Impact of the 1917 March Revolution

Causes of the March revolution

1. Failure of the war 

2. Worker/ Peasant Discontent

3. Tsar's poor leadership

4. Mutiny of the military

Context of the revolution

• Nothing to do with Lenin/ Bolsheviks - was an immediate need to stop hunger/ cold

• Saturday 25th, police are beginning to get overwhelmed

• Cossacks sent to keep order but Soldiers turn against them and join protestors

• No control within Petrograd, Nicholas forced to abdicate

• Power is handed over to the Prov. Gov.

• Order No.1 sets out brand new terms of being int he army

Characteristics of the Provisional government

• Members of the elites

• Wealthy, and liberally minded

• Want to make steps towards a liberal, democratic government

• Free and fair elections, write a constitution

• Appoint themselves after the abdication, seen as what they are (self-appointed, upper class and self-interested)

• Say that they will only be present temporarily

Characteristics of the Petrograd Soviet

• Still out of touch with the peasants

• Appointed themselves to oversee law, order, authority

• Lots see PG as self-interested

• Made up of soldiers, worker and peasants

• Radical in authority

• Order No.1 - establishes civil rights and less harsh discipline

• Puts the military under the hand of the Petrograd soviet

• Generals and Tsarist civil service do not recognise them

Main political consequneces

• Whole new structure of government - two new structures

• New ideology, new culture of democracy (of the common people) and rejection of autocracy and old forms of authority

• Lack of repression

• Use of reform, freedoms of assembly + press e.c.t

• PS has authority to govern but doesn't want to, PG wants to rule but doesn't have authority

Effect of the Kornilov affair

 Kornilov and Kerensky, in August marches Troops to march on Petrograd to crush the Soviet and establish a military dictatorship. Coup fails and Kornilov is arrested, far left no far right likes the Prov. Gov. (shows its weakness). Kornilov has armed the Bolsheviks (they have 'saved the revolution')

Impact of the economic reforms

• Very few social + economic consequences

• PG made decision to continue with war - not what the people want

• Shortages continue

• PG fail to satisfy revolutionary expectations (stalled democracy and creation of constitution)

• Rumours spread that PG was delaying democracy to preserve bourgeoise powers

Main economic impact

• No land reforms

• No real worker reforms - freedoms but no * hours work day

• Economic problems persist as the war continues

Social impact

• Peasants lives do not change, ignore PG< form their own Soviets and seize land, 'war on manors'

• Workers lives do not change or improve, workers committees formed

• Red Guard units formed to defend changes to working committees.

• War continues to have hugely detrimental impact on people's lives and morale continues to plummet.

• Nationalities not granted independence or autonomy.

Impact of July Days

• Grain prices doubled by June 1917

• Shortage and food + raw materials - 586 factories close

• 20,000 workers and soldiers protested chanting Bolshevik slogans, looted shops and seized key buildings

• PG could have been overthrown, but no order is given

• Bolsheviks blamed from troubles and warrants issued for arrests