Pre-revolution Russia and the October revolution

Question 1

Background to the revolution

Answer 1

• ruled by a powerful +brutal Tsar empire, also included gerogia, ukraine, finland and estonia
• Eg - The lena goldmine 1912 hundreds of miners killed by the Tsars troops for protesting
• economically weak compared to the west

Question 2

1905 revolution

Answer 2

• by 1900 both political parties (SRs, RSDLP) wanted the end of the tsar
• series of revolutions in 1905 nearly otherthrew the tsar
• political compramise + renewed opression allowed for the regime to survive until WW1

Question 3

First world war

Answer 3

• Russia entered WW1 in 1914, econmoically incapable of providing food and equipment required for war
• tsar was incompetent at wartime leadership, there was political and econmical chaos
• Febuary revolution 1917 - uprising in petrograd (russias captial) which otherthrew the Tsar and set up provisional gov

Question 4

The provisional gov

Answer 4

• provisoinall gov promised democratic elections and rights (such as freedom of expression) - but still fought in WW1
• Lenin (a RSDLP member) demanded land distribution and the end to war, ‘peace, land and bread’
• october 1917 - Lenin + followers organised a coup d’etat and took power