COPY ME DOWN World War One Steps to revolution

The impact of the First World War Played major role in bringing down the regime in Feb 1917. Acted as a catalyst for change Amplified weaknesses of pol, econ & soc systems Set motion series of radical political changes Key ways it did this… Military failures Difficult living conditions Role of the Tsarina & Rasputin Failure to make political reforms COPY ME DOWN

Impact of the First World War Military defeats Economic problems Criticism of the Tsar Impact of the First World War Hunger & discontent Criticism of the Tsarina Social changes

Outbreak of war COPY ME DOWN As protector of Serbia… Initially, the Tsar became more popular than he had been for years. People united in support for Tsar & against common enemy. Tsar started to work more closely with Duma. COPY ME DOWN

The eastern front Enthusiasm did not last long. Some initial successes, then heavy defeats against the Germans Tannenburg & Masurian Lakes Pattern = defeat by Germany, some success against Austrians Losses mounted quickly By end of 1914 >1 million soldiers killed, wounded or taken prisoner 8 million by March 1917. Soldiers saw slaughter as futile Many died without weapons or ammunition Supplies – Some did not even have boots Blamed officers Things got worse as war went on. Demoralisation

The impact of the war on the Russian economy and society Turn to p.59 of your book

Effects of the war on the Russians at home COPY ME DOWN Food shortages Millions of male peasants conscripted. Food not getting to the cities. Railways used for war. Coal & industrial materials were short. Many factories closed = workers unemployed. Lack of coal = people cold as well as hungry. Shortages = prices rose However, wages not going up. Workers asked to work longer hours. Sale of vodka stopped during the war. Factories closed = more unemployment & poverty.

Effects of the war on the Russians at home As defeats & casualties ↑, Russians in the cities began to lose confidence in govt. Also suffering from economic effects of the war. COPY ME DOWN

A turning point… COPY ME DOWN Sept 1915, Tsar decided to take over running of the war & go to the front himself – mistake with serious consequences. Firstly, Nicholas himself now blamed for defeats. Secondly, handed over day-to-day running of country to Tsarina. People mistrusted her German background. Her reputation suffered because of close relationship with Rasputin – lovers & influence Made a mess of running the country. Did not work with Duma at all. Dismissed able ministers & replaced them with ‘our men’ (friends who would do what they were told or friends of Rasputin). Many incompetent. So many changes of ministers = no one organising food, fuel & other supplies for cities properly. Railway city fell into chaos & trainloads of food were left rotting. COPY ME DOWN

… Conditions worsen COPY ME DOWN As news from front got worse & situation in cities more desperate, support for Tsar & Tsarina ↓ among middle & upper classes, even among aristocracy. Appalled re: Rasputin’s influence. Little respect for Tsarina. Winter of 1916 = bad one – conditions in cities terrible Rasputin murdered by Prince Yusupov Hoped it would help the monarchy February 1917 – tsar’s regime collapsed … COPY ME DOWN

The Last Tsar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OnTLEYbkds

Nicholas and Alexandra Read p.60-62 Answer q. 1-5