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Reasons for Rev. of March 1917

• Defeat of Russia following entry in WWI
• Some argue that Rev. was inevitable regardless of WWI (terrible living standards)
• Incompetence of the Czar
• Corrupt and inefficient Gov.
• Weak ruler (Nicholas II)
• Rasputin damage the reputation of the royal family in the eyes of other nobles (he was seen to be the de facto ruler of the country)
• Food shortages
• Army losses in 1916 (the army morale declined)
• The Czar assumed command of the army and was associated with military defeat
• Formation of the Provisional Gov.
• Established by the Duma
• A soviet committee was established
• Causes of the October (Bolshevik) Rev.
• Weaknesses/mistakes of Prov. Gov: failed to decisively - didn't satisfy demands for change/the power of the Soviets/allowed opposition to form/kept Russia in the war/handicapped by internal divisions (not efficient and united)
• The power of the Bolsheviks
• The return of Lenin
• The Mensheviks supported the Prov. Gov. and opposition sided with the Bolsheviks as a result
• Lenin adapted Marxist doctrine to fit revolutionary needs
• The simple message of Bolshevism: "Peace, bread and land"
• The Bolsheviks strengthened power in the cities as opposed to the countryside which meant success in elections.
• They gained a military force (the Red Guards) which other political parties did not have
• Benefited from divisions amongst their opponents
• The Bolshevik Revolution
• Timing was a result of Lenin's belief that war with Germany must be ended at any costs.
• Were the 1917 Revolutions inevitable?
• Improvement in living standards meant chances of revolution might fade: the establishment of a middle peasant class / improvements in working conditions/lack of incentive in revolutionary parties
• BUT The Czar had failed to carry out his promised reforms (the situation was deteriorating before WWI)
  • Stolypin's reforms failed to match a growing peasant pop.
  • Little relaxation of secret police activities
  • The royal family was discredited
• Growing agitation amongst the workers/combined with the fact that the army was not loyal to the Czar following Russian defeat in war.

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