The russian revolution

Question 1

Long term causes of russian revolution

Answer 1

Problems for peasants-
Before the revolution, 75% of peasants lived in villages
They had belonged to masters that could buy and sell them, they were eventually freed and given small parts of land by government that they had to pay back
They had small farms and large debts
Many were illiterate, and couldn’t learn to improve farming techniques
Used old fashioned farming techniques, e.g planting by hand
Big divide between rich and poor, the poor jealous
Church also very rich and powerful
Problems for workers-
Russian government wanted to go through industrial revolution and be strong and powerful
Increased ammunition and railway lines also helps Russia defend herself
Increased workers = overcrowding
Long hours
Dangerous conditions
Low pay
Bad government-
The Tsar ruled as an absolute monarch; wouldn’t share power with parliament
Became unpopular in WW1 and overthrown
Tsar goes to war with Japan (thinks victory will make him look good) but loses
Workers and soldiers form Soviets, Tsar arrests their leaders
Tsar shoots some supporters of a mutiny by sailors
Tsar sets up parliament/ Duma so that people can have some say, but then doesn’t like it and has it shut down
Uses secret police to keep watch on people

Question 2

Short term causes of russian revolution

Answer 2

Tsar as Commander-in-chief-
Tsar took command of the war, but this meant he couldn’t blame defeats on his subordinates. Support for army decreases, and the Tsar takes full blame for misery and high casualties. The peasants that took part in war were disillusioned with the Tsar
Tsarina-
Tsarina left in charge while Tsar at the warfront. She refused to take advice from the Duma and preferred to rule alone- meant she could be blamed for everything that went wrong. During the war, the Russians hated Germany. Tsarina was German. They thought she was trying to sabotage the war effort
Rasputin-
Tsarina only willing to listen to Rasputin, but his character and scandals made Tsarina even more unpopular. There were rumors that they were both German agents. Some thought Rasputin had a satanic hold on the family
Crisis in cities-
Russian cities suffered food shortage-> food prices go up around 700 percent throughout war. Wages couldn’t keep up with food prices- inflation, workers starved

Question 3

The russian revolution

Answer 3

Riots in the capital (Petrograd) when bread supplies ran out. Workers went on strike and joined rioters. Soldiers that were sent to halt the riots also joined in. The parliament sets up a committee to take over the work of the government. The Tsar no longer has the army backing him, and is forced to resign

Question 4

Provisional government and the Bolsheviks

Answer 4

The men that took power- provisional government. Led by Kerensky. Intended to be a fairer and freer government. They planned to win the war- mistake. The shortages caused by the war continued, and when Russia lost, the government was blamed.
Many people also refused to accept their authority. Workers and peasants set up soviets, many that were communist/ Bolshevik groups led by Lenin. Support for Bolsheviks grew
Army leader Kornilov tries to get rid of Bolsheviks and Kerensky. Bolsheviks given weapons by Kerensky to get rid of Kornilov.
The Bolshevik red guards (their armed force) eventually takes control of Petrograd and arrests provisional government
Lenin signs treaty to end Russia’s involvement in war

Question 5

Strengths of Bolsheviks

Answer 5

Appealing (Bread, peace land)
Determined, professional, well organized
Armed- held onto weapons Kerensky gave them to put down Kornilov
Nearly half of army and sailors supported them
Petrograd and Moscow soviets pro-Bolshevik
Had outstanding personalities within ranks

Question 6

Provisional government weaknesses

Answer 6

Not legit, only stepped in when Tsar abdicated
Had few supporters
Tried to stop peasants taking land- lost support
Tried to continue war- lost army support
Had no great army and given weapons away to Bolsheviks
People losing faith in Kerensky

Question 7

Aims of the Reds

Answer 7

Communist government, build new society

Question 8

Aims of the whites

Answer 8

Democratic and Capitalist. To defeat Bolsheviks

Question 9

Geographical factors for the Reds in the civil war

Answer 9

Central area of Russia- large industrial area able to provide many war supplies. Controlled railway lines, good for transporting soldiers and munitions

Question 10

Geographical factors for the whites in the civil war

Answer 10

Scattered around central area, hard to communicate

Question 11

Leadership of the reds

Answer 11

Trotsky- organized and good at leading

Question 12

Leadership of the whites

Answer 12

Lacked good leaders, generals didn’t cooperate

Question 13

Unity of the reds

Answer 13

Had clear aim, communicated well and good leader

Question 14

Unity of the whites

Answer 14

Had many smaller groups with different aims, didn’t work well together

Question 15

Foreign intervention for the reds

Answer 15

Reds gave out propaganda undermining whites

Question 16

Foreign intervention for the whites

Answer 16

Had support from US, France and Britain, but it was ineffective/ half-hearted

Question 17

Peasant support of the reds

Answer 17

Had more popular support, and their forces greatly outnumbered Whites

Question 18

Peasant support of the whites

Answer 18

Less than the reds

Question 19

Storming of the Winter Palace

Answer 19

7th November
The Bolsheviks took over the city, and seized many key places. A little machine gun fire done to palace. Done to take control from provisional government.