UNIT 1a RUSSIA IN TRANSITION

Transcription

1 UNIT 1a RUSSIA IN TRANSITION What is a Revolution? A complete change in the way things are done (Agricultural Revolution, Industrial Revolution, Russian Revolution) Sometimes peaceful Sometimes violent Russian Revolution = the overthrow of the Tsar s government and the establishment of Communist Rule NAME:

2 This unit focuses in depth on selected themes and issues relating to the history of Russia from 1914 to You will be required to consider:- The causes and impact of the Revolutions of 1917, the Civil War in Russia and the impact of the development of the Communist state on Russia You will be required to:- develop an awareness of how issues affecting Russia in this period have been represented and interpreted investigate any relevant issues using a range of historical sources. The Syllabus Topic 1 The causes and impact of the Revolutions of 1917 Key questions Content exemplification What were the causes of the Revolutions of 1917? What were the main developments during the Bolshevik seizure of power? What were the consequences of the Revolutions of 1917? The impact of the First World War (e.g: military failings; incompetent leadership; growing hardship at home) The role of the Royal Family (the autocratic power of the Tsar; the influence of Rasputin; increasing unpopularity) Increasing opposition (the growth of opposition parties; growing criticism of the leadership of Russia) The February Revolution of 1917 (the main events of February 1917, leading to Provisional government and abdication) The period of Dual Power (the main events between February and October 1917; rivalry between the Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet) The October Revolution of 1917 (the main events of October 1917; the roles of Lenin and Trotsky) Ending the war (the peace negotiations; the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk) Establishing the new Communist state (e.g: the Sovnarkom and its decrees; the creation of the Cheka) 2

3 INTRODUCTION TO RUSSIA Aim: Students should be able to understand the problems faced by the government in Russia before 1917 Objectives: Students should complete the tasks on this topic Resources: Edexcel textbook p Boardworks powerpoint. RUSSIA BEFORE WORLD WAR 1 WHY WAS RUSSIA SO DIFFICULT TO GOVERN BEFORE WORLD WAR 1 Using the map as evidence think of some reasons why Russia was difficult to govern. (Hint: What do you know about the climate in Russia?) 3

4 FIND OUT - Read p f the textbook and then write out the meanings of the words below in the spaces opposite Russification Autocracy Okhrana HOW WAS RUSSIA RULED? Read the source below and read the text on page 11 Source; Extract from a letter from Count Tolstoy, a Russian novelist, who wrote to Tsar Nicholas II about the discontent at the time. A third of the whole of Russia lives under police surveillance. The army of the police, both regular and secret, is continually growing in numbers. The prisons are overcrowded with thousands of convicts and political prisoners. Censorship has reached its highest level since the 1840 s. In all cities soldiers are equipped with live ammunition to be sent out against the people What can you infer (deduce) about the way in which Russia was ruled in 1900? How did the Tsar use the Orthodox Church to rule Russia? 4

5 WHY WAS NICHOLAS II SUCH A WEAK TSAR (RULER)? Read these sources then look at source B and the biography of Tsar Alexander II Source: Said by Nicholas when he became Tsar What is going to happen to me? I am not prepared to be Tsar. I never wanted to become one. I know nothing o the business of ruling. I have no idea of even how to talk to ministers. Source: Extract from the diary of the tsar s sister, the Grand Duchess Olga He had intelligence faith and courage but he was ignorant about governmental matters. Nicky had been trained as a soldier. He had not been taught statesmanship (politics) and was not a statesman (politician) Why was Nicholas such a weak Tsar? WHY WAS THE ECONOMY SO BACKWARD? FIND OUT - The answers to the following questions: Q %of population living in countryside? A Percentage of land used for farming? What is subsistence farming? When did Russia become industrialised? Countries ahead of Russia? 5

6 Examine this graph then answer the questions that follow What does this graph tell you about the position of the Russian economy in Europe? WHY WERE SO MANY PEOPLE UNHAPPY IN RUSSIA? In this section you will use your evidence skills to decide why so many people were unhappy in Russia in You must look at all the sources on pages 14 and 15 and complete the diagram below. Fill in the dates where appropriate Source What can I learn about Russia before 1917? Source A Typical flat in St Petersburg Date? 6

7 Source B Rich dinner party Date? Source C Life of a Russian nobleman Date? Source D Peasant family Date? Source E Russian famine Date? Source F Father Gapon Date? 7

8 SUMMARY WHAT HAVE WE LEARNT SO FAR? RUSSIA IN 1900 GEOGRAPHY OF RUSSIA GOVERNMENT OF RUSSIA RUSSIAN ECONOMY THE PEOPLE 8

