AS History: Tsarist Russia

1855 - 1917

Why was Russia Backwards?

Political
Autocracy No opposition/ other political parties Nobles in control Secret police Conscripted Army

Economic
Harsh winter affected farming Backwards farming methods Banking undeveloped No consumer demand for products Poor communications

Social
50 million serfs 82% of the population 800,000 industrial workers No demand to develop Social hierarchy Mostly of Russian Orthodox religion 3500 people in 6 universities

Other Factors
Climate frozen lakes, hard to import and trade on Size of Russia Extremely hard due to the poor communications

Alexander II 1855-1881
OVERVIEW o Tsar liberator o Failed to provide long term solutions o Emancipation of the serfs 1861 - peasants were allowed to but land from redemption payments to the state for 49years o Established the zemstva; elected council, 40% voted by peasants o Extended primary and secondary education o Universities became autonomous and reduced class bias o Increased criticism of Tsarism - peasants became indebted and led to rise of populist revolutionary movements such as the People's Will o Zemztva led to a desire for democracy o Increased number of educated people o Provided the potential for an organised party - not established till 20th century o Assassinated 1881 by People's Will

Alexander II 1855-1881
KEY DATES

1855 - Alexander II becomes Tsar 1861 Emancipation of serfs 1863 What is to be done? Published 1870-3 Railway Mania years 1877 Political trials of the populists who had gone to the people March 1881 Alexander II assassinated

Why did Alex Emancipate the Serfs?

Political
Social structure did nothing for the nobility Nobles income fell and were still dependent on serfs
Alex's own views
Would bring a more dynamic economy Serfdom morally wrong western view In order for modernisation to happen serfs had to be emancipated 3rd March 1861 emancipation signed and published

Crimean War
Against Turkey suffering a humiliating defeat. Russia realised they had to develop and modernise Had to get rid of conscription and serfdom 374,600 deaths in total

Economic
Nobles forced to take out mortgages on previously owned estates Population doubled in the first half of the century Russia needed to catch up and reassert its power Would lead to more productive peasants Plans to build a great rail.

Moral + Intellectual
Nihilists- ? Intelligentsia- wanted change Reform amongst intellectuals began 1?55 which divided opinion on Russia becoming more western They all suggested different methods

RUSSIA NEEDED TO MODERNISE TO REMAIN A GREAT POWER AND BECOME MORE WESTERNISED THIS COULD ONLY HAPPEN THROUGH EMANCIPATION

o o o o o

SERFDOM HAD LEAD TOPrevention of labour market No need to modernise methods Crimean war exposing Russia's backwardness Peasant revolts (there had been 1467 before 1800) Better to abolish from above, than have it forced upon us from below. Alex FOR THIS TO CHANGE SERFDOM HAD TO BE ABOLISHED

How were the Serfs Emancipated?

Feb 1861
Serfs Freed - 40 million

Gains
A starting block for the peasants?
Peasants granted land and property Rights to marry, travel and set up businesses

Losses
In return from the peasants?
Peasants to pay redemption payments for 49 years These had a high - 6% interest Payments often grater than land value Had to stay within commune until all payments made.

Compensation?
To land owners that lost out Compensation often much higher than the land that was taken was actually worth

However?
Peasants had to wait two years State peasants 5 years

What were the problems with Emancipation?

Peasants had less land often infertile and scattered

Peasants paid more tax so high that they had to sell all their grain, leaving nothing for them to survive on
Little changed peasants still tied to land and Mir and still used traditional farming methods

Household serfs who had no agricultural skills had to find other employment which often wasn't very well paid or productive only gained freedom and no land
Landlords paid off debts did not invest in the economy 248 out of 543million roubles paid to land lords as compensation was used to pay off debts

Russia remained backwards new type of slavery

What was the impact of Alexander IIs other Military Education reforms?
Action Taken Lowered conscription to 6years (was 25) Improved training Humane discipline More efficient Positives Not forced to join Military advanced Negatives Serfs unable to get higher ranks Higher classes dominated Action Taken
Funded educational institutions

Local Gov.
Action Taken
System of elected local councils Electoral collages

Judicial
Action Taken
Local courts set up Made fairer system

Positives
Schools open to all regardless of sex or class. Aimed to help catch up with western modernised countries Curriculum Inspectors More poor and women in unis

