Russian revolution: Cause, effect + significance Flashcards
(34 cards)
Russo Japan war 1904-05
Cause: Russian expansionism in East Asia, especially in Manchuria and Korea.
Effect: Russia’s defeat weakened Tsar Nicholas II’s authority, leading to domestic unrest.
Significance: The war exposed Russia’s military inefficiency and catalyzed the 1905 Revolution.
Bloody Sunday 9 January 1905
Cause: Worker protests for better conditions and political reforms.
Effect: Massacre of peaceful demonstrators led to widespread anger and the 1905 Revolution.
Significance: Symbolized the regime’s brutality, further alienating the people from the Tsar.
October Manifesto 17 October 1905
Cause: Rising revolutionary activity and widespread protests after Bloody Sunday.
Effect: The Tsar granted some reforms, including a constitution and the establishment of the Duma.
Significance: Although it temporarily eased tensions, it failed to satisfy reformers, leading to continued unrest.
Fundamental State Laws 23 April 1906
Cause: The Tsar’s response to the October Manifesto, aiming to solidify his control.
Effect: Gave Tsar Nicholas II the power to dissolve the Duma and ruled with decree.
Significance: Ensured the continuation of autocracy, undermining any real democratic progress.
Lena River Massacre 17 April 1912
Cause: Striking gold mine workers demanded better working conditions and wages.
Effect: The Russian army opened fire on the workers, killing hundreds and increasing unrest.
Significance: It galvanized the workers’ movement, contributing to the radicalization of the labor class.
Germany declares war on Russia
19 July 1914
Cause: Russia’s alliance with Serbia, and Germany’s support of Austria-Hungary in the conflict.
Effect: Russia entered World War I, which strained its resources and military, exacerbating internal tensions.
Significance: The war’s devastation exposed the weaknesses of the Tsarist regime, leading to its downfall.
Tsar Appoints Himself Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces
5 September 1915
Cause: Military failures and the desire for direct control of the war effort.
Effect: The Tsar took personal responsibility for the military, but his decisions worsened the situation.
Significance: The move alienated many military leaders and elites, weakening the Tsar’s political position.
February revolution
1917
Cause: Widespread discontent due to military defeats in World War I, food shortages, and economic instability under Tsar Nicholas II.
Effect: Mass protests, strikes, and mutinies led to the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II, ending over 300 years of Romanov rule.
Significance: The February Revolution paved the way for the establishment of the Provisional Government and marked the beginning of Russia’s transition from autocracy to a more democratic government, though it was short-lived.
Provisional Government
March 1917 – October 1917
Cause: The collapse of Tsarist authority led to the formation of a provisional government by liberal and moderate socialist forces.
Effect: The Provisional Government failed to address key issues such as land reform, the war, and worker rights, leading to growing disillusionment.
Significance: Its failure paved the way for the Bolshevik Revolution and the eventual rise of Lenin.
October Revolution
25 October 1917
Cause: Deep dissatisfaction with the Provisional Government’s inability to address Russia’s problems, particularly the war and economic hardship.
Effect: The Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, seized power in a coup and established a communist government.
Significance: The October Revolution marked the beginning of Bolshevik rule and the establishment of the Soviet state.
Constituent Assembly Meets and is Dissolved
January 1918
Cause: The Bolsheviks’ refusal to accept the results of the elections, where they had lost the majority.
Effect: Lenin and the Bolsheviks dissolved the Constituent Assembly after only one day, consolidating their power.
Significance: The dissolution marked the end of the idea of a democratic, representative government in Russia.
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
3 March 1918
Cause: Lenin’s desire to withdraw from World War I to focus on consolidating power in Russia.
Effect: Russia signed a peace treaty with Germany, ceding large amounts of territory.
Significance: The treaty was controversial, as it demonstrated the Bolsheviks’ willingness to sacrifice territory for peace and internal stability.
Decree on private ownership
6 December 1917
Cause: The Bolshevik desire to nationalise industry and eliminate capitalist ownership.
Effect: The decree aimed to abolish private ownership of land and property.
