Modern History

• Political Discontent: Duma (parliament)

  • duma was created after the 1905 Revolution that was sparked by the events of Bloody Sunday
  • created by Tsar Nicholas II to appease the people of Russia
  • increasing opposition led to the 4th Duma creating the Provisional Government and accepted the abdication of Nicholas II
• The July Crisis

  • international crisis that began with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on 28th of June 1914
  • British declaration of war on Germany on the 4th of August 1914= the July Crisis
  • Nicholas II indecisiveness and inability to lead were highlighted
  • Germany declared war on Russia on August 1st 1914
• WW1 (opposition of the Tsar)

  • when WW1 broke out in 1914, Russia was evidently ill-equipped to fight the war
  • Russias's troops had a lack of supplies, food and material
  • September 1915 - Tsar Nicholas II assumed the military position of commander in chief
  • with him being gone, he left his wife (Tsar Alexandra) in charge
• Tsarina and Rasputin

  • Tsarina Alexandra was born in Germany, making her unpopular among Russians
  • the Tsarina go entwined with Rasputin, a mystical monk
  • they were unable to deal and manage domestic issues within Russia during WW1
  • people were starving and living conditions further worsened
  • supply of farming products declined
  • Tsarina and Rasputin kept dismissing experienced ministers that could deal with domestic issues
• Impact of WW1 on Russia

  • shortages in weapons, boots, bullets, medical supplies, fuel, food
  • railway systems collapsed
  • agricultural system broke down, leading to food shortages and near starvation in towns
  • increased govt. debt
  • Russia's inflation rate reached several hundred % by 1917
  • loss of primary labourers, men
• Bolsheviks

  • the group that would catalyst the Russian Revolution in 1917
  • created by Vladimir Lenin
  • believed that a revolution should be planned and not be based on spontaneity
  • Lenin used a vanguard strategy to assist the proletariat in realising that they needed to overcome the social class inequality
• Leon Trotsky

  • originally a member of the Mensheviks but later joined Lenin's Bolsheviks during the Russian Revolution in 1917
  • built the Red Army by conscripting peasants and factory workers
• The February Revolution took place from the 8th to the 12th of March 1917
• The Tsar's inability and unwillingness to address the growing political and social discontent, combined with the impact of WW1, created suitable conditions for the revolution to occur
• The cold winters of 1916 and 1917, along with additional rationing, furthered people's discontent towards the government
• Russian women were queuing for days to get basic supplies such as medicine, bread, and milk
• Tensions escalated on the 23rd of February 1917, leading to women protesting against the shortages
• Local police and military refused to shoot and stop the protests
• 100,000 workers went on strike
• Tsar Nicholas II abdicated on the 15th of March 1917, marking the end of more than 300 years of leadership of the Tsars in Russia
• Outcomes of the February Revolution

  • Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet worked in dual authority
  • Soviets had control of Petrograd
  • Petrograd Soviet - formed by Trotsky
  • Provision Govt. - elected by Duma
• Order Number 1

  • created by the Petrograd Soviet
  • used to further solidify the legitimacy of their authority and mission
  • stated that no military orders given by the Provisional Govt. were to be accepted unless the Soviet approved them
  • demanded that all political activity of the army was to be in line with the wishes of the Soviet (to prevent the Provisional Govt. from using the army to betray the Soviet)
• The April Theses

  • created by Lenin
  • immediately ending Russia's involvement in WW1
  • land given to peasants
  • end to co-operation with the Provisional Govt.
• June Offensive

  • devised by Alexander Kerensky in hopes of boosting Russian soldier's morale and increase domestic support for Russia's participation in WW1
  • failed due to strong Bolshevik propaganda against the Provisional Govt. and the effect of order number 1
  • failure of the June Offensive further proved the ineffectiveness of the Provisional Govt.
• The July Days

  • failure of the June Offensive led to people protesting
  • protests in Petrograd consisted of workers and soldiers
  • protestors wanted the Petrograd Soviets to take power individually
  • 800 leading Bolsheviks were arrested
• The Kornilov Affair

  • General Kornilov marched troops into the capital, planning to dissolve radical party's such as the Soviets and establish military rule
  • at first Kerensky supported Kornilov, but later grew wary and feared a coup so he dismissed Kornilov and call on the Petrograd Soviet and Bolsheviks for support
  • the Kornilov Affair weakened the Provisional Govt.'s authority, contributing to the growing instability in Russia
• The October Revolution

  • began on the 24th of October 1917 as Trotsky led the Red Army and Soviet Workers to control all bridges and key positions throughout the city
  • revolution ends of the 5th of November 1917 with Lenin and the Bolsheviks proclaiming victory