Positives
Zhemstva (filled voids from emancipation), had a range of powers to make improvements e.g. To roads

Positives
Equality established more chance of a fair trial - juries Less judges giving into black mail

Negatives
Votes so nobility kept dominant Democracy not achieved. Short on money

Negatives
Little chance of justice No questioning Everyone presumed guilty

Negatives
Radical an militant thinkers increased/ revolutionary ideas

Economic development
o o o Economic Development Tsar tried to modernise Russia by: Emancipation Railways Banks

He acheieved: o 13,000 line of railway o Building blocks on the way to modernisation o o o But failed at: Modernising Russia as it still lagged behind western Russia People not totally freed Time scale too slow

Why did his reforms come to an end?

April 1866 Assassination attempt

Personal life Affair and death of son retreated from political life

Criticisms Slavophiles gone too far westernises not far enough

More Conservative ministers appointed

Increased radical demands and revolutionary activity

Polish Revolt He saw it as ingratitude and pointlessness to further reform

What was the extent of the reaction up to 1881?

Education
Increased censorship over universitys Increased restrictions on entry requirements (prevent lower classes getting in)

Press
Used to attack critics of government

Sentencing
Harsher sentences in jail or exile Separate political trials

Violence and opposition still grew Alexander assassinated by the peoples will.

How significant was opposition to Tsarism up to 1881?

Why did opposition grow from the 1960s? Alexander IIs reforms raised expectations
Discontent amongst higher classes Nobles, landlords Better to reform from above, than have a reform from below Failure to fulfil expectations of reforms Right win opposition

Students studied abroad and returned with new ideas

Less censorship meant new ideas new ideas (and criticisms) spread quickly

Marxism Populism made the government aware of the strong feelings loss of authority and direction

Intellectuals like Herzen and Chernyshevsky (what is to be done?) were influential

What type of radical opposition was there in the 1860s and 1870s?
Populism
Students Persuade peasants to revolt going to the people- dressed up 3000 went to the countryside Win over with socialists ideas But peasants were ignorant and ignored them Land and liberty emerged from this more radical and better organised -violence

The peoples will

From land and liberty Used direct violence terrorism Against gov. in attempt to spark revolution Tsar had to be removed Did not use real names Okrana 37 members + Mikhailov - leader Before the assassination the group had made 8 attempts to kill him. Attempts mostly failed for example blowing up the wrong train Big threat to Tsardom Resulted in political trials 5 hanged, 2 executed, 1 life imprisonment, 1 reduced to 20 yrs Two break off groups Younger peoples will + the other; Terrorism Section (killed Alex III)

Black partition
Tried to persuade peasants to revolt Propaganda without having to use violence

Why did terrorism fail to destroy Tsarism?

The terrorists failed to gain enough support

Terrorists offered no alternative form of government

Conservatives continued to support the Tsar rather than radicals

Alexander III 1881-1894

OVERVIEW o Period of successful repression o Crushed revolutionaries in the short term o Economic change from Witte and the great spurt o Utilised emergency powers o Created the Okhrana o Increased censorship o Created land captains o Increased government interference in laws o Restricted the zemstva and education o Period of Russification o Supported industrialisation - 8% increase per anum o Exploited agriculture as a form of income from exports o Created stability for autocracy o He predicted 1905 revolution from the growth of urban and rural unrest

Alexander III 1881-1894

KEY DATES

March 1881 Alexander III becomes Tsar 1885 Peasant land banks 1891-2 Russia's worst famine of the 19th century 1892 Witte takes over from Vyshnegradsky 1894 Nicholas becomes Tsar

Vyshenegradsky and Witte

Vyshenegradsky
Finance minister 18871892 Trans Siberian rail and tariffs Stronger gov interference Increased tax (on peasants) and pushed for exportation of goods Balanced budget deficit 1891-1892 famine

Witte
Finance minister 1893 Highly influential extensive industrialisation Oversaw construction of railway Economic growth Foreign investments encouraged Gold standard Committed to industrialisation driving force Economic development only way to raise living standards If everyone prospered then no call for revolution Identified key problems insufficient capital, lack of expertise, no manpower

Why did the government encourage Economic Development

Economic strength = military strength
Able to produce more weapons to protect Russia

Industrial growth
For higher wages Employment Cheaper goods Would guard against social unrest Couldn't compete with other European countries who had experienced industrial revolution Had resources but couldn't use them efficiently because of a lack of industry

Emancipation
failed to stimulate agricultural development Russia still backwards Would create more jobs for freed serfs

What policies were introduced?

