dissent and revolution, 1917 Flashcards

1
Q

what impact did ww1 have on the middle class? x3

A

The cost of living rose by 300%
strikes and fuel shortages meant that factories couldn’t run, and were closed
progressive bloc emerged 1915 + wanted a more representative style of government

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2
Q

what impact did ww1 have on the aristocracy? x4

A

discontent grew at the top
conscription of 13 million meant loss of peasant labour affected their livelihood, causing discontent
the tsarina, Alexandra was unpopular because she was German and took advice from rasputin, embarassing they royal family and court - aristocratic plot to murder rasputin

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3
Q

what economic consequences were caused by ww1? x8

A

to pay for the war, the government increased taxes and raised huge loans from the abroad, adding to inflation
cost of living increased by 300% by 1917
money became worthless
markets in the countryside collapsed
millions of conscripted men left labour shortages, and food was left to rot in the fields as it couldn’t be harvested
German and Ottoman blockades of sea ports, and german occupation of Poland robbed Russia of vital industrial and trading capability
unemployment increased
breakdown of railways

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4
Q

what social consequences were caused by ww1? x4

A

led to an outburst of patriotism initially
morale fell after defeats at Tannenburg and the Mansurian lakes
food shortages in towns and cities
poor sanitation and diet
poor hygiene
eventually caused feb 1917 rev
strikes

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5
Q

what impact did ww1 have on the workers? x8

A

in Jan 1917, 30,000 went on strike in Moscow, and 145,000 in Petrograd
Strikes were mostly caused by bad working conditions
Police intervention in the strikes led to many dead and wounded
living standards decreased
rising priced destroyed buying power of wages= little incentive or peasants to sell their goods and produce
strikes were encouraged to undermine russias wartime capability
started supporting more radical parties, such as the SRs and Bolsheviks

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6
Q

what impact did ww1 have on the army?

A

caused deep discontent after they were poorly supplied, and treated awfully by officers.
Failures at Tannesburg, Mansurian Lakes and Galcia undermined war effort
Many supported Bolsheviks by 1917
1.5 million deserters

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7
Q

how did economic backwardness contribute to revolution in 1917?

A

no industrialisation, meant that Russia had a weak economy compared to the west
inflation

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8
Q

how did social oppression of lower classes contribute to revolution in 1917?

A

failed emancipation of serfs angered the working class

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9
Q

how did historic military humiliation contribute to revolution in 1917?

A

Humiliation of ww1 failures such as Tannesberg, and Galcia, and the Russo-Japanese War, as they lost Port Arthur and caused growing anger at the tsar

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10
Q

how did failure to politically reform in both the long and short term contribute to revolution in 1917?

A

Alexander III didn’t do any social reforms, and the Duma being dissolved caused anger towards the tsar

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11
Q

how did war failures and suffering on the home front contribute to revolution in Feb 1917?

A

Failures at Tannesburg, Mansurian Lakes and Galcia caused a loss in morale and hope.

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12
Q

how did the economic disaster contribute to revolution in 1917?

A

the cost of living rose by 300%, which upset and angered the middle and lower class

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13
Q

how did the government of Tsarina Alexander contribute to revolution in 1917?

A

It was advised by Rasputin, and was very inefficient

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14
Q

how did the Tsar Nicholas’ decision making contribute to revolution in 1917?

A

inefficient

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15
Q

what happened on the 14th of February 1917, the first day of the revolution?

A

100,000 workers from over 50 factories went on strike across Petrograd.
Women spent up to 24 hours in queues for food and goods
Workers who had been laid off wondered in the streets
triggered by a shortage of bread, and bread rationing

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16
Q

what happened on the 22nd of February 1917?

A

Further strikes occured
Talks for Pulitov steel works collapse caused 20,000 workers to go on strike.

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17
Q

what happened on the 23rd of February 1917?

A

March to commemorate International Womens Day was joined by 240,000 striking metal workers
March visited factories and taunted men for not supporting
female tram drivers pushed trams over to block the streets

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18
Q

what happened on the 24th of February 1917?

A

200,000 strikers whipped up crowds (of all classes) in Petrograd to make emotive speeches in city centre
They demanded bread, and the end to the war, and tsarism
Bolsheviks spread protest and got more workers on the streets

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19
Q

what happened on the 25th of February 1917?

A

General strike
major factories, resturants and shops closed down
over half of the Petrograds workforce (250,000) refused to work

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20
Q

what happened on the 26th of February 1917?

A

soldiers joined in with the demonstration, mostly NCOs as they have a more direct relationship with soldiers, dozens of them were killed by regiments
regiments decided not to fire into crowd
young reservists were desperate not to be sent to the frontline

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21
Q

what happened on the 27th of February 1917?

A

Nicholas followed tsarina’s advice, and ordered new military chief of Petrograd (General Khabalov) to restore oder immediately. Tsar ordered Duma to dissolve (they kept temporary committee) and returned to the capital
Regiments moved to people’s side- 66,000 soldiers mutinied
number of officers killed

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22
Q

what happened on the 28th of February 1917?

