tion of the Tsar the unthinkable happened, Tar Nicholas M, Rom: the oldest dynasty in Europe, torulle alter him. This ne toever rule Russia, ianov ruler of Russa, abdicated. He stepped down, intending, ‘ver happened and Nicholas would be the last © Why was there a revolution in March 19177 “the downlall ofthe Tsar can be seen asthe final ev problems in Russia, ‘caused by a series of ‘The build up: break of wor ete ith tial ethusiasm as Asrenemibevarmhibempenctseep| age | trator gee thn Ate of fannenberg over 30000 sso oops were In enthusiasm fo war srs to disap led orwotndedaras0000werceaprares | 1916 Thislinked the Taro the country’s military ‘The Tar assumed supreme command ofthe Russian Army ‘stuesaadsutig 1817 there vasastiong | September 1915 | ighting on the Eastern Front leaving his unpopular ve decline in support fors government inehagesthome 8 8s me Rusishadlot rou 1. mitlon slr, ith a ee another 2mlfon held 3 prsoners of war anda fete ces ore ya it soa Be ntaia The ets emestohlthecemene| Ocwbee 116. pulsar nore neo Gorlice-Taméw Offensive led to these huge losses. — . This led to food shortages in the cities and high pr pewter of, ee cane Fae ee eee | aate-t7 man | food sonage got wore the cannyste The War was having a disastrous impact on ) Raha tet sendin pt Lalla din the Russian economy. Food wasn short supply ee iveauniedome kil): Seto |atwtsiommacent an attempt to increase ther wages industrial workers ‘The revolution of | (nan tempt to crease ther wages industrial 3 Manon | onset nPeoyaeaptokt Alay com mari og eset peat breaking shop windows and shouting anti-war siogan, | TY February tame th Povo ed ou wrote drone ger wep ey thauardmten ok btramese hesey ae 5 fitons, ordered to disperse the protestors but soldiers refused to. \ i freontherom pone semesters ones thepotsarh donandng anes heen 23 Fein 1 Protestors demanded bread and marched tonearby | fa Fevennry ‘ ‘oregano S0Cwonvorsnte| nema i ‘Nicholas ordeed the Duma to close dawn, Members refused and they continued to meet and discuss whet to o, Rodtanko, President ofthe Duma sent telegram to 26Februaey | he Tsar suggesting thathe appoint anew government, When the Tsar dd not reply, the Duma nominated a Proisonal Government heeded by Prince George Lv. Chapter10 231 ——— SO ————— ee200000 wotkers were on strke. Nicholas who wast away tthe rom ordered the commander afte eon eion to suppress the dsorersonthe sees ofthe) 37 February ‘apa: Thefallowing day troops fired on demorstrators 0 ferent pats ofthe ay. Others refused to obey the ot ‘nd soldiers joined the striking workers inthe tee - | eating that unrest at home would harm th, ‘hemusian army high command suggest | ld abate favour of more popular weno famiy, rand Die Michael eg | fefused to accept the throne, ido, 2g February TheTasbicatediesngthe Powel) march 1917 | ‘Government icant ofthe county, _ oo [A Fig. 10.9 Timeline leading yp tothe 1917 revolution 1 Why was the revolution of March 1917 successful? ow political reform led 0 the It can be argued that Nicholas’ refusal to allo revolution which overthrew him. How far does Source 4 support Source 5? 2. Is either of these sources the more reliable? Explain your answer 1 can also be blamed on two other figures: Gregory Rasputin and the Tsar's wife, Tsarina Alexandra, Rasputin Rasputin was a hugely controversial figure, Raised asa peasant from Siberia, he hail initially joined a monastery belore leaving Rusia to travel. While travelling he claimed he had special healing powers that allowed him to treat the sick. On his return to Russia a bishop introduced him to the Tsar and ‘Tsarina, Theie son Alexis sulfered from a rare disease called haemophilia, meaning the blood does not clot fa wound occurs. When Alesis was taken seriously ill in 1908, Rasputin was called to the royal palace. He managed t Stop the bleeding and from then on became a close confidant ofthe Tear and his family ce 10.10 A fussancartoo” published in 1916 th hea Russian Tsars athome™€ wild rumours regarding his asp stances at the end of 1916 b his slage the damage of association wi fa » nese Bh tion with such a figure had been done to ‘The impact of the war The cause of all the problems that emerged for the Tsar was undoubtedly