This page will be used for Mr. Webber's PRS students to complete assignments and to communicate with fellow students on issues surrounding our 10th grade World History class.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Russian Revolution Illustration questions
Please post your responses to the 4 "Discussing the Illustration" questions and the first "Follow-up Activities" below. Refer to the homework plan for due dates.
1.The war that triggered the Russian Revolution of 1917 was World War I. Russia fought on the eastern front against Germany. Their allies were France, Brittan, Italy, and the United States.
2.Trench warfare was hell for every man. With adversities like rats, disease, sores, lack of sleep and gas attacks, the trenches were nobodies vacation home. It was especially trying for them that year because Lenin offered everyone peace and a quick exit to WWI.
3.The Tsarist government fell so quickly because people were just tired and hopeless about the war. Lenin was also a contributor because how he promised the soldiers safety and security that is why they turned against the Tsar
4. I feel that that was the only revolution because the government shifter from an absolute power to a democracy which is a revolution. When Lenin came to power it wasn't as much of a revoltion because he was just another leader with absolute power, just a different one.
Part One: 1) The Great War, or Wold War I was a reaction to the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, militarism, nationalism, tangled alliances and imperialism. The fallout of these multiple factors resulted in a bloody conflict that took millions or lives and lasted four long years, from 1914 to 1918. While several countries were involved some had more prominent roles than others. Russia played a rather minor part. Although they joined the allied powers and added to their forces, they suffered major losses to their enemies, the central powers. They were the main opposing force on the Eastern front, and waged a small war with Japan, both of which they lost. 2) With all of the efforts, supplies and troops being put into the war, the people of Russia greatly suffered. The troops suffered as well as the people back home. The economy plummeted and food shortages became common. Added with the harsh winter, the poor had hard lives. The state of the home front was ruined, and as a result the war effort was decreased. 3) The effects of war quickly took their effect on the mental state of the people. The oppression of the people by the government and the economical state made the people realize that their government was unfit to lead them. Riots and protests became common. The Tsarist government simply fell apart because of the mistake of staying in WWI, inefficiency, corruption, and government policies broke the bond between the people and the Tsar.
While there was another Russian Revolution in 1905, it was nothing compared to that of 1917. They had been brutally beaten by the Japanese in the same year and they had gone through “Bloody Sunday” as a reaction to a peaceful protest. The revolution was sparked as a result of this, and the combined power effort or all kinds of citizens was set forth on the government. However, Tsar Nicholas quickly issued the October Manifesto and snuffed out the protests. The people learned their place once more. Many argue that this was not a revolution as all, as it accomplished basically nothing. But despite this opinion, the small revolution added fuel to the fire and added even more incentive for the larger revolution of 1917. Tsar Nicholas II’s decision to take personal command is often though a huge mistake on his part because of the drastic effect it had on the country. While he left because the he though that the army was not having enough success, his decision insured the same for his government. His leave left his wife Alexandra in charge of the affairs. She was already rather unpopular with the people and her allowing and uneducated Siberian peasant, Rustapin, to influence her decisions only made it worse. Because of Rustapin, several political decisions were made the Russian populous angrier and worsened the relationship between the people and the Tsarist government.
Tsar Nicholas II, In my opinion it would be an extreme mistake to go to the front. Your place is with the people of Russia. We are always in need of you, especially in times like this. There is unrest and we need all your wisdom. The people are clearly at unrest and need you to guide them through these hard times. Only you are capable of ruling. While your wife is a lovely and capable woman, she does not know everything she needs to to take care of this country. Leaving would surely be a mistake. For some reason the people do not find her as powerful and respectable as you. While I cannot fathom why this is, we are unable of changing all their minds. The situation of this country must be dealt with delicately, and you are the only one to do the job. Furthermore while the performance of the front lines are inadequate, they are outmatched. Although I have no doubt that in your capable hands they would flourish, death would still hang in the air. It is very possibly that you could accidentally be killed by the German scoundrels. Your tragic death could easily tear the country apart. We would be left without a leader in a war we couldn't win without you. As a result of these various things, I believe that you should remain here.
Works Cited "The 1905 Russian Revolution." The 1905 Russian Revolution. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2013. . "Firstworldwar.com." First World War.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2013. . "Firstworldwar.com." First World War.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2013. . "On This Day: Russia's February Revolution Begins." On This Day: Russia's February Revolution Begins. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2013. . "War and Revolution in Russia 1914 - 1921." BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2013. .
