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The condition of Russia before the revolution of February/March 1917
State of Russia’s politics before Feb Revolution-
An autocracy ruled by Tsar Nicholas II
Reasons for Tsar’s weakened authority-
Nicholas and the State Duma
Divine right
His personality
Alexandra and Rasputin
The Fundamental Laws, April 1906/ 1905 revolution
Russo-Japanese war/ WWI
Social demographics in Russia-
82%, are peasants. Ruling class was 0.5%. By 1917 less than half of the population was ethnically Russian.
Slow agricultural developments-
Serfdom, where peasants are tied to the land, ended in 1861
By 1915, hereditary peasant ownership of land increased from 20% in 1905 to 50%.
By 1914 only 10% of peasant holdings had moved beyond the traditional and inefficient strip-farming (slow)
Political freedom before revolution-
Unions were allowed after 1905, but strikes were forbidden.
1905 Revolution
22nd January 1905
Worker strikes, peasant unrest & military mutinies
Caused by Russia's defeat in the Russo-Japanese War in 1906 and 'Russification' (mistreatment of people not fully Russian.
Triggered by: Peasants tried to protest peacefully at the Winter Palace. However Nicky was out of the city, and left his uncle in charge, who ordered his forces to fire on the demonstrators ➡ Over 100 people were killed and several hundred wounded ➡ 'Bloody Sunday'
Result of 1905 revolution
October Manifesto ➡ State Duma of 1906. Set the stage for later revolutions, and gave the people a taste of political freedom
Level of political change by 1917
Despite the introduction of a duma (parliament) in Russia in 1906, Nicholas II still retained ultimate authority, could dissolve the duma at will, and it remained ineffective in challenging the tsar's policies.
Nicholas and the State Duma
Allowed state Duma (elected representative assembly) to form in 1906.
Refused to share any power, frustrated people who wanted a more democratic approach.
Tsar then responsible to all Russia’s problems.
Divine right
Meant that he didn’t want to share power.
His personality
He was stubborn and saw advice as criticism.
Undermined ministers, so that they wouldn’t challenge him, made administration very unorganised.
The Romanov tercentenary, 1913- thought people loved him- delusional.
Alexandra and Rasputin
Alexandra was German, distrusted after WWI.
Rasputin became more powerful/ influential, decreased the support for the Tsar at court.
Rumours about Alexandra and Rasputin.
1905 revolution/ The Fundamental Laws, April 1906
Killed people at a peaceful protest, people lost faith in Tsar- didn’t know he was away.
Edict gave him supreme power over Duma/ politics, could rule without and dissolve it at any time.
Russo-Japanese war/ WWI
Battle of Tannenburg- 300,000 dead or injured. 1914
Very unpopular- 12 million Russian peasants were conscripted by 1917.
Opposition to Tsarism-
Liberals (Kadets, Octobrists, Progressives)- favoured reform/ constitutional monarchy).
Social revolutionaries (internal opposition, created in 1901)
Social democrats (represented the proletariat, split into Mensheviks and Bolsheviks in 1903)
Social and economic state of Russia-
Severe food shortages, inflation and cost of living problems.
Reasons for food shortages-
12 million peasant men conscripted into the army caused labour shortages.
Peasants horded their grain instead of selling.
Food supplies were given to the army first, towns were undersupplied.
The railway system used to transport food was used to transport military supplies.
Reasons for inflation/ increased cost of living-
Government raised taxes and took out large loans to pay for the war.
There were shortages of food, raising the price.
Unemployment increased, non-military factories closed due to lack of supplies.
Discontent (mostly expressed towards people in positions of power)-
January 1917- 30,000 workers went on strike in Moscow and 145,000 in Petrograd.
Union of Zemstva
Set up during WWI to provide the medical facilities that the state was neglecting.
Congress of Representatives of Industry and Business
Set up by factory owners and businessmen to coordinate production during the war effort- as the state wasn’t.
June 1915-
All Russian Union of Zemstva and Cities was formed, chaired by Prince Lvov. The Tsar refused to let the civilian organisation take any part in war.
August 1915-
Progressive bloc (state Duma) demanded that the war effort be handed over the civilian government. Tsar refused, increasing liberal discontent.
September 1915-
Tsar became Commander in Chief of the Russian forces. He was now directly responsible for any failures in the war.