the First World War. It brought all of Russia’s problems under the spotlight and made many of them worse. The impact of it was in two key areas, Firstly by demoraising the people: elfects of war left the people of Russia starving, demoralised by high casualties and angry at the government for forced grain ‘requisition and shortages. The war also had another more devastating effect, by revealing the failings in the Tsar's leadership. His decision making was exposed to be poor, and his steadiast refusal to allow the politicians a say in how Russia was run, and instead relying on the dubious council of the Turina and Rasputin, was not popular. The War wasn't the only reason why Nicholas I ell, but it did create a situation which it was impossible for him 10 recover from. How did the Bolsheviks gain power, and ow did they consolidate their rule? ‘When the Tsar abdicated, Russia was left ina state of chaos. Without a clear Tuler and embroiled in a European conflict, Russia needed leadership quickly The unenviable job of leading the country Was let to the politicians. The ‘Duma took over and it set up a Provisional Government. a temporary Laman executive led by Alexander Kerensky. The intention was for Hlections to be held late in 1917 and for an elected government t0 take Russia forwards. The elections never happened and in November 1917 there was another revolution. Lookat Hour 10.10. what does ‘the cartoonist suggest about the Influence of Rasputin? 66 General Alexseyev tld me Jaterabout his profound concern ‘on earning that a secret map of ‘military operations had found its way into the Tsarina’s hands. But ike many others, he was powerless to take any action. 33 Alewandh Provisional Government The emergency or interim government Setup when apolitical vold was created bythe colapse of Taristrule Chapter 10 233y did the Bolsheviks win the Civil War? 1 major decision by Lenin w, 8 10 end Russia’s ment in the Fitst World War. The Treaty ies Asét : eee iLitovsk signed in March 1918 meant that ‘Supporters ofthe Tsar svitharawal from the conflict cost the eauintry that included a quarter of the Russian ‘Miltary commanders who #5 population, a quarter of its industry, and wanted to stay inthe war hs of its coal mines. One of the reasons for asthe Civil War that had broken out once the Many foreign nations eviks had seized power. Once in control Lenin's Nae eas eviks faced opposition [rom all sides, 4 Fi. 1021 whotouinte cv? ‘Despite the fact they were heavily outnumbered, the : Reds” managed fo win the contlict. This can be seen tobe because of their own strengths, as well as the failings of the “Whites”, ‘The role of Leon Trotsky ‘rotsky was a brilliant organiser, Despite having no. niltary training, he proved an excellent commander ol the new Bolshevik army, the Red Army. Trotsky jromoted men based not on their class but on how well they did in combat. He also was a great motivator; he had his own armoured train and visited the Red Army a1 the front to boost morale. the Red Army The newly formed army of the Bolsheviks were well | tupled and wel organise. To suppont the new army | nota experience, Trosky worked wih excarst_— Fs 1042 leon othr atesing Amy woop ing he Oe ashe knew tht they had the mary experence | the Red Army lacked ‘Support | | tenin was very lever and knew that he had to win the war atall oss. nin | EA /atemaring haifany | td ordered hat supplies of ood went fst 0 soldies and then what was ic Ulett without oder the | went to those who lived in the cities. This meant that men flocked to join the ionieyittement fet Arar nly to be fet neath commance Svan 5 gallant solders willbe appointed intheir places. Cowards, dostards War Communism | This was designed to provide an economy that met the needs of the war. Ii brought in strict methods of control through the nationalising of industry, ‘meaning the government took over and ran the factories, enforcing strict ‘and traitors will nt escape the bullet. This solemnly promise Bein ting woren colds torand atoning res coded latter ‘many hardships for ordinary Russians. Peasants relused to cooperate in producing food as the government took away lar too much of it. Workers began moving from the cities back to the