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History Tsarist and Communist Russia > Nicholas post 1914 > Flashcards

Nicholas post 1914 Flashcards

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1
Q

What were some of the reasons Nicholas II had to abdicate?

A

-The war > the workers’ strikes, becoming commander in chief.
-Rasputin and his relationship with Tsar and Tsarina
-Economic distress and mismanagement
-People wanting more democracy

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2
Q

What were reasons that the First world war was so detrimental to the Tsar’s downfall?

A

-Military failures
-Difficult living conditions due to war
-Role of the Tsarina and Rasputin
-His failure to make political reforms

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3
Q

How did Military failures during WWI contribute to the downfall of Tsar Nicholas?

A

-A huge No. of Russians were killed in 1914 and 1915
-Disillusionment and anger about the way the tsar and govt were conducting the war

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4
Q

How did Difficult living conditions during WW1 contribute to the downfall of Tsar Nicholas?

A
  • war > acute distress in major cities > Petrograd and Moscow
    -Disruption of supplies > food, goods, raw materials > short supply
    -Prices rocketed and inflation was rampant
    -Lack of fuel > cold swell as hungry
    -Urban workers = hostile to Tsarist govt
    -Peasants became angry about conscription of all young men who rarely came back from the front
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5
Q

How did the Tsar’s failure to make political reforms during the war contribute to his downfall in 1917?

A

-Had chances to make concessions to political reform > may have saved him
-Could’ve had a constitutional monarchy > taken pressures off of the Tsar
-Duma > fully behind the Tsar in the war
-The ‘Progressive Bloc’ group emerged > suggested Tsar establish a govt of public confidence - meant letting them run the country > he rejected and retained autocracy

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6
Q

How did the Role of the Tsarina and Rasputin contribute to the downfall of Tsar Nicholas?

A

-Tsarina and Rasputin > left in charge of govt
-They made a terrible mess of the country > dismissed ministers frequently
-Cities deteriorated quickly > Food and fuel were in short supply
-Circulations of mockery cartoons of the Tsarina and Rasputin in bed > credited the tsar for putting them in charge
-Beginning of 1917 > few prepared to defend him

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7
Q

How did the Tsar contribute to his own downfall in 1917?

A

-Personality and leadership
-Attitude to political change
-Reform
-Misjudgements and mistakes

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8
Q

How did the Tsar’s Personality and leadership contribute to his downfall in 1917?

A

-Weak but obstinate, indecisive and lack of world knowledge
-did not have the skills or capabilities to rule
-Repression was his main weapon
-relied on the army as a police force

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9
Q

How did the Tsar’s attitude to political change contribute to his downfall in 1917?

A

-Resisted all forms of change pre 1905 > believer in autocracy > not keen on Zemstva or local govt.
-October Manifesto 1905 > never committed to it > missed opportunity to bring liberal intelligentsia to his side
-Did not want Dumas or representative body > fundamental laws
-No cooperation with Dumas 1906-1914 or with progressive Bloc during the war

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10
Q

How did the Tsar’s attitude to reform contribute to his downfall in 1917?

A

-Never supported Witte’s or Stolypins reforms > Didn’t want changes in society
-Wanted to protect > court power, landowning classes’ power > sided with right-wing groups that resisted reform
-Resisted extension Zemstva to western provinces
-No real concessions to workers > working hours and conditions > rejected trade unions or bodies representing workers

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11
Q

How did the Tsar’s Misjudgements and mistakes contribute to his downfall in 1917?

A

-Failed to see the seriousness of situation building in 1904 > blind to demands of liberals and workers > Bloody Sunday 1905 = loss of respect for Tsar \
-Appointment of nonentities to run govt after Stolypins death
-Support for Rasputin’s damaged royal family rep
-Going to the front line 1915 > personal responsibility for war
-rejecting proposals of the Progressive Bloc in 1916

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12
Q

When did Nicholas II go to the front lines?

A

1915

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13
Q

When did Nicholas reject the proposals of the Progressive Bloc?

A

1916

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14
Q

How many losses were there in WW1 for the Russians?

A

1.5million dead

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15
Q

What was the Russian Army like in 1916?

A

-Commanders and veteran soldiers = well equipped
-Pre-war army = mostly gone
-Higher proportion of older soldiers with no experience
-Brusilov offensive damaged moral

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16
Q

What happened at the Battle of Tannenberg in 1914?

A

-Russians took heavy losses
-Driven back
-Long retreat through 1915 due to this

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17
Q

What happened in the August of 1915 due to the war?

A

-Russia forced out of Poland Lithuania and Latvia

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18
Q

How many Russians were killed between May and December 1915 due to the war?

A

1 million

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19
Q

What happened at the Brusilov offensive in the Summer of 1916?

A

-general Brusilov launched a brilliant offensive
-Austrians were on their knees due to the offensive
-But Germans came and pushed back the Russians

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20
Q

What was the percentage growth in artillery and rifle output?

