Russia Question plans
KEY: NOT COME UP, CAME UP MORE THAN 5 YEARS , CAME UP WITHIN 5
YEARS, CAME UP LAST YEAR
Key Topic 1: The revolutions of 1917
Threats to the tsarist regime
Paragraph 1: Discontent among peasants
- In 1917 about 82% of the population were peasants
- Farming methods were inefficient; modern farming equipment was
unknown and horse-drown ploughs were still in use
- Houses lacked running water and flushing toilets
- Tradition of peasant uprisings against landlords and government
officials; made peasants a dangerously violent group in society who
might, at times of difficulty or unhappiness turn to violence
- In shops and markets there were food shortages. As prices went up
for manufactured goods, peasants hung onto their grain to make
sure they had enough food for themselves
Paragraph 2: Discontent among town workers
- Workers living in overcrowded barracks and slums as Russian cities
had grown so fast (Petrograd tripled in size and Moscow doubled in
size between 1881 and 1917) that workers houses were badly build
and poorer areas were overcrowded
- Soldiers were often sent to end strikes or put down any unrest
among the workers; this meant that even strikes about pay and
conditions could easily turn into a confrontation between workers
and the tsar’s government
- Many Russian workers were employed in very large factories so if
the workers protested, it would have little effect on the country as a
whole but caused massive disruption in the capital
Paragraph 3: Failures of WW1
- In 1916 food shortages grew worse when the army took control of
railways and roads and took large amounts to feed the army;
Petrograd was far from food-producing areas and in January 1916
the daily bred ration was 1.2kg but by early 1917 this had fallen to
0.8kg and poorer people were starving
- Before 1914 2,200 wagons of grain a month arrived in Moscow; by
February 1917 this had fallen to fewer than 700
- There was unhappiness and suffering in the countryside too. Over
15 million peasant men fought in the Russian army leading to a
massive loss of manpower. Many horses were seized by the military
to haul guns and wagons impacting farms where horses were used
for ploughing
,The February revolution
Paragraph 1: Long term effects of peasants and worker’s discontent
- 82% of the Russian population were peasants – historically involved
in uprising – tended to turn violent
- Farming was ineffective as it was – subsistence farming resulted in
lower food production and frequent famine
- Peasants had a life expectancy of less than 40 years, with many
dying of typhus and diphtheria and survived on rye bread, cabbage
soup and porridge
- Founded in 1901, the SR’s wanted to get rid of the tsar in favour of
providing peasants with a better standard of living - they wanted to
share land amongst the peasants. Kerensky led the SRs
- The workers represented less than 20% of the population but their
discontent impacted massively on the stability of the capital
- Sergei Witte’s oversaw rapid modernisation of the economy, but this
resulted in poor living conditions
- Conditions for workers in towns were poor – rapid growth in large
cities like Moscow and Petrograd resulted in poor conditions. For
example, Petrograd tripled in size between 1881-1997
- Putilov steelworks in Petrograd – worker discontent
- Inflation resulted in wages increasing by 200% but price of food/fuel
increasing by 400%
Paragraph 2: Tsar’s poor leadership in WW1
- No military experience and was advised against appointing himself
as commander in chief in September 1915; was rarely in the capital
- Army was poorly trained/ led by generals and many soldiers were
disillusioned with the war
- Poor economic decisions (spent 17 million roubles between 1915-
1917 on the war) which weakened his position – lost him respect of
many who would have supported him in the Feb revolution
- He left the running of the country in the hands of his wife the
tsarina; she refused to take advice from middle-class members of
the duma, and they became increasingly frustrated
- December 1916 – Rasputin murdered due to nobility’s fears on his
influence over Alexandria who is left in charge
- Made living conditions a lot worse than they already were
- The loss of land in battle led to mutiny and desertion
- The morale massively decreased
Paragraph 3: Mutiny and protests (the revolution itself)
- 18th February strike in putilov steelworks for increased pay, as
inflation has reduced the value of their wages - the factory owners
declared a lock out and stopped paying workers
- 26th February 1917: soldiers open fire and kill 40. Soldiers begin to
question orders. There are no printers to disseminate the Tsar’s
proclamations. Pavlovsky guard refuses commands. This mutiny is
dealt with
, - 27th February the regiment that shot 40 refuses to use force on
demonstrators. Regiment to have killed 40 and other mutiny. They
begin to distribute weapons to demonstrators. Soldiers involved
were young men just conscripted or soldiers back from the front.