countryside, where the chances olfood were greater. Between 1918 and 1920, Petrograd lost 75 per cent of population, while Moscow lost 50 per cent. By 1921, the output levels oman a7 if |ol heavy industry had fallen wo 20 percent of those in 19ES-The [ET removal of gain combined withthe eft of seven yeas of war a 9-8 drought, contributed to a famine that caused around eight million £2 he people AE Trotsky was the heart ofthe military elfrt, Lenin ensure! tha Po Were kept under control The secret police the Cheka, was fon Jhunting out possible opponents to Lenin, The Whites weaknesses The Whites were divided. They were a mixture of Tats forces who waned the return of the Romanov liberal groups who wanted reforms, and foreign nations who wanted to keep Russia in the First World War, With so 17any g10ups involved, no one person could be appointed to act as thet sole commander. With no unified leadership, the Whites were much weakened ‘The Whites failed to secure the support of the people of Russia. Lenin tad ‘romised land to the peasants while the Whites wanted to return Rus 10 Tsarist days. This meant the peasants feared a return to the old order where the peasants were repressed. Bolshevik propaganda also reinforced this fear. Propagands ‘Afotm of communication tats sine The role of foreign nations See The Allies had wanted to keep Russa fighting in the war, However as time towards some couse orposton Went on, France and Britain worried about how lar they were committing {0 a lengthy, expensive war in Russia, Reports started to emerge of atrocities by ‘White soldiers in Russia, something that tured public support away from the war even further, At the end of the First World War on 11 November 1918, the Allies withdrew from Russia The cost of the war was dramatic though: 800 000 soldiers were killed and itis estimated that eight million died from starvation and disease as result of the war. © How far was the New Economic Policy a success? SOURCE 10 In 1921 the sailors at the Kronstadt Naval Base revolted, Angry about the lack ‘of democracy and the policy of War Communism, their revolt lasted nearly three weeks and it took the involvement of the Red Army to stop them ‘The protests at Kronstadt showed Lenin that something needed to change. Although a revolutionary, Lenin scemed aware that a more realise approach EES {o ruling was needed. Conditions for most Rusians had deteriorated: by 1918 “The Bolsheviks won the Chil the average wage was a quarter of that in 1913. By the middle of the Civil War ” it was less than 10 per cent Cll War War because oftheir own strengths rather than the ‘To improve the situation Lenin introduced the New Economic Policy (NEP), ‘weaknesses ofthe Whites! ‘This change regained the support of the peasantry and gained support fromm How far do you agree with this the workers, There was also a more pressing need to return to previous levels statement? Explain your ansi®" of production as soon as possible Ez fuss, 1905-1changes were made under the NEP? was very uncommunisti -d enough for Socialism” jodel. 1 meant the followit Style. Lenin believed that Russia was and so designed the NEP around a more ing changes were introduced. & 8 2 5 8 Facts employing es than 20 people were no longer owned by the state. aatea Despite Russia being Communist some countries now feturned to trading with Russia, This meant a boost to the economy, This remained from“War Communism still was an indication of the Bolsheviks’ Communist belies, id it work? There were some successes, + By 1926 production returned to 1913 levels. ‘+ Peasants benefited as there was better food distribution. ‘+ -Nepmen” appeared, private traders who bought from the peasants and sold tothe working classes. Some made great profits. There were also some failures. * Industrial workers fared no better under the scheme. They resented the suecess of some Nepmen. + Ina wider context, the 1920s was a time of great success across the world Germany, the United States, and Japan flourished. In this setting the achievements of the Russian economy were not impressive. power by holding a wide variety of roles in governmen “After a decade-long fight for power he established him Chapter 10 239 I —_ LL ST