russia- wars and revolution long

Crimean War (1854–1856) – Impact on Government

Drive for modernisation and reforms as serfs needed to be freed in order to reform the army. No major change in ideology (autocracy). Structure of government remained the same. Zemstva brought element of democracy. After Emancipation the nobility did not have much of a political role at local level. Zemstva could feed back issues to central government

Crimean War (1854–1856) – Impact on Society

After Emancipation the nobility did not have much of a political role at local level. Movement of some rural labour to industry

Crimean War (1854–1856) – Impact on Economy

The war inspired a drive for modernisation of agriculture and industry but not much changed, and as a result of emancipation peasant families farmed 20% less land than before

Crimean War (1854–1856) – Impact on Nationalities

No specific impacts on nationalities mentioned

Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905) – Impact on Government

Tsar and government blamed. Restrictions imposed on Zemstva for voicing too many complaints. Nicholas II published the October Manifesto and created Duma to appease Russians

Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905) – Impact on Society

Discontent mounted. Plehve (Minister of the Interior) assassinated in July 1904. Mutinies in the army. Reaction and protest against Russia’s involvement in the war inspired the 1905 Revolution

Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905) – Impact on Economy

No specific impacts on economy mentioned

Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905) – Impact on Nationalities

Under the Treaty of Portsmouth Japan kept Korea and Port Arthur, Russian forces left Manchuria

1905 Revolution – Impact on Government

October Manifesto. Legalisation of political parties. The first Duma took place, it had to approve every law put forward by Tsar. Restricted by the Fundamental Laws of 1906

1905 Revolution – Impact on Society

Growth of trade unions and soviets. More voting rights. Liberal opposition to the government split into the Octobrists and the Kadets. End to censorship. 825 revolutionaries were executed in 1908

1905 Revolution – Impact on Economy

In November 1905 the Tsar cancelled redemption tax

1905 Revolution – Impact on Nationalities

No specific impacts on nationalities mentioned

First World War – Impact on Government

Tsar took personal control of the armed forces and handed over control of domestic and political affairs to his wife. Nicholas’ incompetence as wartime leader lead to abdication and formation of the Provisional Government

First World War – Impact on Society

Initial great patriotic feeling. 8 million casualties. Social unrest grew to levels never seen before. Worker opposition grew with the aid of the legalisation of political parties. Many people resented the German Tsarina and her friendship with Rasputin. Strikes and protests, joined by the Petrograd Garrison

First World War – Impact on Economy

Military failures brought economic challenges. During the War government expenditure rose from 4 million to 30 million roubles. In early 1914, 69% of money in Russia was paper, but by the end of the year it was 82% and by late 1916 it was 100%, causing a shortage of small change and small bills which compelled the government to print more money to prevent the paralysis of trade. Inflation rapidly increased but wages only increased at half the pace

First World War – Impact on Nationalities

The geographic losses at the end of the war meant Russia lost 1/3 of agricultural land, 1/3 of all railway track, 2/3 of coal mines and 1/2 of heavy industry, nearly all available oil and most cotton textile production. In September 1915 Russia was forced to give up Warsaw. Under the Treaty of Brest Litovsk 1918 Russia lost Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine and Finland

February 1917 Revolution – Impact on Government

Autocratic rule of the Tsars replaced by the liberal Provisional Government formed to deal with situation until Constituent Assembly could be elected. Petrograd Soviet formed to rule alongside the Provisional Duma Committee

February 1917 Revolution – Impact on Society

It issued decrees on political amnesty and freedom of speech. Members of Soviet became increasingly frustrated with the Provisional Government concerning economic issues and the war. 2 million joined trade unions in 1917. Return of political exiled in spring 1917 increased the political temperature in cities

February 1917 Revolution – Impact on Economy

The government increased procurement prices by 100% but seemed unable to do anything about food shortages. Grain requisitioning

February 1917 Revolution – Impact on Nationalities

The Provisional Government declared equal rights to national minorities and in March “The Abolition of Restrictions Based on Religion and Nationality” was passed. Russification was ended. Persecution of Jews was no longer supported by the state

