2. Questions I have about the revolution – SM
1. What are some successes and fails of Tsar Nicholas II?
During the rule of Nicholas II, many events affected Russia, making the ruling of an already crippling empire and large country even more difficult. Given the Tsar’s weakness to rule, the Russian empire was not at its greatest condition. The main events that both positively and negatively impacted the Tsar were Russian – Japanese war, the 1905 revolution, the creation of the October Revolution, the industrial issues, the involvement in the first world war and the role Rasputin acquired until his abdication in 1917. All of these events put light on Nicholas’ capability of taking decisions giving hindsight on his successes and failures. After numerous unsuccessful attempts to negotiate, Japan declared war to Russia on February 8, 1904. Russia thought that winning the war would be simple because the belief of having more and better resources and manpower was very popular, instead, Russia got defeated. The loss made Japan look like one of the powerful countries of the world and weakening the Russian confidence towards the government and removing any loyalty in the country. The social breakdown and the unexpected defeat caused a heavy increase which led to the 1905 revolution. Obviously, the Russian – Japanese war was marked as a failure. As the middle class and the workers were protesting for rights and freedom, the October Manifesto was marked as a victory for Russians. It granted civilian rights and created a parliament (DUMA). This was only a temporary victory for the people. Once the Fundamental Laws were made all achievements were abolished by taking power away from the Duma and giving it back to the Tsar. Although the October Manifesto might seem like a success at first, it was quickly eliminated. This caused to result in a failure to improve the Russian situation. Although many failures had taken place, some positive changes had been made, such as Stolypin’s reforms which were aggressive, but it brought positive changes for peasants. The reforms included the improvement of individual farming, an introduction of agricultural cooperation, development of agricultural education and the circulation of new methods to improve the lands. However, these reforms were not enough for the people. As they were still unhappy towards the government. These reforms were made in at a bad time as the revolution was already too close. The industrial situation during the early 1900s was on the verge of collapsing given the increase of population and the social unhappiness. Peasants and the main opposing parties began many strikes and protests which led the Tsar to fear an upcoming revolution, while he had no advantage to prevent the Revolution. Russia’s involvement in WWI resulted in the opposite of what the Tsar expected; by going to fight in the war, Nicholas II hoped to enhance the people’s support towards him and create a sense of nationalism that had been lacking from the Russians. He hoped that support and trust towards himself would be enough to motivate Russian soldiers and win the war. Given his military inexperience, his strategies were complete failures. While the main ruler of the country had set off to war, Russia was ruled by the Tsarina who was heavily influenced by Rasputin. This resulted in upsetting changes for the Russian crisis. Fighting in the war caused shortages of funds and resources; the Tsar’s attempt of solving this issue involved borrowing funds and increasing the amount of printed of money, this attempt resulted in the development of an increase of rebellions. Additionally, the involvement in the war caused the loss of their corn provider, Ukraine. Rasputin’s influence on the Tsarina of Russia is definitely viewed as a great failure of the Tsar, this close friend of the Tsar’s wasn’t loved by the people. He was thought of being a heavy drinker and womanizer, such belief also put the Tsar in bad positions causing loss of trust and confidence of the people and overall a lack in nationalism. He also caused a number of issues which affected the population, the people then blamed the Tsar for trusting him. Rasputin involvement in the ruling of Russia profited him heavily, resulting in the abuse of his influence. Overall, Rasputin’s influence on the Czar’s was negative and, caused the Tsar to be put into a bad light.
Another individual who played a relevant role in the rule of Russia was the Tsarina, she believed in the principles of dictatorship, she, in fact, pushed the Tsar to refuse political improvements. The period of WWI, the Tsarina showed her incapability to rule. She was put in charge of local policy. The Tsarina didn’t handle her task well: she fired ministers and supported Rasputin as her advisor who, as I previously said, was even incapable of making the right decisions.
Based on the results of Nicholas II’s actions while under his ruler of the Russian empire, I am more than able to say that overall, he failed as a ruler. He showed no capacity of understanding what his people wanted, and even once he did understand, he decided to refrain from evaluating the situations and from improving the quality of the people’s lives, showing interest only for his own benefit. The very few successful changes made to The Russian Empire have to be appointed to reformers like Lenin, who was able to put the country back on track.
2. How did World War One affect the Russian Revolution?
World War One had a major impact on Russia. When World War One started in August 1914, Russia responded by loyally uniting around Nicholas II. Military disasters greatly weakened the Russian Army in the first phases of the war. The growing influence of Gregory Rasputin over the Tsarina did a great deal of damage the royal family. By the end of the spring of 1917, the Romanovs, who had ruled Russia for just over 300 years, were no longer in charge of a Russia. The Rule had been taken over by Kerensky and the Provisional Government. By the end of 1917, the Bolsheviks led by Lenin had taken power in the major cities of Russia and introduced a communist rule in those areas he controlled. By the end of 1917, the Bolsheviks led by Lenin had taken power in the major cities of Russia and introduced a communist rule in those areas it controlled. The change in Russia over the time of four years was incredible; The fall of a monarchy and the establishment of the world’s first communist government.