9 THE ROLE OF THE ROYAL FAMILY Aim: To understand the role of the Russian Royal family Objectives: To complete the tasks on this topic Resources: Edexcel Textbook p 12; 24,26. Boardworks powerpoint; DVD Nicholas and Alexandra We have already learnt what Russia was like before Does this picture change your impression? Who do you think would have drawn such a picture? Did they like the Tsars? What does this picture tell us about the rule of the Tsar? 9

10 NICHOLAS II TSAR OF RUSSIA Read page 12 of the textbook and complete the diagram below:- Autocracy could only work When? Nicholas became Tsar in 1894 Was he really keen to be Tsar? Nicholas and Alexandra believed? Their son Alexis has a problem IN 1905 THERE HAD BEEN A REVOLUTION THAT FAILED. THE TSAR WAS SHOCKED THAT PEOPLE COULD CHALLENGE HIS POWER AND HE WAS FORCED TO SET UP A DUMA (PARLIAMENT) TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE. UNFORTUNATELY HE IGNORED THESE AND CONTINUED TO RULE BADLY UNTIL THE FIRST WORLD WAR. SLOWLY, BUT INEVITABLY, OPPOSITION TO HIS RULE GREW. 10

11 THE INFLUENCE OF RASPUTIN Aim: To understand the influence of Rasputin in the background to the Russian Revolution Objectives: To complete the tasks on this topic Resources: Powerpoints, Edexcel textbook p25; Youtube videos. The son of a Siberian peasant, Gregori Efimovich became a holy man or staretz. His wild behaviour, including, drinking and womanising, earned him the nickname Rasputin, meaning the immoral one. From 1905 onwards he gained influence in the Tsar s court due to his capacity to control the haemophilia which afflicted the Tsarevitch (Prince) Alexei. Task: Look at the pictures below and answer the questions that follow. Source A Source B A postcard of Rasputin that circulated St Petersburg in This shows Rasputin and Tsarina Alexandra Rasputin surrounded by courtiers Before 1916 What is suggested about Rasputin in these pictures? Source A Source B 11

12 Source C From a statement by Rodzianko. A politician who opposed the Tsar, writing about the evil influence of Rasputin. March I said to the Tsar this cannot continue much longer. No one opens your eyes to the true role which Rasputin is playing. His presence in your Majesty s Court undermines (lowers) confidence in your Supreme Power and may have an evil effect My report did some good Rasputin was sent away to Toblis, but a few days later, at the demand of the Empress, this order was cancelled. Using the information from the pictures above and using the information in Source C explain why many Russians were losing confidence in the rule of the Tsar and why there was growing opposition to his rule Russians were losing confidence in the rule of the Tsar because.. ECONOMIC PROBLEMS Another important reason why people became more and more angry with the Tsar in this period was the fact that all over Russia, things were going badly wrong by Prices, especially food prices, rose, and hunger was widespread. Workers in the cities could not afford high food prices because wages had not risen nearly so fast. If workers tried to strike for better wages, they were accused of being disloyal. In the cities, soldiers were ordered to stop strikes and demonstrations. In the Lena goldfields in 1912 troops shot dead 200 strikers and injured several hundred. This was bitterly resented by the workers. In St Petersburg there was a general strike in July 1914 but this did not yet lead to revolution as in 1905 because the Tsar had a firm control of the Army which he could depend on to put down unrest. Task Read the text above and suggest, in a full sentence, which people would suffer most from the problems of the economy. Explain your answer. The people who would suffer most were. 12

13 THE GROWTH OF OPPOSITION GROUPS Look at Page 20 and 21 of the Textbook and complete the diagrams below showing the main opposition parties in Russia after 1905 S Democratic L Party founded 18 (SDLP) The Party followed the teaching of and believed that the workers (P ) would one day stage a revolution and remove the Tsar. The revolution would lead to the setting up of a Vladimir L C S In 1903, the party split into two: the M and the B. The M believed that the party should have a mass membership and were prepared for slow Leon T change. The B organise the revolution. believed that a small party should V L led the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks were led by J M and L T Julius M S R (SR s) founded 1901 Alexander K The SR s believed in a revolution of the p and aimed to get rid of the T. They wanted to share all the land among the peasants, so that it could be farmed in small p communities. There were a mixture of beliefs in the party some wanted to use violent methods while others were prepared to use peaceful methods government officials were killed between A K became the leader of the SR s 13

14 C D P (Cadets) founded 19 As Russia developed a M C the demand grew for a D style of government. The Cadets wanted a Paul M constitutional monarch and an elected P Britain). They were supported by the middle classes. (as in The Cadets were led by P M The O founded 19 This party was set up after the October Manifesto of They believed that the tsar would carry out his manifesto promises. This Alexander G party was also supported by the middle classes. The Octobrists were led by A G Once you have completed filling in the gaps above complete the diagram on the next page. 14

15 Fill the boxes below with the parties in their order of opposition to the Tsar, with the most extreme on the LEFT and the least extreme on the RIGHT. Colour the most extreme party RED and the least extreme GREEN MOST EXTREME LEAST EXTREME LEFT WING RIGHT WING KARL MARX The diagram below shows how Karl Marx believed that the wealth of the rich should be shared with the poor. Where would this put his ideas on the table above.?

