance: Witte’s reforms accelerated Russia’s industrialization and economic growth, but they also created social upheaval by concentrating wealth and power in urban areas, increasing tensions between the working class and the state.