3. What is the difference between the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks?
In the early 1900s, the Social Democratic Labor Party was created to unite some of the revolutionary parties that were against the Tsar. This eventually escalated to the Russian Revolution of 1917. Within the Social Democratic Labor Party (SDLP), there was a spilt and two groups came to be: the Mensheviks and the Bolsheviks. The word Menshevik comes from the word “minority” (in Russian of course), and Bolshevik from “majority”. Bolsheviks believed in a radical and discriminator revolutionization, whereas Mensheviks supported a more open-minded change collaboration with the middle class and the bourgeoisie of Russia. The central figures were Julius Martov, at the head of the Mensheviks, who was against Vladimir Lenin, leader of the Bolsheviks. The Bolsheviks did not truly have the majority, yet it was their vision that persevered for the upcoming decades of revolution. In Russia, the February Revolution begins on this day in 1917, when riots and strikes over food shortages across Petrograd (now St. Petersburg). By 1917, most Russians had lost faith in the leadership ability of the czarist regime. The main causes of the October Revolution were the failure of the Provisional Government and the strengths of the Bolsheviks, this alone couldn’t have caused the Revolution on its own, so there were other smaller causes that lead to the cause of the October Revolution. These causes were the role of the people as a large revolutionary group and the issues with world war one.
4. What caused the Russian Revolution to start? And who mainly led it?
The Russian Revolution of 1917 involved the collapse of The Russian Empire under the rule of Tsar Nicholas II and the rise of Marxian Socialism under Lenin and his Bolsheviks. It sparked the beginning of a new era in Russia that had effects on countries around the world. On November 6 and 7, 1917, the Bolshevik Revolutionaries led by Bolshevik Party leader, Vladimir Lenin led a nearly bloodless coup against the Duma’s provisional government. People were tired of the rule of Tsar Nicholas II, they went about with strikes, protests and many other acts.
5. Why did you ask these questions?
I asked these questions because I feel that they helped me understand the Russian Revolution better and because I felt that they were key things I learned about while researching. Throughout this assignment, I learned more things by asking more and more questions. I believe that I learned the most from this part of the assignment.
3. If I were leading the Russian Revolution – SM
Based on what I know about this revolution, I would not flee the country in times of hardship and instead of arguing with the Mensheviks and other revolutionary groups, I would come to reason with them, I would do this differently if I was Lenin. I believe that events in history would have changed by a lot and because if Lenin hadn’t gone into hiding and then fled Russia for Finland after Kerensky’s provisional government outlawed the Bolshevik Party and started to arrest members of the party he could have been there and stood and fight for his party. I believe this act was selfish and rude. If I was also if Lenin hadn’t argued with the other parties there could have been a chance that the Bolshevik party would have grown into something bigger and stronger. This would have made starting and overcoming the revolution much easier. In the past, I believe that many revolutionary leaders could have made wiser choices and actions that could have benefitted them as a whole.
4. Compare/Contrast Leaders between your revolution and one we have studied -NJ
5. Plan out a movie of the revolution -NL
12. Where are they now? – KR
Vladimir Lenin:
Soon after the revolution in 1917, Lenin established the Cheka, Russia’s first Secret Police. As the economy deteriorated during the Russian Civil war, Lenin used the Cheka to silence political opposition, from both his opponents and challengers. However, theses measurers did not go unchallenged. A member of a socialist party shot Lenin in the shoulder and neck which badly hurt him. Lenin’s Red Army eventually won Russia’s Civil war. In 1922 an agreement between Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Transcaucasia formed the USSR, which Lenin became the leader of. Between 1922 and his death in 1924, Lenin suffered from a series of strokes which compromised his ability to speak. His long absence paved the way for Joseph Stalin to take over his position.
Nicholas II:
Nicholas II diffused the Russian Revolution of 1905 by signing a manifesto promising representative government and basic civil liberties in Russia. In 1914, he led his country into another costly war. In March of 1917 the army joined workers in demanding reforms. Czar was forced to abdicate. In July 1918, the advance of counterrevolutionary forces caused the soviet forces to fear that Nicholas II might be rescued. After a secret meeting, a death sentence was passed on the Imperial family. On the night of July 16th, 1918 Nicholas II, his wife, his children and several of his servants were killed.
Rasputin:
In late 1906 Rasputin began acting as a healer for the Tsar and his wife, Alexandra, son’s Alexei. At court, he was a divisive figure, seen by some Russians as a mystic, visionary and prophet. The high point of Rasputin’s power was in 1915 when Nicholas II left St. Petersburg to oversee Russian armies fighting in World War I, increasing his influence. During this time, Rasputin became increasingly unpopular. In the early morning of December 30th, 1916, Rasputin was assassinated by a group of noblemen who opposed his influence over Alexandra and the Tsar.
15. Cartoon Strip – Telling of events – SM
17. Song on the revolution – SM & NL
21. Magazine Cover – SM
27. Timeline – KJ
28. Gallery Walk – NJ
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