1.1-1.6 D + R

What made Russia’s geography a strength before 1914?

Russia covered around one-sixth of the world’s land surface

Giving it vast natural resources:
Coal
Timber
Highly fertile agricultural land, especially in Ukraine.

Why was Russia’s geography also a weakness before 1914?

Its sheer size made - communication, transport + enforcement of law extremely difficult,

Allows opposition + local issues to develop far from central control.

Why did Russia’s geography help the Tsar maintain power?

Large distances + isolated peasant communities - harder for revolutionary ideas to spread quickly

Making central control easier in the short term.

Why did isolated peasant communities matter politically?

Many villages had poor communication + limited education

Slowed political awareness but also increased backwardness + resentment.

Why was Ukraine economically important?

Ukraine was one of Russia’s largest + most agriculturally profitable regions

Vital for grain production.

How did Russia’s ethnic diversity create problems?

Less than half the empire was ethnically Russian - with around 18 million minorities maintaining distinct cultures, languages + religions.

What was Russification?

It was the Tsarist policy of imposing Russian language, culture + identity on minority groups to create unity.

Why did Russification increase opposition?

Minority groups resented the suppression of their own identities, increasing nationalist opposition to Tsarism.

Why was class structure a weakness?

Around 80% of the population were peasants - the middle class was much smaller than in Western Europe.

Why did the small middle class matter?

It weakened liberal reform movements because there was less bourgeois support for constitutional government.

Why did the peasantry threaten stability?

Peasant dissatisfaction over land hunger + poverty created long-term revolutionary potential.

Why was the nobility initially a strength for the Tsar?

The nobility were generally loyal + helped maintain hierarchy + support for autocracy.

What made autocracy seem strong?

Nicholas II ruled by divine right, had no parliament capable of truly challenging him + used the Okhrana to suppress opposition.

What was the Okhrana?

The Okhrana was the Tsar’s secret police force, used to monitor, infiltrate +destroy opposition groups.

Why was autocracy also a weakness?

It depended heavily on the judgement of one man, meaning poor leadership from Nicholas II had huge consequences.

Why was Nicholas II considered personally weak?

He was shy, indecisive, easily influenced, +found government work 'intolerably boring.'

What famous criticism was made of Nicholas II?

He was described as 'not fit to run a village post office.'

Why did this matter in an exam judgement?

It suggests the system’s weakness was magnified by the Tsar’s poor personal qualities.

What happened in the 1904–05 Russo-Japanese War?

Russia fought Japan over influence in Korea + Manchuria + suffered humiliating defeats.

What did the Russo-Japanese War expose?

It exposed poor equipment, weak logistics, stretched supply lines +military incompetence.

What were the economic effects of the war?

It drained the economy, raised prices + disrupted food + fuel supplies in cities.

What was the psychological effect of the war?

It shattered national pride +undermined faith in Tsarist leadership.

What happened on Bloody Sunday?

Father Gapon led a peaceful march to the Winter Palace in 1905, but troops fired on the crowd, killing around 200 people.

Why was Bloody Sunday significant?

It destroyed the myth of the Tsar as the 'Good Father' + triggered open revolt.

What did the protesters want on Bloody Sunday?

They wanted an eight-hour day, better wages + civil rights.

How did unrest escalate in 1905?

Strikes spread from St Petersburg to Moscow, railway workers joined +sailors mutinied.

What was the Potemkin mutiny?

It was a major naval mutiny in 1905 that symbolised spreading unrest within the armed forces.

What was the St Petersburg Soviet?

It was a workers’ council formed to coordinate strikes + political opposition.

How did Nicholas initially respond in 1905?

He relied on repression before Witte persuaded him to make concessions.

What was the October Manifesto?

It promised civil liberties, an elected Duma + legal political parties in 1905.

Why did the October Manifesto matter?

It temporarily reduced unrest by making limited concessions.

How did Nicholas reverse the October Manifesto?

The Fundamental Laws of 1906 reasserted his supreme authority.

What did the Kadets want?

A constitutional monarchy + a democratically elected national assembly to restrict the Tsar.

Who led the Kadets?

Pavel Milyukov.

What did the Octobrists want?

They wanted Nicholas to honour the October Manifesto and allow gradual reform.