1.The war that was a key factor for the Russian Revolution was World War 1, which was from June of 1914 – November of 1918. Russia was with the allies, who were France, Britain, America, and more. Then their enemies were the central powers, who were Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and more. 2.The conditions that made the war especially trying for the Russians in 1916 were not getting their demands heard, not getting the necessitates to live, and sending their men to war. These were the conditions for the people, who suffered a ton, imagine the soldiers. The soldiers would starve for days, they would die from freezing to death, and there were a ton of diseases spreading. These were harsh environments. Everybody wanted to leave this war, because of how bad it was becoming and how unbeneficial it was. 3.I believe the Tsarist government fell so quickly was because of not hearing peoples demands, no getting out of war when they could, and the government just betrayed the people and put a wall between them. The people were tired of the government not hearing them out, so they started to do protests. They also just did not believe in the government anymore. 4.The two revolutions were the October Revolution and the February Revolution. These two were very important, because of how greatly the people came together and fought for their demands. The October Revolution was when the people that followed the Bolshevik party overthrew the Provisional government, and received a great change in their government. There was a huge movement throughout the whole country. Now the February Revolution was when the people overthrew their monarchy, which were Tzar Nicholas II and his family. That is when the Provisional government came into power, which was later on seen to be a bad idea. I think people say that the February Revolution was more important, because it was the start and the beginning to a new country. This step allowed them to do the October Revolution. I feel that they were both real revolutions, because it gave the people the power to make action when they needed to. In both cases the people forced for their demands and in each they received their demands and got more out of it, which was a better country.
Yasmeen Ketcherside March 21, 2013 Webber 7th Period
A great war was a key factor in triggering the Russian Revolution of 1917. What war was that, and in what years did they take place? What part did Russia played in the war and who were its allies and enemies?
The great was that triggered the Russian Revolution in 1917 was World War 1. This War lasted for four long years, 1914-1918. Russia fought in war with France and Britain. They fought together against The Central Powers, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy, which later Italy switches sides and Austria Hungary drops out of the war.
(History Notes)
By 1916, the Russians were growing bitter about the war, and millions longed to get out of it. What conditions made the war especially trying for them that year?
In 1916, In Russia there was much political protest. General Sukhomlinov got arrested; he was the “Minister of War”. He was soon replaced. Russia opened major offensive operations, which was about four hundred kilometers long. It continued for ten weeks and hurt the Austrian-Hungary side with many loses. There were also Kulaks, which were peasant landowners. Kulaks owned 90% of land in European Russia. “The most valuable commodity throughout the war was grain”. The Kulaks were very clever because they knew that people wanted grain so the price for grain increased. “Food prices accelerated three times higher than wages” and because of this, “the average urban labourer ate between 200 and 300 grams of food a day.”
In February 1917, protest marches in St. Petersburg led to a full-scale revolt. At first, soldiers fired on the crowds. But soon, many more of them turned their guns against the Tsar’s forces as in the photo on the right. In early March, Tsar Nicholas gave up the throne. Why do you think the Tsar Nicholas gave up the throne? Why do you think Tsarist government fell apart so totally and quickly in the spring of 1917?
I think that Tsar Nicholas left the throne was because Russia believed he lacked the qualities of a leader, and many of the people were poor and hungry and blamed him. Tsar was a weak leader for such a mighty country. I think that the Tsarist government fell so hard was because they were weak before the First World War and the War to them to the breaking point.
The February Revolution gave Russia a few chaotic months of Democracy. There were two revolutions in Russia in 1917. But some say the two real revolutions was the one in February. Why do you think they say that? Are the correct? Why or why not? The causes for the Russian Revolution in February 1917 was that the, “were ongoing resentment at the cruel treatment of peasants by patricians, poor working conditions experienced by city workers in the fledgling industrial economy and a growing sense of political and social awareness of the lower orders in general (democratic ideas were reaching Russia from the West and being touted by political activists).” This caused many vicious strikes and riots. I think that this revolution was also a big revolution was because it was the first one. I think they are correct because they are treated poorly so they fight for what they want and they are not sure how things will go.
In August 1915, Tsar Nicholas 2 left for the front to take person command of Russia’s forces. Many historians say this was a big mistake. Why? Read more about this decision and what historians this of it. Pretend you are a close adviser to the Tsar. Write a long memo to urging him not to leave.
