The problems facing Russia that lead to the February revolutions

Question 1

Problems thrown up by industrialisation and modernisation

Answer 1

The ruling elite knew that Russia needed to modernise to compete with other world powers ad remain a major military power.

The growing professional middle class wanted a greater role in national government and felt they could do a better job

Rapid industrialisation generated a new stats of society

Question 2

Political change

Answer 2

Problems to do with constitutional change relations between the Tsar, his ministers and the Dumas

Problems of bringing in reforms. The hostility to Stolypin’s reforms from all sides demonstrated the difficulty of taking a middle road

Attitudes of parties on right and left partly responsible for problems
Possibilities opened up by progressive bloc in war

Question 3

Opposition groups

Answer 3

The development of the liberal parties pre 1914 and middle class pressure for reforms

The development of the revolutionary groups

Question 4

Degree of support for the Tsarist regime

Answer 4

Contraction of the social bases of support for the regime

Developments after 1905-6 increased concerns about the reliability of the army in crisis

Question 5

Impact of WW1

Answer 5

17 million rubbles spent during 1914 and 1917
Tax increased 200% inflation

15 million men taken from the countryside

Effect of defeats and losses on the army and its morale, the changing composition of the army

Effect of economic disruption and distribution problems on the people back home

Effect on the confidence in government

The actions of opposition politicians in the Duma and the development of the wart industries committed

Battle of Tannenburg 30000 killed and injured

Driven out of Poland in 1915

success of union of Zaenver Creation of the Zemgor which was to help the casualties of war and their families lead to increasing opposition to the Tsar because it proved that their was a worker alternative to the Tsar