A

Regiments that supported the cuase threw police snipers off roofs, crowds broke into prisons and barracks, burnt down police stations. Winter Palace seized.
Leaders emerged from the tsars most famous prison, or gained respect eg Alexander Kerensky
out of control

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23
Q

what happened on the 1st March 1917?

A

Bolsheviks were reluctant to declare themselves new government without royal or popular approval
Soviets issued order no 1, and effectivley took control
Duma dispatched delegation of deputies to form PG led by Alexander Guchkov

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24
Q

what happened on the 2nd March 1917?

A

Tsar Nicholas II abdicated the throne to the Grand Duke (brother) who rejected the throne
the Romanov rule ended

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25
Q

what were the aims of the provisional government? x6

A

immediate amnesty for all political prisoners
immediate freedom of speech
abolition of religious and social privileges
preparations for a constituent assembly where everybody could vote
police replaced by miltia
local councils and zemstva elected

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26
Q

what were the aims and principles of the Petrograd Soviet? x6

A

All military units were to elect committees from their lower ranks
All military units were to elects representatives to attend the Soviet
The orders of the Soviet should take priority over the PGs orders
All weapons should be controlled by military committees not officers
Soviets must observe military discipline, but attention and saluting when not on duty should be abolished
Addressing officers by Your Honour/Excellencey should be replaced with Mister…

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27
Q

why was support for the PG reducing among the soldiers, workers and peasants?

A

they were viewed as a self-appointed, illegitimate committee composed of the wealthy. They began to believe that the Petrograd Soviet was the true voice of a new Russia.

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28
Q

what was the period of Dual Authority?

A

when the PG and Petrograd Soviet began working side by side

29
Q

what did the Soviet encourage workers to do during the period of Dual Authority?

A

to defy the authorities and assert their rights

30
Q

what was an announcement that the PG made regarding ww1 that made them very unpopular, and what did this announcement lead to?

A

They announced that Russia would continue fighting until they reached “just peace”.
This lead to outrage and protest causing the resignation of Guchkov and Milyukov

31
Q

what did the PG do regarding elections that caused upset?

A

they resisted holding national elections for a Constitutional Assembly as it was clear that the SRs would win the support of the peasantry. These constant postponements led to growing upset and answer on the streets

32
Q

what did the PG do that increased political temperature in the cities?

A

brought back exiled or imprisoned political leaders, including Lenin.

33
Q

what was a problem the PG faced regarding the war and how did they cope/respond?

A

Milykov, foreign minister wanted to defend Russia and make territorial gains, which outraged socialists in the soviet
Milykov was forced to resign, which threw the the PG into crisis, until it was reformed and 5 socialists joined the coalition
Kerensky used propaganda to gain public and political support for ‘just peace’ idea

34
Q

what was a problem the PG faced regarding land and how did they cope/respond?

A

peasants wanted to own farmlands so they started to seize it, as well as livestock and timber from private estates, as there wasn’t anyone to stop them after the collapse of central authority
SRs in PG urged that problem was solved by constituent assembly, Chernov wanted a more radical solution, which was blocked
nothing was fixed
LAND SEIZURES INCREASED, 237 IN JULY 1917

35
Q

what was a problem the PG faced regarding national minorities and how did they cope/respond?

A

ukraine wanted self-government , but ukraine was very valuable to russia, as it had valuable farmland
moderate socialists granted concessions to Ukraine as they believed in national aspirations
seemed to some as the start of the fall of the russian empire

36
Q

what was a problem the PG faced regarding the economy and how did they cope/respond?

A

conditions that caused the Feb Rev stayed the same.
downward spiral continued
railway system broke down
grain prices doubled
strikes, unemployment…
wages rose at only half the price of inflation
PG introduced grain requisitions, angered peasants
industrials pressured PG not to fix prices or interfere
peasants uncoperative

37
Q

what did Lenin suggest in the April Theses?

A

SECOND REVOLUTION against PG
MARXIST-LENNINISM immediate change
PERMANENT REVOLUTION
ALL POWER TO THE SOVIETS
PEACE BREAD AND LAND
REDISTRIBUTION OF ALL LAND owed to peasantry

38
Q

how would the April These differentiate the Bolsheviks from other parties?

A

Kadets wanted legal, gradual redistribution
SRs were cooperating with PG
liberals wanted ‘just peace’

39
Q

what might the political reaction the April Theses be?

A

SRs might favour some ideas
Kadets would likely ignore Bolsheviks as they have a v different support base
Mensheviks think that Lenin is crazy and radical
Bolsheviks may find some ideas irrational

40
Q

what problems to do with the war was Kerensky facing as head of the PG?

A

army disintegrating, whole regiments deserting
soldiers shooting officers
soldiers commanding trains to disrupt railways and transport systems
widespread disorder

41
Q

what problems to do with politics was Kerensky facing as head of the PG?

A

Liberals in PG becoming more right wing
moderate socialists out of touch and lacked leadership
support for Bolsheviks was on the up, workers, soldiers and sailors radicalised and wanted reform

42
Q

what mistakes did Kerensky make in 1917?