October 1917 Revolution – Impact on Government

The Second All-Russian Congress of Soviets gave the Bolsheviks a mandate to rule on the basis that the government would be truly soviet-based. Bolsheviks allowed elections to the Constituent Assembly but came 2nd to the SRs, so Lenin closed it after the first day. January 1918 the Third All-Russian Congress of the Soviets proclaimed the establishment of the Russian Soviet Federalist Republic and a new political structure was put into place with Sovnarkom at it’s centre. The system was dominated by the Bolsheviks and Russia soon resembled a one-party state

October 1917 Revolution – Impact on Society

Lenin promised to introduce a dictatorship of the proletariat which would lead to communist utopia. Formation of Soviets in other Russian towns and cities encouraged. Decree on land, all titles abolished, workers decrees (8 hour working day). Middle classes have no right to vote. A number of different political and regional groups challenged the Bolsheviks and tensions led to the outbreak of Civil War

October 1917 Revolution – Impact on Economy

Nationalisation of key parts of the economy. State capitalism set up, encountered popular resistance

October 1917 Revolution – Impact on Nationalities

Bolshevik idea of the Comintern idea of ‘world revolution’

Civil War (1918–1921) – Impact on Government

Strong discipline, administration and management. Power became more centralised, revolving around the Politburo and the Ogburo

Civil War (1918–1921) – Impact on Society

In the famine 1920–1921 over 5 million died. 1920 Tambov Rebellion. Population of Moscow and Petrograd halved

Civil War (1918–1921) – Impact on Economy

War Communism caused significant unrest and replaced it with the NEP after the war which gave peasants greater freedom to sell surplus products. War Communism nationalised large enterprises, and forced requisitioning of agricultural goods

Civil War (1918–1921) – Impact on Nationalities

Lenin was forced to adopt a conciliatory foreign policy. The Russian army suffered a major defeat in 1920 in its attempt to recapture Poland. The Red Army took back control of Ukraine and a Soviet Socialist Republic was established

Second World War (1939–1945) – Impact on Government

Stalin assumed role of the Supreme Commander of the Military and became Chairman of the State Defence Committee, giving him absolute control of army and those working in factories supplying the army. Stalin still listened to his advisers and key members of the Politburo and relied on their judgement. After the war the NKVD reverted to purging the party and other dissidents. The cult of personality was strengthened as a result of Stalin’s ‘heroic’ efforts in pushing the Nazis out

Second World War (1939–1945) – Impact on Society

27 million Russians killed (including two-thirds of whom were civilians). The siege of Leningrad lasted 2.5 years and killed almost a million people. Over 10 million were evacuated West where they rebuilt factories. Censorship was relaxed. Repression of the Church was also relaxed and the Holy Synod was reinstated

Second World War (1939–1945) – Impact on Economy

By 1943 the USSR produced more war materials than Germany

Second World War (1939–1945) – Impact on Nationalities

Minority groups suspected of collaborating with the Nazis were targeted (Balkans, Chechens, Karachays and Crimean Tartars) and many were deported to remote areas of Central Asia. By July 1945 the Red Army controlled the Baltic States, Finland, Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and Romania

Cold War (1947–1991) – Impact on Government

Khrushchev enacted a policy of de-Stalinisation to present a more favourable picture of Russia to the West

Cold War (1947–1991) – Impact on Society

Less investment in consumer products caused unrest, e.g. Novocherkassk workers protest in 1962, dealt with ruthlessly. More women were recruited into the workforce

Cold War (1947–1991) – Impact on Economy

High levels of investment in heavy industry for arms race, preventing more in consumer products. Comecon was set up in 1949 to integrate the economies of Eastern Europe with that of the USSR

Cold War (1947–1991) – Impact on Nationalities

The USSR set up Cominform in 1947. NATO was founded in 1949. The Warsaw Pact was formed in 1955. The Hungarian Revolution 1956. The Cuban Missile Crisis. 1963 Test Ban Treaty