Russia

Cards (319)

  • The Russian Empire at its peak made up nearly one-sixth of the world's land surface
  • Russian Empire
    • Vast and diverse range of climates
    • Vast and diverse range of cultures, ethnicities, and economics
    • Most of the population lived in the western areas
  • By 1900s, the Russian population was around 126 million people
  • Russian society was dominated by the influence of the Orthodox Church
  • Political parties
    Not legally permitted until 1906
  • Political parties popular up to 1917
    • Octoberists
    • Cadets
    • Social Revolutionaries (SRs)
    • Mensheviks
    • Bolsheviks
  • From 1906 to 1914, Russian workers were increasingly unionized
  • In 1912, there were 750,000 workers on strike, and by 1914 this had increased to 1,450,000
  • 1905 Revolution

    Resulted from issues including the failure of Russia in the Russo-Japanese War and the unionization of workers
  • The October Manifesto created a national parliament called the Duma, but the Duma's power was limited and the Tsar retained authority
  • Peter Stolypin
    Head of government between 1906-1911, restored order through a policy of "small reforms" and brutal repression
  • The prison population in Russia rose from 98,000 in 1905 to 250,000 by 1913 due to the repression of political crimes
  • Tsar Nicholas II was the last ruling monarch of the Romanov dynasty, which had ruled Russia since 1613
  • Tsar Nicholas II was reluctant to introduce the reforms promised in the October Manifesto, and the Duma and other government institutions had no real power, with the Tsar retaining ultimate authority
  • By the end of 1916, the war had taken a dramatic toll on the Russian economy
  • There was an increase in inflation, a munitions crisis, and extensive rationing
  • This had significant socio-economic effects on the state of Russia
  • The scarcity of goods increased, leading to a rise in strikes in Moscow and Petrograd
  • In 1914, there were 10,000 workers on strike, but this number had risen to 880,000 by 1916
  • The war also brought economic problems to the rural areas, with a decrease in the workforce due to conscription
  • Peasants were unable to make a profit due to low grain prices, and inflation further impoverished them
  • The Tsar was complacent and did little to address the social unrest, assuming the government would survive as it had in 1905
  • On February 23, 1917, thousands of women took to the streets to celebrate International Women's Day, and the protests snowballed out of control
  • On February 25, 1917, there were 200,000 people protesting in the streets of Petrograd, and the military troops sent to suppress the rebellion joined the protesters
  • On March 2, 1917, Tsar Nicholas II abdicated his throne, ending the Romanov dynasty that had ruled Russia since 1613
  • This was the first step towards the establishment of a Soviet Socialist Republic
  • Lenin didn't expect the Tsar to abdicate as early as March 1917, he believed the Tsar would try to suppress the revolution
  • Lenin didn't expect the revolution to occur in his lifetime, but when the Tsar abdicated he saw it as an opportunity to instigate a socialist revolution
  • The German government helped Lenin return to Russia because they saw him as someone who would intensify tensions and either cause domestic problems in Russia or negotiate peace with Germany
  • When Lenin returned to Russia in April 1917, he argued that the socialists should take over the government and there should be an immediate socialist revolution
  • Other leaders who returned to Russia in 1917
    • Joseph Stalin in March
    • Gregory Zinoviev in April
    • Nikolai Bukharin in May
  • Lenin's "April Thesis"

    Demanded an immediate socialist revolution, no more provisional government
  • Lenin's "Promise of Peace, Land and Bread"

    Withdraw from World War 1, land reform for peasants, end hardships of war
  • "All power to the Soviets"
    Demanded all power be delegated to the Soviets, saw the February Revolution as only the first step
  • Initially, Lenin's return had little impact, his April Thesis didn't win much popular support
  • The Bolsheviks began to oppose the Provisional Government, which was seen as a blockade to achieving a socialist state
  • Lenin's ideas attracted support from radicals like Trotsky
  • In June 1917, the provisional government launched a renewed attack on the Austro-Hungarian army, known as the June offensive
  • The June offensive was a failure, leading to mass desertions, breakdown of army discipline, and many deaths
  • Cadet ministers resigned from the government on July 3rd