A

1000%

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21
Q

By 1916 were the Russians matching the Germans in shell production?

A

Yes

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22
Q

What happened to the number of strikes in February of 1917?

A

Increased dramatically ( No. of those on strike went from 100,000 on the 14th to 316,000 by the 27th)

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23
Q

What happened on Monday the 14th of February 1917?

A

-58 factories > on strike in Petrograd
-News that bread would be rationed from the 1st of march
-Violent exchanges > police struggle to keep order

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24
Q

What happened on Wednesday the 22nd of February 1917?

A

-20,000 workers leave Putilov iron works after pay talks collapse

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25
What happened on Thursday the 23rd of February 1917?
-International women's day -50 factories closed -workers join women's march -240,000 on the street
26
What happened on Friday the 24th of February 1917?
-Crowds > overturn tsarist statues -Revolutionary slogans > "La Marseille" was sung > red banners
27
What happened on Saturday the 25th of February 1917?
-Over half of capitals work force on strike -Police chief shot and beaten -Band of civilians > killed by soldiers -Cossacks refuse to attack
28
What happened on Sunday the 26th of February 1917?
-Duma president sends Tsar a telegram -troops firing at each other -Popular discontent
29
What happened on Monday the 27th of February 1917?
-Use of military force -40 deaths -Volynskii regiment sergeant shoots a commander -Army turns to protest
30
What happened on Tuesday the 28th of February 1917?
-Tsar offers to share power with Duma > Duma rejects
31
Why did the Army support the 1917 revolution?
-Army in 1917 > very different to the one at the beginning of 1914 -14 million men mobilised in war > half had been killed, wounded or taken prisoner -Fundamental change within the army -At the beginning of 1917, the generals considered Nicholas was a liability > happy to see him go > although still wanted to retain the monarchy -Army > more sympathetic to the people > unwilling to suppress disorders > generals played a large role in suppressing orders
32
What was the death toll of the February revolution?
-1500 -7000 injured
33
What was Order Number One?
-A Charter of Soldiers' Rights>
34
What happened at the Petrograd Soviet?
-Order Number One
35
What did Order Number One promise?
-Units in the army to elect a deputy to the Soviet> agree political control of the Petrograd Soviet -Military commission of the Duma to be obeyed -All weapons > controlled by elected soldier's committees > not officers -All soldiers enjoy full citizens' rights when off duty > no requirement to salute -No honorific titles to be used for officers
36
What was the dual authority?
-The soviet 27th February -the Provisional govt 2nd March
37
Who made up the Provisional government?
-Largely leading figures of various liberal parties -Dominated by the Kadets and their leader Milyutov > Foreign Minister -One socialist Minister (Kerensky) > Minister of Justice
38
How was the body of the Provisional govt formed?
-Had been chosen by a committee of the Duma > not elected by the people.
39
What powers did the Provisional govt have?
-Could not do anything without support from the Soviets -Supported by the Middle class -Had power over the army, the land, National determination -No control over the economy
40
Who made up the the Soviets?
-Workers -soldiers -Socialists > mainly Mensheviks and SR's
41
How was the body of The Soviets formed?
-Socialist intellectuals formed the leadership of the Soviets
42
What powers did the Soviets have?
-Order Number One > Soviet stronger power in the dual government
43
Why did the Soviet not take power when it had the opportunity?
-Marxist theory stated there would have to be a bourgeoise revolution. -There were no Bolsheviks
44
Why did the Soviets cooperate with the provisional govt?
-There was conflict between the left and the right -left > Pro communism -Right > Pro Tsar
45
How did the Provisional govt deal with the war?
-Reform of may 5th > New coalition govt > 5 soviets joined > Menshevik leader amd Chernov joined
46
How successful was the Provisional govt approach to the war?
-The Menshevik leader and SR leader would be associated with the war effort and could risk being criticised and losing support
47
What was the Summer offensive and when was it?
-1917 -A major offensive on the Germans -The offensive went ahead even though the socialists and Kadets did not agree with it -Terrirtory was lost
48
How successful was the Provisional govt approach to the Summer Offensive?
-The moderate socialist leaders in the govt lost their credibility with the soldiers and the workers
49
What were the issues with the land?
-Significant unrest in the countryside. -Peasants wanted more land > collapse of central authority meant no one stopped them
50
How did the Provisional govt deal with the issues of land?
-Could not come to an agreement on what to do
51
How successful was the Provisional govt in dealing with the issues regarding land?
-Peasants took land with or without consent
52
What were the National minority demands of the provisional govt?
-Finns and Poles called out for outright independence. -Ukraine wanted independence
53
How did the Provisional govt deal with the National minority demands?
-The govt made concessions to the Ukranians wanting self-governed govt
54
How successful was the Provisional govt in dealing with the demands of the National minorities?
-Liberals saw this as the break up of Russia
55
How did the Provisional govt deal with the deteriorating economic situation?
