Topic 4

Question 1

It what ways was Russia stable in 1914

Answer 1

Duma provided a platform for political debate
Constitutional monarchy was developing
Economy less reliant of foreign investment
State welfare legislation had improved workers conditions

Question 2

In what ways wasn’t Russia stable in 1914

Answer 2

Duma powers limited
Fundamental laws reinstated Tsarist authority
Slow progress
60% still illiterate

Question 3

How did WW1 affect Russia

Answer 3

Tsar blamed for military failures
Political control was being undermined by Zemstva and Duma

Increased worker unrest and discontent by 1917

Question 4

Describe the events of the Feb revolution 1917

Answer 4

Tsar authorised use of troops to stop rioting and closed down Duma
66,000 soldiers mutinied
Provisional Committee of Duma demanded tsars abdication

Question 5

What did Tsar Nicholas abdicate

Answer 5

March 2nd

Question 6

When was order no 1 issued

Answer 6

February 28th

Question 7

What was order no 1

Answer 7

A charter of soldiers rights
Army under political control of Petrograd Soviet
Full citizens rights to soldiers when off duty

Question 8

What was the Petrograd soviet

Answer 8

Made up of SRs and Mensheviks
3000 members
Representative of the people

Question 9

How was Russia controlled by the Petrograd Soviet and PG

Answer 9

Dual authority

Different objectives

Question 10

What three problems did the dual authority government identify in 1917

Answer 10

Unrest
War
Lack of food

Question 11

What did the Petrograd Soviet demand from the dual authority government

Answer 11

Freedom of speech
Self governance of the army
Secret police disbanded

Question 12

What criticism did the PG receive from their policies

Answer 12

Delayed national elections
Continued with the war
Failed to address peasants demand for land

Question 13

Why were peasants dissatisfied with the PG

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Why were workers dissatisfied with the PG

Answer 14

Refusal of 8-hr day, wage rises and improvements in conditions
Food shortages
Factories began to close due to worsening economic problems
Majority conscripted

Question 15

When was the April Thesis issued and by who

Answer 15

April 1917

Lenin

Question 16

What was the April thesis designed to do

Answer 16

Win support for the Bolsheviks 
Unite Bolsheviks
Promote failings of PG
spread Marxist-Leninist ideas 
Make Bolsheviks more appealing

Question 17

Why did the June offensive help cause the October Revolution 1917

Answer 17

Caused drop in morale

Soldiers deserted in thousands

Question 18

What happened during the July Days

Answer 18

Increase in peasants attacks and riots
Particularly in Petrograd
Bolsheviks blamed, strengthening PG

Question 19

When was the Kornliov affair

Answer 19

26th to 30th August

Question 20

What did Kornliov demand from the PG

Answer 20

Reintroduction of death penalty and courts martial (went against order no 1)
Tougher sanctions on workers - banning strikes
Railways placed under military control

Question 21

What action did the PG and Kerensky take against Kornilov

Answer 21

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

Question 22

What consequences for the PG did the Kornilov affair have

Answer 22

Lost support of the army and Soviet

Question 23

What were the outcomes of the Kornilov affair for the Bolsheviks

Answer 23

Elected in increased numbers in the Soviet
Support increased by 164% in Duma
Membership reached 200,000
Won majority in Soviet in September

Question 24

What were the main weaknesses of the PG

Answer 24

Failed to address concerns of Russian people
Lost support of army and discredited by akornilov affair
Soviet held power
Underestimated strength of Bolsheviks

Question 25

What were the main strengths of the Bolsheviks

Answer 25

Strong leadership
Policies in line with what workers wanted
Only party to oppose continuation of war

Question 26

Describe the events of the October Revolution 1917

Answer 26

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