1. COPY ME DOWN
World War One
Steps to revolution

2. 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
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3. 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

4. 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.
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5. 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

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

8. Effects of the war on the Russians at home
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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.

9. 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.
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10. 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.
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11. … 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 …
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12. The Last Tsar

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