Protective Tariffs Foreign investment
1880 98 million roubles 1900 911 million roubles

Make Russian currency Stable

Expansion of the Railway System

1900 53,000 km 1840 27 km of railway

Peasants land bank

Peasant Poll Tax abolished

Advice
Foreign experts and workers encouraged to advise on planning and techniques

Taxes raised

What were the effects of the policies? Positives

Economy expansion
1900 expanding at 8% per annum Russia 4th largest economy Exploitation of Russia's raw materials New industrial ideas

Growth in foreign Trade

However exports mainly agricultural Transport steamboats train

Classes
Urbanisation working classes reached aprox. 11 million

What were the effects of the policies? Negatives

Poor living and working conditions
Slums, over crowding, pollution, poor health 1904 1/3 of houses in st Petersburg had houses with water

Low wages and unsecure employment

1899 Russia affected by world depression

Church
Influence of Orthodox church weakened peasants moved to cities

Workers vulnerable to revolutionary propaganda Heavy spending on military

1885 onwards 50% of government spending on military

Middle class and workers grew

Denied political voice

What were the effects of the policies on the rural economy

Grain exports increased
Low income

Taxes raised so peasants sold more grain to survive Backwards methods remained
Land hunger mir still active Poor yields

Famine -1891 peasants

2 million died of starvation, also outbreaks of typhus and cholera Gov criticised by liberals and radicals Vyshenegradshy we shall not eat but we shall export

Other
Improvements in healthcare able to do scheme 97 million Didn't deal with strain of growing population Unfit for military service IMR 57.4% LE 27 men 30 women England's 46 Peasants affected negatively

Land bank
Peasants purchased 1/3 of landlords estates Increased debt and taxes American farms 1.5 that of Russia and Britain 4 times greater

What type of opposition and ideas emerged from the 1880s?

Middle class and workforce
Potential opponents

Marxism
Intellectuals support revolution from the workers not peasants Vision of economic and industrial growth Workers key to power

Intellectuals
Criticises Tsarism

Zemstva
Demanded more powers

Liberals (mainly middle class)

Wanted modernisation more westernised 1904 union of liberation formed demanded democracy

Russian Social democratic labour party

Believed in Marxism split into: Bolsheviks Small, sieze power ASAP Mensheviks Spread propaganda not to lead to revolution

Socialist revolutionary party (was populist)

Terrorism and reform from below (peasants) little support

Why did radical opposition emerge?

Marxism
New radical ideas

Social effects of industrialisation

Urbanisation More industrial workers Growing middle classes

Reactionary policies of Alexander III and chief minister Chief Minister Pobedonostsev

Famine 1891-92

Combating opposition Secret police

Okhrana Intrusive Find revolutionary activity Communists, socialists, trade unions etc.. Torturing, executions and exile

What were the reactionary policies?

Harsher Sentencing
Special courts set up to try political offences
Lberal judges removed

Gov direct control over police Severe prison conditions Land captains appointed by Tsarist gov
Control courts, and local gov (Zemstva)

Russification forced to learn language and culture

Discrimination and Anti-Semitism 5million Jews blamed for Russia's problems

University fees raised

Tougher requirements and censorship

Peasant representation in Zemstva reduced Lower classes got secondary education

What reforms were introduced, 1881 1904?

Employment of children under 12 banned Female workers in mines were banned Introduction of 11 hour days
Largely ignored

Factory inspections

Peasant land bank

Allowed to buy land from land lords

Peasants poll tax abolished

Part I

Nicholas II 1894-1917
OVERVIEW o Did not want to be Tsar o Unprepared o Autocratic o Believed in the Divine Right from tutor Pobedonstev o Saw reform as a "senseless dream o Continued repression - extended Russification. o Could not maintain the regime o Zemstva grew in power and strikes increased o Peasant discontent grew from tax burden o Land hunger resulted from an increase in population o Loss of Russo-Japanese war o Disorganised 1905 revolution which was ended by the weakness of opposition and government concessions

Nicholas II 1894-1917
(Part I - 1894-1906)

KEY DATES
1894 Nicholas II becomes Tsar 1902-5 series of peasant uprisings 1903 Worst wave of anti Semitic pogroms 1904-5 Russo-Japanese war Jan 1905 Bloody Sunday October 1905 October manifesto

March 1906 Fundamental laws

Why did war with Japan break out in 1904-5?