A

the failed offensive on the eastern front leading to mutiny made him, and the PG unpopular
Kornilov affair made it seem like the Pg have bad judgement, and they went back on their world

43
Q

what were the causes of the October Revolution?

A

by the end of September 1917, there had been a polarisation of political forces. Election results for the soviet and city councils showed rising support and popularity for the Soviets: they had majorities in the Petrograd and Moscow, and 4/7 seats on the Soviet executive committee were filled by Bolsheviks

44
Q

how much of the vote did the bolsheviks have in September 1917, and how did this compare to June 1917?

A

51% in September
11% in June

45
Q

what 2 orders did the Bolsheviks disobey from Lenin’s letters from Finland?

A

he suggested that they should form a coalition with Mensheviks and SRs
urged them to seize power earlier than they did, which they disobeyed as they did not think they had enough power all across Russia

46
Q

what did Lenin argue at the meeting of the central committee on the 10th June?
who was on his side + who wasn’t?

A

that an ‘armed uprising is the order of the day’
trotsky took his side
Zinoviev and Kamanev opposes

47
Q

what did Trotsky persuade the army representatives to do at the Smolny Institute on the 21st October?

A

persuaded them to support the Soviet above the counter-revolutionary forces

48
Q

how did Zinoviev and Kamanev cause a divide within the party?

A

published an article that explained the Bolsheviks plan
this infuriated Lenin and caused a divide within the party

49
Q

what happened on the 24th October?

A

Kerensky (head of PG) decided to act
troops loyal to Pg were placed all across Petrograd
lenin went into hiding
MRC under Trotsky responded quickly
Red Guards and Petrograd Garrison troops took control of telphone exchange and post offices, banks and train station and faced very little resistance
PG troops disobeyed orders and handed over weapons

50
Q

how was Kerensky at fault for the PGs loss of the October revolution?

A

underestimated the strength and reliability of Garrison troops
released Bolshevik leaders after Korninlov affair
failed to call elections early enough

51
Q

how many units of soldiers declared alliegance to the soviet instead of the PG?

A

15/18

52
Q

what did Lenin do on the 25th October?

A

arrived at smolny institute and released a declaration saying that the PG had been disposed

53
Q

which part of Petrograd had the Soviets not gained control of?

A

the winter palace
surrounded by cadets

54
Q

what fatal mistake did the socialist delegates make on the 26th October?

A

70 delegates of the main socialist parties stormed out of the Winter palace in protest cuaing transfer of all power to the soviets across the whole country

54
Q

what did the Soviets immediatley do after winning the revolution?

A

ended russian involvment in ww1
issued a decree re transferring land to the peasants

55
Q

what led to the PG downfall?

A

lack of authority as they had not been elected and many russians had thought it would be shorter term than it was

urban discontent- cost of living had risen by 1400% between 1913-1917, inflation, fall of real wages between 10-60%

rural discontent - peasants didn’t have the land promised in the 1861 emancipation of the serfs which they expected just to be handed to them

ww1 - Milykov, foreign minister wanted territorial gains which outraged soviets who wanted ‘just victory’ - PG wanted to continue tsarist methods

56
Q

what caused the july days?

A

socio-economic situation got worse
grain prices doubled
fuel shortages caused 586 factories to close
100,000 jobs lost
20,000 kronstadt sailors had an armed demonstration using Bolshevik flags and slogans - Lenin couldn’t control the increasing numbers of supporters
political opposition supported riots and blamed Bolsheviks for chaos

57
Q

when were the july days?

A

3-5 july 1917

58
Q

what were the causes of the Kornilov affair?

A

PG unpopular
plans for an election in November though many thought that they PG were delaying the election to preserve their own power

59
Q

what happened during the Kornilov affair?

A

Kerensky appointed General Kornilov as Commander in Chief of the Army
Kornilov ordered six regiments to Petrograd to crush the Soviets
Kerensky panicked and called off the plot- releasing Bolsheviks prisoners and providing weapons to halt the advance
Trotsky created a military revolutionary centre to protect Petrograd
Kornilov’s supply lines were cut and leaders arrested

60
Q

what were the consequences of the Kornilov affair?

A

Lenin used coup as propaganda to criticise Kerensky’s government
bolshevik membership expanded to 200,000 by Oct
Bolsheviks won a majority in both the Petrograd and Moscow Soviets in the September and Trotsky became chairman of the Petrograd Soviet

61
Q

how did Lenin encourage support for the October revolution?

A

‘an armed rising is the order of the day’

62
Q

what did order no 1 do?

A

directed the military, among other things, to obey only its orders and not those of the Provisional Government

63
Q

april crisis

A

milyukov and guchkov resigned

64
Q

decree on peace

A

an end to war without annexation and indemnities

65
Q

decree on land

A

abolished private ownership of land and legitimised peasant seizures without compensation to landlords

66
Q

decree on church

A

nationalised church lands, removed marriage and divorce as ecclestial control and gave women the right to initiate divorce

67
Q

opposition decree

A

leading kadets, SRs and Mensheviks rounded up and imprisoned

68
Q
A