ISSUE 2 THE ROLE OF EXTERNAL AND OR INTERNAL FORCES IN THE COLLAPASE OF THE OLD ORDER AND SIEZURE OF POWER

FEBRUARY REVOLUTION The Feb Revolution was spontaneous Women started protesting to the Palace (cold and lack of food) and just like the 1905 Revolution soldiers joined in. Factory workers then started joining in and the Duma sent a message to the Tsar The Duma presented a notice of resignation (abdication)to the Tsar, He did, and Russia Became a Rebulic (Leon Trotsky) ( ature=related ) ature=related

CAUSES OF THE FEB REVOLUTION Suffering of the winter The Impact of WWI (the disaster exposed serious weakness in the Russian economy) Industrial developments Social discontent Economic problems Tsar’s incompetency Immorality of the Tsarina Revolutionary movements (causes of the Feb revolution) (crisis of the revolution)

WINTER SUFFERING Due to the winters being extremely cold, there were food, fuel and clothing shortages General poverty was made worse by blizzards and freezing temperatures (low of -35degrees)

IMPACTS OF WWI In 1914 the Tsar committed Russia to war Reasons being that the fear of Germany was trying to expand and take over Russia Soldiers were poorly led and equipped (food, weapons ect) ( world at war) (WWI and the Russian evolution/political causes) (military causes of WWI) (pg ) (military involvement)

Summary of WWI Impacts In your books write a summary under these headings Political Social economical military ( dBds&feature=related)

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENTS Any industrial development that was made before the war faltered as foreign loans (mainly from France) were withdrawn Factories could not keep up with the demands from the war front Factories forced to close down as there was a lack of money and workers.

ECONOMICAL PROBLEMS Over 15 million men joined the army not enough workers in factories and farms caused shortages of food and materials Railway system very poor – could not supply the troops – could not supply the towns – food prices rose (summary of economic problems) (question sheet)

SOCIAL DISCONTENT Food shortages and price rises caused widespread discontent The war had seen the population move from the countryside to the cities The cities soon became overcrowded and people lived in terrible conditions

This is a bread line in Petrograd in early 1917 on the even of the Revolution

INCOMPETENCY OF THE TSAR Criticism of the Tsar More concerned with own matters like family than the state Poor military commander left home to take command at the war but due to no experience he was blamed for military disasters Poor political leader Left the Tsarina in charge of the government Refused to accept advice from the Duma (thematic study) Role of Rasputin Claimed to be a healer. Disliked by many yet held influence over both the Tsar and Tsarina (

RASPUTIN SONG tmM&feature=fvwrel tmM&feature=fvwrel

IMMORALITY OF THE TSARINA Criticism if the Tsarina She had a German background (Russia fighting Germans) Inexperienced and incompetent ruler Under the influence of Rasputin. Claimed to be a healer. Disliked by many yet held influence over both the Tsar and Tsarina he claimed to have cured the young heir of haemophilia. He enjoyed supreme power, he was the centre of scandal e.g affairs and was late murdered.

Rasputin with young girl (shows the Russian people hating Tsarina)

REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENTS Before the war there was already traditions of revolutionary movements Bolsheviks (led by Lenin) Mensheviks (led by Martov) Many were hunted down by secret police (killed or sent to exile) They robbed banks, terrorised capitalist groups and spread propaganda ( Uinfhs4FvA&feature=related Rasputin dark destiny part 11 – shows storming in of winter palace) Uinfhs4FvA&feature=related

INTERNAL/EXTERNAL FORCES IN THE COLLAPSE OF THE TSAR INTERNAL Industrial developments Social discontent Economic problems Tsar’s incompetency Immorality of the Tsarina EXTERNAL WWI

What do you think? By Feb 1917, was the Autocracy doomed? If yes…… was your arguments…… reforms did not go far enough, strikes had reached an all time high by 1914 revolutionary groups were continually active despite repression.

OR If you answered No….was your arguments…. Reforms were occurring and still occurring Reforms would have gone further if WWI had not broken out.

WHAT RESULTED FROM THE FEB REVOLUTION THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT The February Revolution was a popular uprising which brought the middle class to power. The Duma took over the government, and it set up a ‘provisional government’ – a temporary 12 man executive led by Alexander Kerensky. It was a moderate government, and – although faced by difficult problems – it tried to rule Russia in a way which was not too revolutionary. The first provisional Government The Provisional Government Societal groups

EVENTS OF THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT March The Provisional Government was faced by massive problems (inflation, hunger, peasant riots, war, Bolshevik and Tsarist revolutionaries). The Petrograd Soviet issued Order N o. 1 – workers and soldiers must obey the Provisional Government only if the Soviet agrees. However, the Soviets were still controlled by the Mensheviks (moderate Communists). AprilThe German government smuggled the Bolshevik leader Lenin back into Russia. He published his manifesto: the ‘April Theses’. JuneFailure of the June military offensive against Austria. JulyBolshevik riots – the July Days – were defeated, but the Bolshevik Party was not banned. August General Kornilov revolted, but was defeated by the Bolsheviks. SeptThe Bolsheviks (extremist Communists) took over the Petrograd Soviet (Trotsky became its President). 6–7 Nov (24–25 October old style) Bolshevik Revolution. (pg ) (Lenin speech- Red Army

JULY DAYS

Why did the Provisional Government last for only 8 months, Feb–October 1917? Summary The Provisional Government's main mistake was to carry on the war. The burden proved disastrous as it tried to face the threat of the Bolshevik Communists, who were working through the Soviets to bring down the government. (Problems of the Provisional Government) (What problems did the PG face? Pg 25-29)

OCTOBER REVOLUTION On October , 1917, the Bolshevik party combined with the Soviets of the major cities of Russia toppled the Provisional Government The revolution was followed by the Second All- Russian Congress of Soviets, where the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic was established and the Soviet Government was created.Second All- Russian Congress of SovietsRussian Soviet Federated Socialist RepublicSoviet Government (October revolution) (accounts) (a year of Revolutions)

CAUSES Peasant rebellions were left unchecked (no violence was ordered) Violence amongst soldiers were left unchecked Tsarist officials were arrested when they weren't suppose to be. Soviets kept calling for an end to the War - At this time in Russia, prices of goods are ten times higher than they were before the Great War. People are starving, food and supplies are not getting through (no thanks to the Provisional Government). Disagreements occurred between Socialist Revolutionaries and the Liberals in government concerning the fighting in the country. Liberals ended up resigning.

INTERNAL/EXTERNAL FORCES IN THE COLLAPSE OF THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNEMENT INTERNAL Lenin – Bolsheiks General Kornilov Workers Peasants EXTERNAL World War I

HOW SUCCESSFUL WAS THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT IN MEETING THE THREATS? Lenin – Bolsheiks – successful in the July Days, unsuccessful in the October Revolution General Kornilov- Successful but it opened the door for the Oct Revolution Workers- Peasants- unsuccessful, as riots continued World War I- unsuccessful, as it gave fuel to Lenin and his Bolsheviks

AFTER THE SEIZURE OF POWER On the 8 th November 1917, the All Russian Congress of Soviets gave power to the 15 Bolshevik Commissars under the leadership of Lenin. But, why were they able to seize power?