Land Disputes
Japan believed Russia wanted to gain land in the far east They had disputes over Korea and Manchuria

Japan attacks
Japanese attacked the Russian fleet of port Arthur

Under estimation
Russians believed they would win War would deflect attention from domestic problems

What were the consequences of the war?

Beginning
Early patriotism and support of the Tsar War was a distraction from domestic problems

Military
Army defeat in 1904 and 05 Total destruction of Russia's main fleet in May 1905 added to the revolutionary process

Result to Russia
Humiliation Forced to negotiate a peace treaty (Treaty of Portsmouth) and lost influence in the far east

What incidents followed Bloody Sunday?

How did the 1905 Revolution start? Bloody SundayJan 1905 Demonstration lead by Father Gapon They demanded: 8hour working day Elected assembly Freedom of speech 150,000 protestors fired on by soldiers in front of Tsars winter palace Up to 200 deaths 800 wounded

As a result...
General strikes swept across Russia, Jan-Feb 1905 400,000 strikers Union of unions formed demanded reform Sailors on the Potemkin Battleship mutinied Putilov Plant strikes All Russian Peasants union demanded land reform Railway Strike turned into general strike 2.7 million Constitutional democratic Party formed Kadets Soviet set up workers council Workers in Moscow set up baracades fighting with police and soldiers Peasant uprisings spread 3000. land lords houses property runined

Why did Revolution occur in 1905?

Political
Revolutionary groups encouraged action against Tsarism change only through revolution (SRs) Military defeat with Japan humiliation Repression by gov secret police and censorship Disillusionment of middle class who were denied political outlet Nationalism non Russians angry at policies towards them (Russification)

TRIGGER
Bloody Sunday 9th/22nd Jan 1905

Social
Poor living conditions Poor working conditions Peasants discontent War left food shortage, high prices and unemployment

Economic
Economic Slump job loss Poor harvests starvation, disease, civil unrest Population expansion lead to pressure on resources Wittes reforms affected the least paid the most had to work in bad conditions, low wages and high tax Peasants tax and redemption payments

What reforms did Nicholas allow and promise in response to the revolution?
Government
Nicholas accepted cabinet government and appointed Witte as his first prime minister Had warned on verge of revolution Redemption It Promised payments cancelled Elected State Duma Freedom of Assembly Freedom of press The Fundamental Freedom of speech

October Manifesto

Peasants

Laws

Russian people reaction

And the opposition?
United at start of 1905 - Divided by end of 1905 Liberals accepted St Petersburg soviet called general strike not supported by workers and middle class General strike called off birth of new Russia Trotsky and Lenin granted constitution yet autocracy remains granted everything yet granted nothing

Celebration on streets of St Petersburg sang, waved flags

Legislative power with Duma and council of empire Tsar approves laws without, a law cannot exist Tsar can appoint and dismiss the president of the Duma Tsar can abolish Duma

What means of repression did Nicholas and Stolypin use?

Petersburg soviet closed down

Uprising and Violence

Moscow uprising was bloodily put down Over 1000 workers died two weeks of street fighting

Laws Fundamental laws

Tsar issued Limited Duma power Tsar ultimate authority Martial law declared

Opposition
Arrests of opponents 200,000 political prisoners 1908 1912 Lena Goldfields massacre 200 strikers killed by soldiers Strike for working conditions and living conditions Caused widespread disgust but not revolution

Death penalty
Use of death penalty 5000 death sentences between 1907-09

Part II

Nicholas II 1905-1917
OVERVIEW

o Reforming concessions under the influence of Witte o End of peasant debt o October manifesto - creation of Duma (parliament) which pulled the Liberal movements suit o Fundamental laws 1906 - limited legislative power of the Duma o Stolypin's restrictions made the Duma supportive of the Tsar o The first agrarian reforms created by Stolypin - the Stolypin system

Nicholas II 1894-1917
(Part II 1906 - 1917)

KEY DATES

May 1906 Meeting of the First Duma 1907 Cancellation of redemption payments April 1912 Lena Goldfields massacre August 1914 Russia enters FWW 1915-16 ministerial leapfrogging changing ministers 18th Feb 3rd March February revolution

How did the Dumas operate?

