Topic 4 Flashcards
It what ways was Russia stable in 1914
Duma provided a platform for political debate
Constitutional monarchy was developing
Economy less reliant of foreign investment
State welfare legislation had improved workers conditions
In what ways wasn’t Russia stable in 1914
Duma powers limited
Fundamental laws reinstated Tsarist authority
Slow progress
60% still illiterate
How did WW1 affect Russia
Tsar blamed for military failures
Political control was being undermined by Zemstva and Duma
Increased worker unrest and discontent by 1917
Describe the events of the Feb revolution 1917
Tsar authorised use of troops to stop rioting and closed down Duma
66,000 soldiers mutinied
Provisional Committee of Duma demanded tsars abdication
What did Tsar Nicholas abdicate
March 2nd
When was order no 1 issued
February 28th
What was order no 1
A charter of soldiers rights
Army under political control of Petrograd Soviet
Full citizens rights to soldiers when off duty
What was the Petrograd soviet
Made up of SRs and Mensheviks
3000 members
Representative of the people
How was Russia controlled by the Petrograd Soviet and PG
Dual authority
Different objectives
What three problems did the dual authority government identify in 1917
Unrest
War
Lack of food
What did the Petrograd Soviet demand from the dual authority government
Freedom of speech
Self governance of the army
Secret police disbanded
What criticism did the PG receive from their policies
Delayed national elections
Continued with the war
Failed to address peasants demand for land
Why were peasants dissatisfied with the PG
Wait for land communes
Not happy with payments grain requisitioning scheme offered
300% rise in the total cost of living
Majority of grain took by army
Why were workers dissatisfied with the PG
Refusal of 8-hr day, wage rises and improvements in conditions
Food shortages
Factories began to close due to worsening economic problems
Majority conscripted
When was the April Thesis issued and by who
April 1917
Lenin
What was the April thesis designed to do
Win support for the Bolsheviks Unite Bolsheviks Promote failings of PG spread Marxist-Leninist ideas Make Bolsheviks more appealing
Why did the June offensive help cause the October Revolution 1917
Caused drop in morale
Soldiers deserted in thousands
What happened during the July Days
Increase in peasants attacks and riots
Particularly in Petrograd
Bolsheviks blamed, strengthening PG
When was the Kornliov affair
26th to 30th August
What did Kornliov demand from the PG
Reintroduction of death penalty and courts martial (went against order no 1)
Tougher sanctions on workers - banning strikes
Railways placed under military control
What action did the PG and Kerensky take against Kornilov
Feared further demands would mane Kornilov wanted to form a military dictatorship
Asked Soviet for help, supplying them with arms
Soviet defended the PG
damaged Kerensky’s reputation
What consequences for the PG did the Kornilov affair have
Lost support of the army and Soviet
What were the outcomes of the Kornilov affair for the Bolsheviks
Elected in increased numbers in the Soviet
Support increased by 164% in Duma
Membership reached 200,000
Won majority in Soviet in September
What were the main weaknesses of the PG
Failed to address concerns of Russian people
Lost support of army and discredited by akornilov affair
Soviet held power
Underestimated strength of Bolsheviks
What were the main strengths of the Bolsheviks
Strong leadership
Policies in line with what workers wanted
Only party to oppose continuation of war
Describe the events of the October Revolution 1917
Lenin returned from exile 7th
Set up Military Revolutionary Committee to protect city against PG troops
Central committee voted in favour of armed uprising 10th
Kerensky tried to maintain control: closing down Bolshevik printers etc.
MRC took control over key positions 24th:
- 5000 soldiers and sailors gave support
- red guards seized key areas
- seized government headquarters
- Lenin announced at All Russian Congress of Soviets that Bolsheviks had taken control in the name of the Soviet
