Topic 1- the revolutions of 1917 Flashcards
Reasons for discontent under Tsar Nicholas II
- russification
subject nationalities forced to learn russian and wear russian clothes - autocracy
Tsar had all power, did not listen to duma and used Okhrana to oppress people - weakness
not fit to be a ruler, even publicly stated this + haemophilliac son - economic problems
far behind in industrialisation, led to old fashioned farming and underdevolped transport and banking systems
Social problems
- aristocracy
1% of population, owned 1/4 of all land, extremely rich - middle class
by 1914 middle class increased due to industrialisation, pleasant lifestyle - town workers
rapidly increasing, worked and lived in terrible conditions, low wages, no trade unions, oppressed
-peasants
poorest, biggest group, starvation, disease
Bloody Sunday
- Father Gapon led peaceful march with petition for better conditions, army fired at them, killed hundreds
1905 revolution
- bloody sunday and losing war in japan sparked revolution in feb 1905
- strikes, mutiny in navy
October manifesto
- 1905 revolution led to Tsar Nicholas II issuing October manifesto
- promised freedom of speech, end censorship, and national parliament (duma)
- did not follow through
Stolypins Necktie
- Stolypin appointed new prime minister in 1905
- introduced reforms, but if went against Tsar, would be dealt with severley
- led to 3000 executions - noose became known as Stolypins necktie
Failure of duma
- Tsar ensured duma already had little power
- took power away to keep power to himself and remain autocractic
- actions stimulated further opposition amongst political groups
Rasputin
- magic homeless horny peasant with supposed healing powers healed Tsars haemophillic son
- led to friendship and rasputin had increasing influence on the Tsar (bad reputation)
Political opposition
-Social Democrats 1901
Bolsheviks ( Lenin, more radical) and Menshiviks (Trotsky, less radical), followed Marxism, wanted revolution that led to communism and removal of Tsar
-Socialist revolutionaries 1901
Kerensky, wanted revolution of peasants that led to Tsar removal, share all land between peasants, conflicted between terror and peace to achieve these aims
- Octoberists 1905
Guchkov, made after October manifesto issued, believed Tsar would go through with manifesto, middle class
-Constitutional Democractics (CADETS) 1905
Milyukov, increasing middle class led to increased demand for democracy, wanted elected parliament
Impact of WW1
- entered war with high hopes of winning, but suffered defeat after defeat
- led to further discontent with tsar and amongst people
Reasons for defeats in WW1 1914-1916
- lack of infrastructure (supplies, transport, communications)
- tsar leadership (no experience, blamed for defeats)
- poor leadership (lazy, no teamwork, ignorant, outdated tactics)
effects of war on military
- enthusiasm waned, lack or morale
- desertion
- died due to conditions
- violent resistance to conscription as news spread
effects of war on economy
- inflation due to food and fuel shortages (lack of workers, food eaten by soldiers, harsh winter)
- Industrial damage- lack of workers, could not cope with demand, factories shut down
- unemployment and greater poverty
- any food often failed to reach people due to transport systems
effects of war politically
- Tsars decison to move to front lines was fatal
- left country running in hands of german wife (sus, esp as wouldnt take advice from duma, infulenced by rasputin, and german roots)
- rasputin made his incompetent friends ministers resulting in lack of organisation
death of rasputin
- assasinated by royal family, demonstrates level of discontent