16 THE IMPACT OF WORLD WAR 1 ON RUSSIA These sources help explain why Russia lost World War 1 and why it helped start the Russian Revolution Source A Map of events in the East Source B From a letter by the tsar to his wife in July Without metal the mills cannot supply a sufficient number of bullets and bombs. The same is true as regards the railways. The Minister of Transportation assures me that the railways are working better this year than last, but nevertheless every one complains that they are not doing as well as they might. Source C Written by Believe, a Russian general In recent battles, a third of the men had no rifles. The poor devils had to wait patiently until their comrades fell before their eyes and they could pick up weapons. The army is drowning in its own blood And this source helps explain what the men felt about the defeats Source- A police report on army morale October 1916 The behaviour of the soldiers, especially in the units in the rear, is most provocative. They accuse the military authorities of corruption, cowardice and drunkenness, and even treason. Everywhere one meets thousands of deserters, carrying out crimes and offering violence to the civilian population.

17 WORLD WAR 1 FACTFILE LOADS OF FACTS! The First World War proved the last straw for the tsar's government. Russian troops were slaughtered in their millions. Nicholas made things worse by going to the front to lead the army. This made him responsible for the defeats in most people's eyes. It also left the government in the hands of the tsar's wife, the tsarina, and the monk, Rasputin. The war effort caused economic chaos. By February 1917, people in the towns were starving and freezing. The revolution was started by the women - on 8 March 1917 they went on a march demanding bread, which turned into rioting. The tsarina called in the troops. However, on 12 March they mutinied and started to help the rioters. Workers and soldiers set up the Petrograd Soviet to coordinate the revolution. The tsar went to pieces and was unable to make any decisions. When the Duma realised the government was collapsing, it set up a provisional government, and on 15 March forced the tsar to abdicate. Ten extra details 1. In February 1914 the Deputy Minister of the Interior and former head of police sent a memo to the tsar warning him that a war against Germany - even if Russia won - would destroy the monarchy. 2. The tsarina was German. Most Russians believed that she was helping the Germans to win by ruining Russia from within. 3. The huge casualties in the war - 9 million dead or wounded by lost the tsar the support of the soldiers, so they turned against him when they were asked to put down the riots. 4. Taking 15 million men to fight in the army ruined Russia's agriculture. There were not enough workers to take in the harvest. 5. The war effort clogged up the railways with military transport, so food couldn't get into the towns. 6. On 13 March at the Kronstadt naval base, the sailors mutinied and murdered hundreds of their officers. 7. On 4 March, workers at the huge Putilov armaments factory in St Petersburg went on strike. Many historians say that this was the real start of the February Revolution. 8. The February Revolution was a genuine popular revolution, with spontaneous uprisings all over the country against the existing government - it was not planned by a particular rebel group or fuelled by a particular ideology. 9. On 10 March, with bread riots out of control, the tsarina wrote to the tsar blaming hooligans for the trouble. Her letter shows how out of touch the government was with reality. 10. The tsar tried to get back from the front on 13 March, but it was too late. None of the soldiers were loyal and his train could not get though to St Petersburg. 17

18 Task Using the information from the text book and page 17 in this pack create a spider diagram on this page. In the diagram put in what you think were the most important ways that World War 1 had an impact on Russia from Political Economic What was the impact of World War 1 on Russia? Social 18

19 WHAT HAVE I LEARNT ABOUT THE BACKGROUND TO THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION ( ) Tick the boxes to show what you know. I know: Knows not sure don't know/ that Nicholas II was a weak tsar what an autocrat is why people hated Rasputin that ther was poverty and hardship among the people here was growing oppsosition to the Tsar The names of the main opposition parties how to explain reasons how to complete a mind map I know best I need to work on (up to 3 targets) 19

20 WHY DID NICHOLAS II FALL FROM POWER? Aim: To explain there was a revolution in Russia in 1917 and why Nicholas II fell from power. Objective: To complete notes taken from Resources: Boardworks Powerpoint; DVD Nicholas and Alexandra Background: Why was it going to be difficult for Nicholas to stay in power? The effects of World War 1 on Russia What was wrong with the Russian Army? What impact would this have on the Russian people? Write the headlines from the newspapers that appeared at this time

21 5. 6. How do you think that these headlines would affect people in Russia? How did Nicholas react to all this? What were Nicholas choices at this time? Why were all these choices difficult? What did happen on March 2 nd 1917? What happened when Nicholas tried to return to Petrograd? THIS WAS THE END OF THE ROMANOV DYNASTY AND THE BEGINNING OF THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION! 21

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