Who led the Octobrists?

Alexander Guchkov.

What did the Socialist Revolutionaries want?

Land to be seized from landlords + redistributed to peasants.

Who led the SRs?

Victor Chernov.

What did the Bolsheviks believe?

A tight-knit revolutionary party should lead workers to class consciousness.

Who led the Bolsheviks?

Vladimir Lenin.

What did the Mensheviks believe?

A broader-based movement working through trade unions + mass support.

How did WW1 destroy army support?

Defeats, poor supply + massive casualties destroyed morale.

What happened at Tannenberg in 1914?

Russia lost around 30,000 dead + 100,000 captured.

Why was Tannenberg so significant?

It immediately exposed military incompetence and weakened faith in the regime.

What happened by December 1915?

Russia had been driven out of Poland.

What was the Brusilov Offensive?

A major 1916 offensive that caused around 1.6 million casualties for only 120 km of gains.

How many men were taken from the countryside by 1917?

Around 15 million men, severely damaging agriculture.

How did this affect food supply?

There were fewer workers to farm the land, reducing food production.

Why did fertiliser shortages matter?

Fertilisers were redirected to munitions production, worsening agricultural output.

Why were cities especially affected by food shortages?

The army was fed before the cities, leaving industrial workers starving.

How much war spending worsened the economy?

Around 17 million roubles, contributing to roughly 200% inflation.

How did inflation affect ordinary people?

Food prices soared and wages failed to keep pace.

Why did liberals become more hostile during the war?

They formed the Progressive Bloc + demanded a government of public confidence.

How did Nicholas respond to the Progressive Bloc?

He dismissed them, increasing elite opposition.

Why was Rasputin politically damaging?

His influence over Alexandra made the regime appear corrupt + irrational.

Why was Alexandra unpopular?

Her German background increased xenophobia during WW1.

Why was Nicholas becoming Commander-in-Chief in 1915 a mistake?

He became directly responsible for defeats while leaving Alexandra + Rasputin in charge at home.

What triggered the February Revolution?

Bread shortages, strikes, war fatigue, and loss of military support.

How many workers struck on 23 February 1917?

Around 200,000.

How many workers were on strike by 25 February?

Around 250,000, over half the capital’s workforce.

Why was 27 February decisive?

Troops mutinied and joined the protesters.

How many troops mutinied in Petrograd?

Around 66,000.

When did Nicholas abdicate?

2 March 1917.

What was Dual Authority?

Power was split between the Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet.

Why was the Provisional Government weak?

It had legal authority but lacked real popular and military power.

Why was the Soviet stronger?

It directly represented workers and soldiers and controlled loyalty in Petrograd.

What was Order No.1?

A Soviet order stating soldiers obey the PG only if orders matched Soviet wishes.

Why did Order No.1 matter?

It destroyed army discipline and undermined the PG.

What did Lenin promise in the April Theses?

Peace, Bread, Land and all power to the Soviets.

What happened in the July Days?

A spontaneous uprising using Bolshevik slogans that temporarily discredited them.

What was the Kornilov Affair?

A failed right-wing coup attempt that led Kerensky to arm the Bolsheviks.

Why was the Kornilov Affair a turning point?

It massively strengthened Bolshevik military credibility.

How much did Bolshevik membership grow?

From around 24,000 in February to around 200,000 by October.

Why did Trotsky matter?

He organised the Military Revolutionary Committee and directed the October seizure.

What happened on 10 October?

Lenin convinced the Bolshevik Central Committee to support insurrection by 10 votes to 2.

What was the MRC?

The Military Revolutionary Committee created by Trotsky to control troops in Petrograd.

How much military support did the Bolsheviks have by 21 October?

15 of 18 Petrograd units, 200,000 Red Guards, 60,000 sailors, and 150,000 soldiers.

What happened on 24 October?

Key buildings such as railways, banks, telegraph, and power stations were seized.

Why was the October Revolution more a coup than a revolution?

It was a carefully planned seizure of infrastructure with minimal resistance rather than a mass uprising.

How many casualties occurred in October?

Only around 5–10 during the actual takeover.

What happened on 25 October?

The Winter Palace fell and Kerensky fled.

What does this prove about Bolshevik success?

Timing, organisation, and military control mattered more than popularity.