Dear Tsar Nicholas,
From my understandings you will be leaving to take person command of Russia’s forces. Please leave someone more reliable, like a good friend or me if you would like, but please don’t leave your wife in charge. I would rather you leave a child than her (no offense). She will not take responsibilities and will screw something up. This is a mistake you are making! You will regret this and this will be a big mistake. We need you as a country; it’s not just me. You are our big ol’ mighty leader and you are the best! Please whatever you do, do not leave. Your wife will probably get tricked into doing something she shouldn’t. She will be so oblivious to the fact that she is ruling a country. I had a dream the other night that some tall man came up to one of your small children and “healed” them. Not sure how but she was so gullible that she let this make take over. You are a wise, man with a family and you would leave them to go out to command Russia’s forces? Please sir don’t leave what so ever! I you want to be a ruler of this country and help up reach the top you will stay.
Follow-up Question 1.I believe that Tzar Nicholas II made a huge mistake going on the front and leaving the government on his wife’s hands. Tzar do not go to the front. The people here need you more than the people of the front. How are you going to leave your wife in charge, she is nothing like you. You are the master and power of our country. How are the people and I certain that with your departure everything is going to be fine, because in these conditions I am very worried for all of us. I have known your wife for quite a while and she is everything, but she is not our leader. I do not believe she can handle everything that you will put upon her. I believe she will become overwhelmed and make decisions that will affect the country in a negative way. The people will tare her to pieces if she becomes the ruler, because they do not have faith in her. If you leave the country the people will never forget it and make sure you pay for it. My lord please stay for everyone’s sake. We can send other important generals to the front, while you stay here. What if something happens to you while you are at the front. What if you get shot, then there is a for sure chance that we will lose the war. This is a risky move and I would hate if something terrible happened. If you die the country will fall and then what will happen. Who would we leave I power? No one will ever be you. Do not go for many terrible things can happen. I ask you lord to reconsider your decision.
1. World War 1 played a key role in triggering the Russian Revolution. Russia was allied with Britain and France. Russia fought Germany on the eastern front. 2. The death tolls and poverty especially made the Russians bitter about the war. They felt like they were fighting for nothing. 3. The Tsarist government fell apart so quickly in 1917 because everyone was against the government and there was no hope in keeping the throne. 4. I think they say that the only real revolution was the one in February because although the Provisional government was overthrown in the October revolution, the Tsar was brought down in February which was a lot more significant.
Follow up:
Tsar Nicholas II,
Your people will suffer greatly if you go to the eastern front. I strongly encourage you to hold back for the benefit of the people. People respect your authority and without you this country would not run properly. It is important that we focus on issues happening inside of our country like the economy and the thoughts of the people. Your wife alone cannot lead the country. We need you, not more war.
1. The war that was a key factor in triggering the Russian Revolution of 1917 was world war 1 which took place from June of 1914 – November of 1918. Russia played a very minor role in the war fighting against the Germans on the Eastern front. Their allies were France, Brittan, Italy, and the United States. 2. Russia dealt with trench warfare which made war conditions rough and unsettling. It was dirty and savage-like in these trenches. At times, there wasn't even access to food and water. It was especially hard for them that year because Lenin offered peace and a quick exit to WWI. 3 .The tsarist government fell so fast because the people were so fed up and hopeless about the long grinding war. Lenin also contributed to this because he promised all soldiers security and safety. This is why the people turned against the Tsar in the first place. Because of Lenin's promising words of comfort, wisdom and hope. 4. I believe that this was the only revolution because this revolution totally altered the government from wanting absolute power and turned it into a democracy. When Lenin tried to attain power, it wasn't considered to be a revoltion because it was just like any power-hungry ruler. I don't consider that to be a revolution since it is was so common back then.
1. World War I was a key factor in the Russian Revolution of 1917. World War 1 lasted from 1914 to 1918. In the war, Russia allied with Britain, France and the other Allied Forces and fought against the Central Powers. Russia faced high casualties in WW1 and poverty. Much of the blame for Russia’s misfortune was placed on the government. This contributed to the tense environment in Russia and the revolution.
2.World War I exposed many of Russia’s weaknesses. Though the Russian army was the largest in population, it was not the strongest due to the lack of weaponry. Poor infrastructure led to a difficult transport of food and supplies to troops. The government could not keep up with modern warfare and soldiers were badly led. Russia faced heavy losses. Around 1.7 million soldiers were killed, 5 million injured and 2 million civilians died.
3.Before the spring of 1917, the government could always use their army against disturbances that threatened their power. When the soldiers turned on them, the government became powerless. There was nothing to stop the people. Tsar Nicholas realized it was inevitable for him to lose power so he abdicated. He was arrested along with his family and was executed in July 1918.