1st Duma National hopes
April June 1906 30% workers/peasents Majority of SRs, Bolsheviks Mensheviks, Octoberists etc. Wanted: everyone to have a vote, Land reforms, Trade union rights, Release political prisoners These were all rejected by Tsar Dissolved by Tsar too radical and demanding

2nd Duma National anger

Feb June 1907 Governments attempts to interfere with elections Dissolved by Tsar after refusing to expel social democratic deputies Liberal members reduced and left wingers increased Stolypin dissolved wanted to change voting system exclude large number voting

3rd Duma Lords and Lackeys

3rd Nov 1907 1912 Agreed 2000-2500 gov proposals Disputes By the end not working no control More representation of nobility Opposition parties (Bols..) now outnumbered by reactionaries and nationalists

4th Duma
November 1912- August 1917 Rift between left and right Number of radicals increased Duma ignored Workers took initiative strike activity and direct action

What agrarian reforms were introduced by Stolypin?

Aims Goal to transform traditional agriculture Abolish communal system Aimed to create a new type of peasant class Wager on the strong and sober - Stolypin

Success
Immediate impact 15% of the peasantry took up new opportunities 1914 25% left communes 10% consolidated their holdings Land banks set up to help peasants become owners 1907 redemption payments abolished Nobility support revolution less likely

Limitations
Not total success After initial rush applications to leave and consolidate declined Stolypins peasants became more prosperous (ones who took advantage) 14% of communal land passed onto private ownership Strip farming carried on and wouldn't give up security of the mir Couldn't build large farms Poor and landless peasants - alienated

What was the condition of Russia in 1914?

Positives

Negatives

Some increasingly prosperous peasants Rapidly growing industry Improving working and living conditions for some high inflation, no real improvement in their living standards 1905-14 Peasants became richer, gained freedom to buy land, travel and more independence (peasants) Health service, education, wages (workers) Professional job expansion, support conservative outlook (middle class) Stolypins necktie, 3,000 hung, military courts, repression okrana, Duma (less political opposition) Banks, oil (second to Texas) 100% increase in production, coal increase fourth largest (economic growth) Duma succeeds in land reform, autocrat evolution, loyalty (stability)

Industry still small and inefficient Agricultural production remained low Repression did not get rid of opposition opposition went underground 4/5 still peasants, 60% illiterate, Serbia land taken, increase gap between rich and poor gained little from boom (peasants) No trade unions, grim conditions, low education, 1912-14 3mill involved in strike, inflation, Lena goldfields(wk) Minority, growth in rev. Ideas Marxism, Bolsheviks etc. (M/class) inflation, unstable econ, communications not passed on(economic growth) Duma-lack of power + abollished, fundamental laws, unfair trials, Tsar threat (stability)

How had Russia developed economically by 1914?

Developed
Exports growing Economy growing 8.8% per year more than western rivals 5th largest industrial power Expanded enterprises State money into heavy industry 4th largest coal producer Neglect light industry grew with consumer demand State revenue doubled 4bil roubles 2393 banks by 1914 Factories rise 2300 Extension of health services 1912- health insurance estab. 10years compulsory education -77% growth in pupils 1914 40% literacy rate increase

Undeveloped
Industry only employed 5% of population Population explosion crisis in agriculture and poor working/living conditions Regime still reliant on depression No trade unions or legal protection At mercy of employers Wages rose but so did inflation -40% Some areas better than others Conditions grim Low levels of education Lena goldfields 3 million workers invloved in strike activity 4/5 Russian pop. Still peasants lack of development

Why was Tsarism able to survive up to 1914?