-In August 1917 the govt increased the price it paid for grain by 100% -Sent out punishment brigades into the countryside to requisition grain -govt couldn't do anything against how the resources were channeled towards the war
56
How successful was the Provisional govt in dealing with the deteriorating economic situation?
-Did not persuade peasants to bring grain to the cities as there were goods for sale but at an inflated price -Made peasants hostile -increasingly unable to meet the needs of the workers
57
What were the mistakes made by Kerensky that impacted the provisional govt?
-Decided to launch an offensive against Germany in June -The Kornilov coup undermined the relationship of the army and the provisional govt
58
What were other factors towards why the Bolsheviks were successful in October 1917?
-Moderate socialists lost contact with their supporters > the workers and the socialists -The govt failed to call the Constituent assembly early enough -Kadets moved further to the right and became identified with reactionary military officers, industrialists and landowners
59
How did Bolshevik policies strengthen their position in 1917?
-Opposed the Prov govt and urged its overthrow > Opposition to the Prov govt then became concentrated around the Bolsheviks -Only party that opposed continuing the war > increased popularity -Secured the tacit > support of the peasants with the promise of land distribution -Radical policies were in tune with worker's and soldier's aspirations
60
How did the Bolshevik party itself enable the Bolsheviks to be successful in 1917?
-Role of lenin > determined leadership > he could force through key policy decisions > April thesis -Organisation was better than that of the other parties > broadly followed directives from the party leadership -Trotsky's role in persuading Lenin to postpone the date of the uprising > good tactic to use the All-Russian congress of soviets as the vehicle to seize power
61
What slogan did the Bolsheviks utilise in 1917?
"Peace, Bread and All power to the Soviets"
62
How can luck be seen to enable the Bolsheviks to be successful in 1917?
-the military and economic collapse in September and October offered a unique opportunity > The army was not in a position to do much > hunger was an important factor -Radicalised workers who favoured soviet power were prepared to support -Kerensky played into the Bolsheviks hand > half-hearted attempt to counter the uprising
63
What was the April thesis?
-called for a worldwide socialist revolution -"Peace, Bread and Land" > main concept
64
How did weak opposition enable the Bolsheviks to stay in power?
-Opposition > unable to coordinate action against the govt > power of the soviet declined > no serious contender on the left to challenge their power
65
How did political misjudgements enable the Bolsheviks to stay in power?
-SRs and Mensheviks > did not take action > though the Bolsheviks would collapse quickly and the constituent assembly would triumph -Underestimated the Bolsheviks ability to survive
66
How did the collapse of the army enable the Bolsheviks to stay in power?
-Meant officers and conservative forces could not count on any local troops to attack the Bolsheviks
67
How did the workers and the peasants being distracted enable the Bolsheviks to stay in power?
-Declining living conditions and disillusion with revolution > difficult to rouse anyone for action
68
How did attacks on opposition enable the Bolsheviks to stay in power?
-closed down the opposition press -arrested key figures in other political parties -closed down the constituent assembly before it could get underway -Set up the Cheka to make arrests and deal with demonstrators and protestors
69
How did the use of class warfare enable the Bolsheviks to stay in power?
-Deflecting antagonism onto the bourgeoisie -Brought support from large sections of the working class who revelled in turning the tables on the rich and wealthy
70
How did concessions to urban workers and peasants enable the Bolsheviks to stay in power?
-Lenin originally gave them what they wanted > real gains for these people in the October revolution
71
What decrees were issued by the Sovnarkom in October 1917?
-Maximum 8-hour day for workers -Social insurance to be introduced -Opposition press banned -Decree on peace -Decree on land
72
What decrees were issued by the Sovnarkom in November 1917?
-Right of self-determination granted to all parts of the former Russian empire -Abolition of titles and class distinctions -Workers to control factories -Abolition of justice system -Women declared equal to men and able to own property
73
What decrees were issued by the Sovnarkom in December 1917?
-CHEKA set up -Banks nationalised -Democratisation of army > officers to be elected, army to be controlled by army soviets and soldiers' committees, abolition of ranks, saluting and decorations -Marriage and divorce > civil matters no longer linked to the church -Church land nationalised
74
What decrees were issued by the Sovnarkom in January 1918?
-Workers' control of railways -Creation of the Red army -Church and state separated
75
What decrees were issued by the Sovnarkom in February 1918?
-Nationalisation of industry -Socialisation of land
76
What were the terms of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk March 1918 ?
-Finland remained an independent state > and defeated a Bolshevik uprising with the help of the Germans -Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania became independent republics -Russian-held land in Poland became independent -Germans set up semi-independent govt in Belarus, Ukraine and Georgia
77
What did Russia lose as a result of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?
-62million people > 1/6 of the population -27% of farmland -26% of Railway lines -74% of Iron ore and coal reserves

History Tsarist and Communist Russia (11 decks)

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