The condition of Russia before the revolution of February/March 1917 Flashcards
The Tsar and political authority; the war effort; the economic and social state of Russia; discontent
how was the Tsar not suited to ruling
convinced of his divine right to rule but struggled making political decisions
very stubborn and took advice as criticism
what was the Duma
formed in 1906 after the 1905 revolution
national elected assembly
Nicholas did all in his power to minimise its influence
what weakened the Tsars political authority
pitted his ministers against each other to keep them weak
suspicious of those with power
reluctant to innovate
disorganisation brought by the many overlapping institutions of Tsarist government
Problems with Alexandra
strong willed e.g. telling Nicholas to stand firm in 1905
introduced her husband to rasputin
problems with rasputin
held influence over the Tsar which extended into politics
interfered with government appointments
damaged Nicholas’s reputation
initial victories in WW1
mobilised a large amount of soldiers 15 mill by 1918
1914 victory at the battle of Tannenburg
why did WW1 start to go badly for Russia
lack of supplies meant Russia could not deal with the Gorlice-Tanow offensive in 1915 loosing 500km to Germans and 2 mill casualties
demoralised the army
June 1915 Brusilov offensive 1.4 mill casualties
russia no longer had strength to attack on a large scale exhaustion and disillusionment led soldiers to desertion and mutiny
when did Nicholas assume supreme command of the army and what did this do
September 1915
became responsible for army failures
limited control of home front - Alexandra and Rasputin left in charge who were incompetent
economic conditions
gold standard abandoned gov put more notes into circulation causing inflation - wages x2 but food and fuel x4
unemployment from non military factories closing down
1914-1916 grain yield higher than normal - inflation
social conditions
300% rise in the cost of living
unemployment
conscription to the army left a shortage of workers in the countryside - peasants began to hoard food - food shortages in towns and cities e.g. 1916 Petrograd receiving 1/3 of food and fuel requirements
January 1917 145,000 workers on strike in Petrograd
