InNo+christopherc2012+10.15.10

The Modern day Winter Palace. This national symbol of Russia has been standing since the time when the Tsars ruled. It is one of the most interesting sights to see when visiting the country.

A Chart made using a organizing tool which helps better understand the economical crash. It explains Russia's economic collapse using the factors of analysis.


 * Russia at War 1914 - 1917 **
 * Early Defeats **
 * went to war in August 1914
 * patriotic demonstrations in support of the Tsar all over Russia
 * hatred of Germany
 * renamed St. Petersburg to Petrograd
 * Two Russian armies attacked Germany at the end of August 1914
 * Russians badly equipped
 * a million people without rifles
 * both armies wiped out at **Tannenberg** and the **Masurian Lakes**
 * over 25,000 Russian soldiers killed, wounded, or taken prisoner
 * lost over 1 million by the end of 1914


 * Collapse of the Economy **
 * Russian economy began to collapse continued in 1915
 * lack of workers
 * 15.5 million young men taken into armies to fight
 * 600 factories closed due to lack of workers
 * weeds grew in empt fields
 * not enough trains to keep armies and townspeople supplied with food and materials
 * thousands of tonnes of butter, meat, and grain rotted in raillway sidings
 * coal supplies halted as the trains did not run
 * inflation
 * value rose in 1914
 * food prices went up
 * people found that their wages bought less and less food
 * Russians were defeated all along the way
 * 300,000 deaths and 3 million wounded or captured by 1915


 * Dark Forces destroying the throne **
 * Tsar Nicholas decided to take personal command of his armies in Auguest 1915
 * left Petrograd and went to live at army headquarters, 500 km away
 * left Alexandra in charge
 * under influence of Rasputin
 * Aug 1915 to end of 1916, Alexandra used power to sack ministers who displeased her and replace them with Rasputin's favorites
 * work of government ground to a halt
 * Russian death toll rocketed to one million
 * People claimed that Alexandra and Rasputin were German agents since Alexander was German by birth
 * claimed there were 'Dark forces destroying the throne'
 * three nobles loyal to the Tsar murdered Rasputin in Dec 1916
 * 1917, blizzards went through Russia
 * Suppies of grain, coal, wood, and oil dwindled to nothing
 * Conditions became right for revolution


 * Revolution of March 1917 **
 * conditions during march 1917 became worse
 * Wednesday March 7
 * managers of Putilov steel works locked out 20,000 workers after pay talks broke down
 * Workers in other factories went on strikes to support the steel workers
 * Thursday March 8
 * 50 factories closed and 90,000 workers went on strike
 * socialist women on street demonstrating since it was International Women's Day
 * Friday March 9
 * 200,000 workers went on strike
 * Saturday March 10
 * 250,000 workers on strike
 * food shortags contiuned
 * Cossacks refused to attack a procession of strikers when ordered
 * Sunday March 11
 * President of Duma sent a telegram to the Tsar urging for government reform
 * Tsar ordered Duma to stop meeting
 * Monday March 12
 * mutiny began on Volinsky regiment of the army: a sergeant shot his commanding officer dead
 * soldiers left barracks and marched to center of Petrograd
 * Duma set up 12 man **Provisional Committee** to take over the government
 * Revolutionaries set up a **Soviet**, or council to take over government and organise food supplies for the city
 * Tuesday March 13
 * Tsar Nicholas sent a Duma saying he would share power with the Duma
 * Duma leader, Micheal Rodzianko said it is too late
 * Wednesday March 13
 * leading generals told Nicholas that none of the army supported him
 * Nicholas tries to return to Petrograd to take control
 * Thursday March 15
 * train halted by revolutionaries
 * abdicate throne to brother, Grand Duke Micheal, who abdicated within 24 hours
 * Russia became a republic


 * The Provisional Government **
 * Two new governments **
 * **Provisional Goverment**
 * 12 men elected by Duma
 * official government
 * **Petrograd Soviet**
 * elected by working people to protect interest of working people and soldiers
 * Issued **Order No. 1**
 * soldiers and sailors must set up committees to take control of all weaponry
 * officers addressed as 'Your Excellency'
 * obeyed in some parts of army and navy
 * showed that the Petrograd Soviets controlled armed forces
 * 2500 deputies were revolutionaries
 * willing to co-operate with Provisional Government


 * Lenin and the April Theses **
 * Lenin - leader of Bolsheviks
 * disagreed with Provisional Government
 * wanted to get to Russia to organise second revolution
 * made a speech on April 16, 1917 to end war with Germany known as **April Theses**
 * all land must be given to peasants
 * banks must be nationalised
 * Bolsheviks should change their names to Communists
 * no support given to Provisional, all power to Soviets
 * In June 1917, Russia made a major attack on Austria but failed
 * soldiers joined Bolsheviks to demand end to the Provisional Government
 * 100,000 people shouted 'All power to the Soviets'
 * after **July Days**, three days of rioting
 * Minister of War sent loyal troops to Petrograd to dispand mobs, and claimed Bolsheviks were paid by the Germans
 * Lenin fled to Finland, Bolsheviks imprisoned


 * The Kornilov Revolt **
 * Alexander Kerensky, Minister of War became Prime Minister of Provisional Government
 * Kerensky allowed Bolsheviks to set up defense force called **Red Guards**
 * Kornilov's toops refused to fight fellow workers and Kornilov was arrested
 * Bolsheviks saved Provisional Goverment and showed they were not German Agents
 * got majority inelections


 * Bolshevik Revolution of November 1917 **
 * State of Russia in 1917 **
 * Kerensky and Provisional Governemtn lost authority in Sept and Oct of 1917
 * peasants took control of land where they grew food
 * 2000 farm peasants killed landlords
 * siezed lands of church and Tsar
 * Krensky sent out soldiers to punisment expeditions
 * violence delayed harvest
 * thousands of soldiers deserting army every week, to go back to village to get fair share of land
 * Bolsheviks encouraged soldiers to stop fighting


 * November Revolution **
 * Lenin returned in October 1917
 * Bolshevik leaders agreed to stage an armed uprising against Provisional Government
 * Bolshevik chariman Leon Trotsky of Petrograd Soviet set up headquarters in the **Smolny Institute**, a disused school
 * army supported Bolsheviks
 * Red Guards took important locations in Petrograd
 * A cruiser, the **Aurora** opened fire on **Winter Palace**, where was Provisional Government headquarters
 * Red Guards stormed Winter Palace
 * Lenin announced setting up new government
 * Bolsheviks had come to power in a single day of rebellion

Russia was defeated in wars during early 1914. This resulted in economical problems because of inflation, food shortages, and the lack of transport. As the Tsar tried to take control of the military by himself, he lost popularity when supplies were all gone and workers were unemployed. The Provisional Government was set up, hoping to improve conditions in Russia but people supported Lenin and the Bolsheviks. In a single day, the Provisional Government was gone and the Bolsheviks came into power.
 * Summary **


 * Questions **
 * 1) How were the different types of government run?
 * 2) How could the economical crash have been prevented?
 * 3) What was Order No. 1?
 * 4) explain the reasons that led to the chaos in March of 1917
 * 5) explain the process that led the Bolsheviks into power