Police refused to keep order. Soldiers imported to Petrograd also
refused to fire on demonstrators. Police and soldiers start to mix
with demonstrators. Nicholas orders the duma to dissolve as
buildings and shops are looted
- 28th February: Telephone exchange, railways and ammunition
supplies are seized by revolutionary crowds. The military
commander of Petrograd reports to the tsar via telegraph of events
and that he has few loyal officers left to him.
The provisional government problems
Paragraph 1: The army and the war
- There was a lack of control over the military; the army and navy
were instructed to only obey the provisional government but can
also be approved by the soviet
- The provisional government were undermined and in the event of a
disagreement the army would obey the soviet
- The regiments would be responsible for discipline not by officers
under the authority of the provisional government
- The war had many knock-on effects for the provisional government
causing them many problems.
- The strains and toll of the war drained recourses from Russia such
as grain (in order to fee the army) causing food shortages and
overall discontent from workers and peasants alike, reducing
popular support for the Provisional government
- The war was also a distraction for the government from dealing with
‘severe social and economic problems’ such as unrest, discontent,
poor living and working conditions in cities as well as backward
farming
- This again decreased support for the Provisional government and
also forced those in power to neglect important issues internally
creating a problem of unpopularity which was an important factor in
the downfall of the Provisional government on the 25th of October
1917
- In June 1917 (June offensive) Kerensky ordered a new attack which
was a disaster as Russian soldiers refused to advance and there
were 200,000 casualties and they lost 150 miles of land
Paragraph 2: Petrograd Soviet’s influence
- Order number 1 (14 March 1917) undermined the Provisional
Governments power and cause loss of respect and authority and led
to the problem of the unlimited authority of the Petrograd Soviet
against the Provisional Government
- This lost the Provisional Government control over the ‘railways’,
‘postal and telegraph services’ and ‘all military action’ which left the
KEY: NOT COME UP, CAME UP MORE THAN 5 YEARS , CAME UP WITHIN 5
YEARS, CAME UP LAST YEAR
Key Topic 1: The revolutions of 1917
Threats to the tsarist regime
Paragraph 1: Discontent among peasants
- In 1917 about 82% of the population were peasants
- Farming methods were inefficient; modern farming equipment was
unknown and horse-drown ploughs were still in use
- Houses lacked running water and flushing toilets
- Tradition of peasant uprisings against landlords and government
officials; made peasants a dangerously violent group in society who
might, at times of difficulty or unhappiness turn to violence
- In shops and markets there were food shortages. As prices went up
for manufactured goods, peasants hung onto their grain to make
sure they had enough food for themselves
Paragraph 2: Discontent among town workers
- Workers living in overcrowded barracks and slums as Russian cities
had grown so fast (Petrograd tripled in size and Moscow doubled in
size between 1881 and 1917) that workers houses were badly build
and poorer areas were overcrowded
- Soldiers were often sent to end strikes or put down any unrest
among the workers; this meant that even strikes about pay and
conditions could easily turn into a confrontation between workers
and the tsar’s government
- Many Russian workers were employed in very large factories so if
the workers protested, it would have little effect on the country as a
whole but caused massive disruption in the capital
Paragraph 3: Failures of WW1
- In 1916 food shortages grew worse when the army took control of
railways and roads and took large amounts to feed the army;
Petrograd was far from food-producing areas and in January 1916
the daily bred ration was 1.2kg but by early 1917 this had fallen to
0.8kg and poorer people were starving
- Before 1914 2,200 wagons of grain a month arrived in Moscow; by
February 1917 this had fallen to fewer than 700
- There was unhappiness and suffering in the countryside too. Over
15 million peasant men fought in the Russian army leading to a
massive loss of manpower. Many horses were seized by the military
to haul guns and wagons impacting farms where horses were used
for ploughing
,The February revolution
Paragraph 1: Long term effects of peasants and worker’s discontent
- 82% of the Russian population were peasants – historically involved
in uprising – tended to turn violent
- Farming was ineffective as it was – subsistence farming resulted in
lower food production and frequent famine