Decline in support for revolutionary groups
Repression of revolutionary groups authorities successful, secret police infiltration Lenin, SRs etc. Exiled 1444 people hung in 1907 Arrests and speady trials 3000 suspects convicted and executed Groups divided RSDLP into Bolsheviks and Mensheviks Loss of support dropped from 150,000 in 1905 to 10,000 in 1914 4th Duma only 13 seats Most wanted to get on with the difficult task of living SRs not clear how they would bring change

Growing support for the government

Governmental reforms Education taxation Stolypin worked with 3rd and 4th Dumas changed electoral system, co-operation with the Tsars government - more willing Liberals (octoberists/kadets) to work with Tsars government Advance in industrialisation and economic growth Increased workers standard of living

Situation in March 1917

Tsars actions
Not listen to reform, close duma, reassert authority by joining front line

Social and Economic discontent

Only 9% of Russia mobilised -Women and children took over work People in army relieved pop. Pressures -produce less goods

Royal Family
Unpopular blamed military failings on Nic -Dislike Tsarina- German spy? Final straw to let Rasputin and Tsarina take over lost support and nobility support

Liberal opposition
Unsuccessful Duma overruled and abolished Split, radical action and compromised

Armed forces
Poorly equipped Conscription
Early patriotism High deaths -food shortage -opposition

- Refused orders dont remain loyal

War
(similar to 1905 revolution but larger scale)

Tsar Abdication
Railway workers refused Tsar entrance to Petrograd Tsar abdicates and exiled -Siberia

Army takes side

Feb army refuse to obey orders some shot officers and joined demonstrations

Revolution begins
International woman's day- Tsar order to use force Putliov works strike in Petrograd 40,000

Loss of support
Middle classes wanted a greater say Resentment towards Tsarina and Rasputin Harsh winters of 1916

Tsar goes to front line

Personal responsibility Tsarina and Rasputin left to run country

Effects of war at home

Food and fuel shortage Inflation - prohibition -unemployment

The effects of war

Deafeats at Tannenberg + Masurian lakes 1 million+ casualties or prisoners of war by 1914

IN DEATAIL Masurian Lakes and Tannenberg Masurian lake and Tannenberg battles: oSuffered humiliating defeats o1 million losses and casualties oLarge majority of the killed were inexperienced soldiers oDrop in moral oLow intake oDesertion and mutinies oNot properly equipped clothing, two riffles between three oCommunication problems oNic II went to front line questioning of Tsars capability personally responsible oMobilised 15million men between 1914 and 1917 Positive oBegan to make 10,000 riffles a month - Positive

Provisional Government 1917+

OVERVIEW

oSometimes known as the "Kerensky Government" after its leader. oIt lasted approximately eight months oLed by socialist Alexander Kerensky, a prominent member of the Duma and a leader of the movement to unseat the Tsar. oThe Provisional Government was unable to make decisive policy decisions oThis weakness left the government open to strong challenges from both the right and the left. oThe period of competition for authority ended in late October 1917 oBolsheviks routed the ministers of the Provisional Government in the events known as the October Revolution oThey then placed power in the hands of the soviets, or "workers councils," which they largely controlled.

Provisional Government 1917+

KEY DATES

27th Feb 1917 First meeting of Petrograd soviet (workers, sailors etc.) 27th Feb 1917 Provisional Government established 3rd April 1917 Lenins return 3rd-6th July 1917 the July Days August 1917 Kornilov revolt 24th Oct 1917 Members of the red guard seize key points in Petrograd

What was the impact of the FWW - Military

Defeats
Only 8.8% mobilised Compared to Germanys 20.5% Lacked equipment and admin Within first two years met demands - but after huge shortages Lacked equipment and admin Food shortages Attitude turned to pessimism and defeatism

Losses
1.6 million deaths by 1917 3.9 million wounded 2.4 million taken prisoner Mass mutinies

Faith in the Tsar

Lost as commander in chief Made the decision to join and command the Russian armed forces

Stone some historians may have exaggerated Russia's weakness in 1917

What was the impact of the FWW - Economic

Cost
Inflation In three years meat prices rose by 232% 1.5 billion roubles spent on war High taxation and borrowing from abroad gave Russia the funds it needed Wages were paid but money was worthless

Transport/Food
Disruption of rails caused massive food shortages By 1914 Russia had 44,000 miles of railway Huge pressures to transport troops and food to front line Food left to rot as the side of rail breakdowns Petrograd and Moscow got 1/3rd of the food it needed Hunger/famine reality of war Lack of resources for the population

Fuel Shortages
The lack of coal increase Hugely affect transport Moscow and Petrograd got 1/3rd of the fuel it needed

What was the impact of the FWW - Politically

Loss in government support
Tsar devoted to autocracy Tsars refusal to cooperate with nongov organisations Zemstva, union of town councils Military zones civilian authority taken over in these areas Zemstva and city authorities became the Zemgor focus of liberal opposition Zemgor Help for war wounded Russians Highlighted gov. Failures Alternative to Tsarism? Tsarina reputation damaged by Rasputins influence over her Tsarina German spy?

