The Collapse of the Tsarist Monarchy in February 1917
a) Source A is a police report regarding the discontent of the
industrial worker, and the report claims that this is due to the,
"impossibility of obtaining goods, the endless queuing, the poor
housing and the lack of fuel." From historical knowledge, we know that
on March 7 workers from the Putilov factory in Petrograd were locked
out after demanding a 50% pay rise. They were rapidly supported by
workers from other factories, and the following day thousands of
employees ignored the pleas of union workers to remain clam and
started street demonstrations. Weaknesses in the Russian government
and economy at the start of the twentieth century meant discontent
gradually grew with most Russian people. Workers were paid very little
and often had to work over 11 hours a day. There was also never quite
enough food to go around and several major famines worsened the plight
of the Russian Serfs; the peasantry who lived in terrible poverty
stricken conditions under strict landlords, and made up 90% of the
population. Only half of the farming land was owned by the 15 million
peasant families, while the other half went to just 300,000 landlords.
The failure of the Tsar to fulfil all of the significant demands made
by the people, and the way in which he seemed to 'brush the problems
aside' worsened his reputation. Being a country of great magnitude and
appalling transport links, it was very difficult for the working class
to obtain goods we now take for granted. We know from following
November revolution that Lenin has the vote "of the masses"-ie all the
peasants. The peasant population in ...
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...ble ministers, replacing them with
hopeless ones, and leaving Russia on the verge of breaking point.
In conclusion, both sources have very different agendas/purposes, and
this is why they have such varying interpretations. Source D is an
extract from a book designed to glorify the Bolshevik's hand in the
March Revolution, where as Source E is a carefully constructed,
alternative account designed to help children nowadays improve their
understanding of the relevant history. With our own historical
knowledge, we have to conclude that source D is a lot closer to the
truth than E, although there may have been a combination of both.
There is no question however, that the Romanov's ultimately brought
about their own demise, and the Bolsheviks could not have conducted
the revolution without the enemy's own self-destruction.
They worked seventy-plus hours a week, six days a week with Sunday off. Most stayed for several years and then went back home to continue with their lives while others embarked on other
this was the seen to be “freedom” for them as they began to get what
They were forced to go out to work and make a rapid transition into adulthood. In these work places they, like any other adult, had a limited amount of time to eat. Patience Kershaw, a miner at the age of 17 recalls having cake for dinner- in inadequate dinner- and she does “not stop or rest at any time for the purpose” referring to her inability to eat throughout the day . She of course is not the only one, Elizabeth Bentley who works in the mills was asked whether she had the opportunity to eat in the factory. The 23 year old who began working at the age of 6 replied with a “no” saying how she had little to eat. The human rights were furthermore diminished as I read further on about the consequences there were if a child were to arrive late to work or became drowsy. Clearly the long hours and often times the long travel from home to work would severely tire anyone, to keep the kids under control and alert while working, the over lookers resorted to strapping them “when they became drowsy”. Matthew Crabtree explains the dread that these kids had of getting beaten, due to the fear they had we can infer that the means of physical abuse was prevalent in these factories. In the mines the young girls and women had to adapt to the conditions of their workplace. The vigorous lifting and loading was a strenuous activity done by both sexes, males worked naked to combat heat while females also worked
The Seizure of Power by the Bolsheviks in 1917. How did the Bolsheviks seize power of the Russian Empire in 1917? They were able to do this as a result of taking advantage of the current political and social situations in the country at the time. Through such decisions as disbanding the army and siding with the majority. the peasants, through such promises as land, food, equality and peace.
Nicholas II ruled Russia from 1894-1917 and was to be its final tsar. He ascended the throne under the impression that he would rule his whole life as it's undisputed leader. Accompanied by his wife, Alexandra, they lived a comfortable life of luxury while the country suffered around them. Nicholas was determined to rule as harshly as his father; however, he was a very weak and incompetent character who did not posses the qualities capable of guiding Russia through its time of turmoil.
In the years leading up to the fall of the three hundred year old Romanov dynasty there was increasing tension building up in Russia. The failing of Russia in the war, the failings of the tsar and his decisions, and the social and economic situations in Russia all played a part in the fall. Still it is believed that the First World War had played the biggest part in the fall of the dynasty.
The Failure of the Provisional Government and the Rise of the Bolsheviks i. Subject of investigation. How did the failure of the Provisional Government allow for the rise of the Bolsheviks? ii. Methods to be used.
The poem “My Boy” shows how long the work hours were by saying, “[Before] dawn my labor drives me forth. Tis night when I am free; A stranger am I to my child; And he one to me.” (Document 2) From dawn to night was a normal time period that people would work and she would come home to her family where they were strangers. The long hours were not only tiring on the body, but also put a strain on the quantity and quality of time spent with family. The hours were not easy labor either, the testimony of Elizabeth Bentley shows that labor was difficult and the bosses worked the employees
himself 90% of the day until he was and adult. He had to work twice as hard as most
I recollect as a child how I cherished the way my mom took care of me and made all my executive decisions. I recall getting excited about my weekly allowances and about her picking out my clothes for school. However, when I became a teenager I wanted my independence. I know longer wanted her to buy my clothing and I wanted to financially support myself by getting a job. I was so tired of her telling me what to do and how to do it that I revolted. At first it was difficult trying to establish independence in my mother's house, but after a while it seemed as if I had won the battle. Unbeknownst to me that battle would be short-lived and ultimately my mom won the war. Basically, I had constructed my own crazy revolution against my mother. You see a revolution is “a fundamental change in political organization; especially: the overthrow or renunciation of one government or ruler and the substitution of another by the governed .Activity or movement designed to affect fundamental changes in the socioeconomic situation (Webster Dictionary).”One revolution that is said to have inspired communism was the Russian Revolutions of 1917.
It was Tzar Nicholas 2 political naivete and extreme obstinance that led to the downfall of the Russia
Pyotr Alexeyevich Romanov, better known as Peter the Great, was Tsar of Russia from 1682-1725. He is best known for his efforts to reform Russia in order to make it a stable and strong nation. Voltaire once proclaimed, “At last Peter was born, and Russia was created. Before the reign of Peter the Great, Russia was behind most European countries in many aspects. Russia did not make good use of the bodies of water surrounding it because the Russians didn’t trade with other countries and they didn’t even have a single ship. Also the agriculture and manufacturing industries were ignored. When Peter the Great came into power, he realized that Russia had many things to improve on. Without reforms, Russia would not move forward, but rather backwards and would be susceptive to attack from foreign nations. Peter the Great’s plan was to modernize Russia so the life of the citizens would be improved and to remove Russia’s inability to defend itself. Peter the Great was strongly influenced by other European countries, as this was seen in many of his reforms. Peter the Great made Russia more modern by reforming the military, changing the way people were educated, and improving the economy of Russia.
than the times of today. Back then, the most important aspect of life for a
Historical Essay: The role of internal and external forces in the collapse of the Tsar
under a mother that was always working, and a father that was usually away on