- Peasants had a life expectancy of less than 40 years, with many
dying of typhus and diphtheria and survived on rye bread, cabbage
soup and porridge
- Founded in 1901, the SR’s wanted to get rid of the tsar in favour of
providing peasants with a better standard of living - they wanted to
share land amongst the peasants. Kerensky led the SRs
- The workers represented less than 20% of the population but their
discontent impacted massively on the stability of the capital
- Sergei Witte’s oversaw rapid modernisation of the economy, but this
resulted in poor living conditions
- Conditions for workers in towns were poor – rapid growth in large
cities like Moscow and Petrograd resulted in poor conditions. For
example, Petrograd tripled in size between 1881-1997
- Putilov steelworks in Petrograd – worker discontent
- Inflation resulted in wages increasing by 200% but price of food/fuel
increasing by 400%
Paragraph 2: Tsar’s poor leadership in WW1
- No military experience and was advised against appointing himself
as commander in chief in September 1915; was rarely in the capital
- Army was poorly trained/ led by generals and many soldiers were
disillusioned with the war
- Poor economic decisions (spent 17 million roubles between 1915-
1917 on the war) which weakened his position – lost him respect of
many who would have supported him in the Feb revolution
- He left the running of the country in the hands of his wife the
tsarina; she refused to take advice from middle-class members of
the duma, and they became increasingly frustrated
- December 1916 – Rasputin murdered due to nobility’s fears on his
influence over Alexandria who is left in charge
- Made living conditions a lot worse than they already were
- The loss of land in battle led to mutiny and desertion
- The morale massively decreased
Paragraph 3: Mutiny and protests (the revolution itself)
- 18th February strike in putilov steelworks for increased pay, as
inflation has reduced the value of their wages - the factory owners
declared a lock out and stopped paying workers
- 26th February 1917: soldiers open fire and kill 40. Soldiers begin to
question orders. There are no printers to disseminate the Tsar’s
proclamations. Pavlovsky guard refuses commands. This mutiny is
dealt with
, - 27th February the regiment that shot 40 refuses to use force on
demonstrators. Regiment to have killed 40 and other mutiny. They
begin to distribute weapons to demonstrators. Soldiers involved
were young men just conscripted or soldiers back from the front.
Police refused to keep order. Soldiers imported to Petrograd also
refused to fire on demonstrators. Police and soldiers start to mix
with demonstrators. Nicholas orders the duma to dissolve as
buildings and shops are looted
- 28th February: Telephone exchange, railways and ammunition
supplies are seized by revolutionary crowds. The military
commander of Petrograd reports to the tsar via telegraph of events
and that he has few loyal officers left to him.
The provisional government problems
Paragraph 1: The army and the war
- There was a lack of control over the military; the army and navy
were instructed to only obey the provisional government but can
also be approved by the soviet
- The provisional government were undermined and in the event of a
disagreement the army would obey the soviet
- The regiments would be responsible for discipline not by officers
under the authority of the provisional government
- The war had many knock-on effects for the provisional government
causing them many problems.
- The strains and toll of the war drained recourses from Russia such
as grain (in order to fee the army) causing food shortages and
overall discontent from workers and peasants alike, reducing
popular support for the Provisional government
- The war was also a distraction for the government from dealing with
‘severe social and economic problems’ such as unrest, discontent,
poor living and working conditions in cities as well as backward
farming
- This again decreased support for the Provisional government and
also forced those in power to neglect important issues internally
creating a problem of unpopularity which was an important factor in
the downfall of the Provisional government on the 25th of October
1917
- In June 1917 (June offensive) Kerensky ordered a new attack which
was a disaster as Russian soldiers refused to advance and there
were 200,000 casualties and they lost 150 miles of land
Paragraph 2: Petrograd Soviet’s influence
- Order number 1 (14 March 1917) undermined the Provisional
Governments power and cause loss of respect and authority and led
to the problem of the unlimited authority of the Petrograd Soviet
against the Provisional Government
- This lost the Provisional Government control over the ‘railways’,
‘postal and telegraph services’ and ‘all military action’ which left the