Formation of progressive bloc

Kadets, octoberists, nationalists and progressive industrialists Liberal members of Dumas Opposed Tsarism Bloc to persuade Tsar to make concessions focal point of politic resistance

Support for Radicals increase

Social revolutionaries, Mensheviks Bolsheviks

The February Revolution - 1917

International Demonstrations Demonstrations Who supported revolution? Continued and Grew and spread Women's Day + intensified Soldiers joined in Attacked gov Striking workers Petrograd garrison refused to fire oRevolution was spontaneous buildings Down 240,000 involved at crowds as Nic ordered with the Tsar, Down oIt was not planned by political parties Half actively supported with the War oSukhanov No one revolution preparing for the great overturn party was Tsar refusal to Tsar unable to return to Generals convinced form new Why did the February Revolution occur? II to abdicate Petrograd Nic Workers had railways torn Would help war government at oThe Long war up effort - Ruzsky request of Dumawas overwhelming oGovernment could not cope with the war Provisional Gov formed Included members of progressive bloc and Petrograd soviet

Who supported revolution? oRevolution was spontaneous oIt was not planned by political parties oSukhanov No one party was preparing for the great overturn

Why did the February Revolution occur?

oThe Long war was overwhelming oGovernment could not cope with the war

What were the problems faced by the Provisional Government, March-Oct 1917
Land Redistribution
Provisional gov delayed this and refused Peasants began to seize land July 1917 1,100 illegal attacks by peasants on landlords property Deserters returned home to claim their land

The War
Continued losses and desertions July (1917) offensive failed Loyalty to allies

Food and Fuel shortages

Continued Especially in towns and cities

Kornilov Affair
General Kornilov march into Petrograd (wanted stricter discipline) Pro Gov armed workers Kerensky turned to Bolsheviks for support to help defend Exploited the weakness of the gov Had to rely on opposition to stay in power

Dual Power
Between Pro gov and Petrograd soviet Needed soviets support to pass anything

Continuingly growing opposition

Bolsheviks grew peace, bread, land Kornilov Affair key to this SRs Bolsheviks and Mensheviks Inspired by Marxism

Petrograd Soviet and Provisional Government

oProvisional government = formed from Kadet and Octoberist members of the Duma
oSoviets = Workers, soldiers 3000 members not dominated by one racial party oMay 1917 Soviets joined the Provisional Government

What were the problems faced by the Provisional Government, March-Oct 1917 ....Kornilov Affair in Detail
July days series of demonstrations/strikes/protests Exploited the provisional government as weak having a lack of control over the Russian people Kornilov believed in stricter discipline of the Russian people to repress them Believed he could take over and do a better job For those who didn't comply harsher penalties or sent to front line General Kornilov march into Petrograd Pro Gov armed workers Kerensky turned to Bolsheviks for support to help defend Exploited the weakness of the gov Had to rely on opposition to stay in power Then what? Bolsheviks seized opportunity to organise workers red guards Kerensky supplied with arms Kerensky ordered Kornilov to surrender (was planning military dictatorship?) Sept 1st Kornilov and General arrested

Why were the Bolsheviks able to seize power?

The Pro Gov became more and more disliked
(previous slide)

The Bolsheviks were increasingly popular

Majority party in Petrograd

Lenin was a good leader

April Thesis End to war All power to the soviets Peace bread land Kornilov affair showed that Bolsheviks could lead Bolsheviks opposed the provisional government Not compromised by their involvement SRs and Mensheviks were

Trotskys (Bol) organisation helped them seize the moment

He became chairman of soviet Soldiers agreed to give Bolsheviks weapons

How did the Bolsheviks seize power?

24th Oct 1917 Bolsheviks took up key points in Petrograd
Bridges Post offices Railways Banks

Kerensky (pro gov leader) appealed for help but none came

Lenin announced replacement of the Provisional Government

Social revolutionaries and Mensheviks refused to work with Bolsheviks

So Bolsheviks formed a government alone.

Revolution was a coup detat - blow state