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Russian and Soviet History
Russia before
the First World War
Opposition to Tsarist
Rule
The impact
of the First World War
1917: the fall of the
Tsar
The Bolshevik Revolution
The role of Lenin
The role of Trotsky
Bolshevik rule 1918 - 1924
The Russian Civil War
The New Economic Policy
Lenin's legacy
The development
of communist rule
The impact
of Communism on the people
The failure
of reform and the decline of the Communist state
The nature of Stalin's
dictatorship
Changes
in industry and agriculture under Stalin
The changing
role of women in the USSR
De-Stalinisation
Khruschev's
reforms
The Decline of the
Soviet Union
The fall of the Communist
state
The role of Gorbachev
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The Fall of the Romanov's
There had been opposition to Tsarist government for quite some time in Russia.
It had come in a number of forms, from the liberal demands of the Kadets who
wanted more representation of the middle classes through to more radical opposition
in the form of the social revolutionaries, Mensheviks and Bolsheviks.
The position of the Romanov family had been weakened by the 1905 Revolution.
Following Bloody Sunday the Tsar's image as a much loved father figgure was
damaged.
The introduction of the Duma, followed quickly by the Fundamental Laws, appeased
some but led to increased frustration at the system of government amongst other
groups.
Entry into the war in 1914 and the subsequent decisions to act as commander
in chief at the front, along with the Rasputin affair and food shortages, placed
the Tsar's authority in a very precarious position.
Chronology of the fall of the Romanov's
| Event |
Description and impact |
| 1905 |
Bloody Sunday and the 1905 Revolution.
For many, Bloody Sunday shattered the image of the Tsar as a caring father
figure. Though the Tsar himself was not indivudually responsible for the
shootings, the deployment of troops and the shootings portrayed the leadership
as being ruthless, uncaring and unsymapthetic to the needs of the people.
The Revolution of 1905 which immediately followed Bloody Sunday took several
months to 'really' put down. Again, force was used in order to do this.
The political concessions that resulted from the Revolution were minimal
in reality. The Duma had its powers limited by the Fundamental Laws and
unccooperative assemblies were dismissed by the Tsar. In doing this, the
Tsarist regime gave with one hand and tok away with the other. This frustrated
many liberal Russians who wanted gradual reform, whilst also providing
a limited national stage for more radical opponents of the regime, in
which they were able, albeit on a small scale, to legitimise their cause
and gain a public arena in which to voice their opinions. |
| 1914 |
Russia enters the First World War
As with many of the warring nations, the entry into war had a short term
benefit for the government. Patriotism and a desire to fight for the Russian
motherland disguised underlying concerns about the economy and to some
extent led to the people rallying behind the Tsar. |
| 1915 |
Following failures in the war, Tsar Nicholas
II decided in September to assume control of the armed forces. The result
of this decision was to remove Nicholas from the political centre of Russia
and make decision making and policy implementation incredibly difficult.
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| 1916 |
The Brusilov Offensive. In the first few weeks
of the offensive the Russian army made massive gains. The euphoria that
surrounded these successes was short lived though. Once the Austrian army
regrouped and had reenforcements, the battle turned against them and they
were forced back with the loss of well over half a million men. The failure
of this campaign further stretched the resources of the Russian Army and
increased discontent in the industria centres as the death toll continued
to rise unabated. |
| 1917 |
February. St Petersburg (Petrograd) Soviet
of Workers and Soldiers Deputies is reformed.
Initially dominated by the Mensheviks this Soviet coordinated strikes
and opposition to the Government. This increased pressure on the Tsarist
government and made civil unrest a significant issue. |
| 1917 |
February. St Petersburg (Petrograd). Cold weather
and food shortages led to outbreaks of violence as starving workers rioted
and broke into shops and stores. |
| 1917 |
In March, 1917, a Provisional Government
was established in St Petersburg (Petrograd) by Prince Lvov. The Provisional
Government intended to continue the war effort but wanted to govern the
country in a different way. Tsar Nicholas II was at the front when this
was done. As he tried to return to St Petersburg to deal with the situation
his train was stopped by troops loyal to the new Provisional Government
and, on 15th March he was forced to abdicate. |
| 1917 |
March 1917. Nicholas and his family are placed
under house arrest at the Alexander palace, Tsarkoe Selo. |
| 1917 |
August 1917. The former Imperial Family are
transferred to Tobolsk. |
| 1917 |
October 1917. Following the Bolshevik Revolution
some members fo the family are moved to the Ipatiev House, Ekaterinburg,
in order to prevent the 'White Army' from rescuing them. Other members of
the family are transffered at a later date. |
| 1918 |
July 1918. The Imperial Family are executed
in the cellar of Ipatiev House.
*There are several conflicting interpretations of the events surrounding
the execution and a number of claims that some members of the family,
most notably Anastasia, may have survived. |
Sources:
Tsar Nicholas II's abdication proclamation:
" In the days of the great struggle against the foreign enemies, who for
nearly three years have tried to enslave our fatherland, the Lord God has been
pleased to send down on Russia a new heavy trial. Internal popular disturbances
threaten to have a disastrous effect on the future conduct of this persistent
war. The destiny of Russia, the honor of our heroic army, the welfare of the
people and the whole future of our dear fatherland demand that the war should
be brought to a victorious conclusion whatever the cost. The cruel enemy is
making his last efforts, and already the hour approaches when our glorious army
together with our gallant allies will crush him. In these decisive days in the
life of Russia, We thought it Our duty of conscience to facilitate for Our people
the closest union possible and a consolidation of all national forces for the
speedy attainment of victory. In agreement with the Imperial Duma We have thought
it well to renounce the Throne of the Russian Empire and to lay down the supreme
power. As We do not wish to part from Our beloved son, We transmit the succession
to Our brother, the Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich, and give Him Our blessing
to mount the Throne of the Russian Empire. We direct Our brother to conduct
the affairs of state in full and inviolable union with the representatives of
the people in the legislative bodies on those principles which will be established
by them, and on which He will take an inviolable oath.
In the name of Our dearly beloved homeland, We call on Our faithful sons of
the fatherland to fulfill their sacred duty to the fatherland, to obey the tsar
in the heavy moment of national trials, and to help Him, together with the representatives
of the people, to guide the Russian Empire on the road to victory, welfare,
and glory. May the Lord God help Russia!"
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