Significance: It marked the beginning of state control over the economy and the move towards socialism.
Decree on Religion
9 February 1918
Cause: The Bolshevik commitment to secularism and the desire to eliminate the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Effect: The decree aimed to separate church and state, nationalising religious property.
Significance: This marked the start of the Soviet Union’s anti-religious policies, which would continue for decades.
CHEKA
December 1917
Cause: The need to protect the revolution from internal and external threats, particularly counter-revolutionaries.
Effect: The CHEKA became the Soviet secret police, responsible for purging enemies of the Bolshevik state.
Significance: It marked the beginning of the Bolsheviks’ reliance on terror to maintain control.
Russian Civil War
1918-1921
Cause: The Bolshevik seizure of power and opposition from various groups, including monarchists, liberals, and foreign powers.
Effect: A devastating civil conflict between the Red Army (Bolsheviks) and the White Army (anti-Bolshevik forces) that resulted in Bolshevik victory.
Significance: The war consolidated Bolshevik power and led to the establishment of the Soviet Union in 1922.
Attempt on Lenins life
30 August 1918
Cause: Growing opposition to Bolshevik rule, including from the Socialist Revolutionaries and other factions.
Effect: Lenin was severely wounded but survived, leading to increased repression against his enemies.
Significance: The assassination attempt marked a turning point, pushing Lenin to implement harsher policies and intensify the Red Terror.
Tsar and family assasinated
July 1918
Cause: The Bolshevik desire to eliminate any potential rallying point for monarchists and counter-revolutionaries.
Effect: The entire Romanov family was executed in Ekaterinburg, symbolizing the definitive end of the Russian monarchy.
Significance: The murder marked a final rupture with Russia’s imperial past and solidified the Bolshevik control over the country.
Polish-Soviet War
February 1919- March 1921
Cause: The Soviet attempt to spread revolution to Poland and the need to secure the western border.
Effect: Poland, with support from France, defeated Soviet forces and secured its independence.
Significance: The war’s outcome ensured Poland’s sovereignty and marked a setback for Soviet territorial expansion in Europe.
War Communism
June 1918 to March 1921
Cause: The necessity for the Bolshevik regime to control the economy during the Civil War and to support the Red Army.
Effect: State control over industry, forced requisitions of grain, and suppression of opposition.
Significance: War Communism resulted in economic collapse and widespread famine, contributing to growing discontent and leading to the eventual introduction of the NEP.
Treaty of Riga
March 1921
Cause: The end of the Polish-Soviet War and the need to resolve territorial disputes between Soviet Russia and Poland.
Effect: The treaty recognised Polish independence and set the Soviet borders in the West.
Significance: The treaty effectively ended the Soviet hopes of spreading revolution to Poland and marked a shift in Soviet foreign policy.
Kronstadt Uprising
7 March 1921 – 17 March 1921
Cause: Widespread discontent among sailors and workers in Kronstadt due to harsh conditions under War Communism.
Effect: The rebellion was crushed by the Red Army, leading to further centralization of Bolshevik power and the suppression of dissent.
Significance: The uprising was a key event in the growing rift between Bolshevik leadership and revolutionary groups, leading to the introduction of the New Economic Policy (NEP).
Sovnakrom
October 1917
Cause: The Bolsheviks, following their October Revolution victory, needed a governing body to consolidate power.
Effect: Sovnarkom was established as the central executive authority of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR), headed by Lenin and composed primarily of Bolsheviks.
Significance: It marked the formal establishment of Bolshevik rule in Russia, centralizing power and initiating the process of consolidating the new socialist government.
June offensive
18 June 1917
Cause: The Provisional Government, under pressure from the Allies, launched an offensive to gain momentum in World War I and improve morale.
Effect: The offensive failed disastrously, with Russian forces retreating and suffering heavy casualties, leading to widespread disillusionment with the Provisional Government.
Significance: The failure of the June Offensive contributed to the weakening of the Provisional Government and increased support for the Bolsheviks, who were opposed to continued involvement in the war.