4.The Russian revolution in February was significant because it was the end of the Russian empire, the Tsar was no longer the absolute ruler, and the Russian people knew they could control their own fate as a society. Personally, I do not agree that the February revolution was the only “real” revolution. The October revolution was equally as important. The October revolution was extremely significant in that the provisional government was overthrown and the Bolsheviks (later renamed the Communist Party) took over. V.I. Lenin, the leader of the Bolsheviks, had many new ideas for the government and rallied the people together. Once the Bolsheviks were in power, the treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed and Russia was taken out of World War I. Focus was then placed on internal issues and a strong society was created.
Tsar Nicholas, This War has caused many hardships for the Russian people. Even with our large army we struggle to keep up with the warfare of the Central Powers and our soldiers are underequipped. This is an issue that needs to be addressed and I regard highly your initiative to bring change. Under your supervision, I believe that it would be possible to begin to change the tides in the war for Russia. However, for the people, War shows up in negative ways more than positive, and if you were not successful in your attempts, the public could wish to make disruptions within your rule. In a time of prosperity for our people, the war could unite us all but currently many of our citizens are living in poverty due to their debts, taxes and rents. The people do not generally have good feelings regarding their leadership. While currently it is not enough to cause revolts, an unsuccessful war could tip the scales. Russians have faced many deaths of soldiers and civilians so far in this war and if you took control all the blame could be placed on you. The honorability to look after your people and to use your power to help your country may not shine through to the people who will simply think of the deaths of their loved ones and their personal poverty. My advice is to leave the position of Commander-in-Chief to Nikolai. You could continue to give orders through him but I urge you not to put your name as the “leader” of the war. The risk is high that you will be unsuccessful, and if you are, the effects will be disastrous.
1. World War 1 in 1914-1918 was a key factor in triggering the revolution. Russia fought with the allies (Britain and France) against Germany because they were angered at Kaiser Wilhelm II for breaking a treaty.
2. Some conditions that made war tough for Russia in 1916 were the lack of motivation in many of the soldiers and their industrial base couldn’t handle the war. The common workers in Russia were unhappy and opposed to the war and Russia did not have the weapons necessary to defeat Germany on the Eastern Front.
3. I think the Tsarist government fell apart because their so-called supporters were really against them. As the picture shows, the Tsarist military turned against Tsar Nicholas. Tsar Nicholas depended on support from his army to control his people and rule by keeping civilians in fear. As soon as his support turned on him, he stood alone. The Tsarist government probably feared a revolt knowing that everyone was against it.
4. I think that some say there was only one revolution in Russia because the time in February was the only of the two where the people overthrew an organized government. The second ‘revolution’ was more like a failed temporary solution. I agree with this statement and I think to the fact that people consider the U.S. fighting Britain a revolution rather than the fall of the Articles of Confederation.
1. Tsar Nicholas went to the front to rally his troops. This was a huge mistake because the Army and Military blamed him for their failures and he left his publicly hated Empress in charge of the government who was influenced by the even more hated Rasputin.
As you already know, our Russian troops are struggling at the front; however, I’d like to advise you not to rally them. Though you are a considerate ruler who cares about the lack of success at the front, you have little military experience yourself. If you show up at the front and show the soldiers your lack of knowledge about the battle field, they may become angry knowing you are their commander in chief. But lets not forget, Russia couldn’t survive a day without you in the throne. The journey to Russia could take months, even a year or two. You are the only person holding Russia together and keeping the country intact, I couldn’t dare imagine a day without you. But say you did leave, the only person in charge would be your dear empress. Do you honestly think she could fulfill your duties to the great extent you do? Do you think she’d be able to hold a country together. Not only is it very unlikely that she could compare to you, but the common people are held together by your power, they could be angered if you left power in the hands of your wife. And I have to remind you that your empress could be left alone for a year. The amount of power and work could get to her and she could search for help, or even possibly love. I couldn’t say how the people would feel about a leader other than you. You are such a great leader Tsar and no one can compare to you. Please do your country, your wife and me a favor and don’t go to the front. The generals at the front will rally the forces if it is at possible. The Tsarist government and Russia will not stay intact if you leave it for an instant. Like a good leader, you care about your forces, but Russia needs your leadership on the throne at all times.
1. It was WWI which started in 1914 ended in 1918. Russia was fighting against the central powers in the eastern front. Its enemies were German Empire, Austro-Hungarian Empire, Ottoman Empire and Kingdom of Bulgaria. Its allies were the French Republic, British Empire, Italy,Japan, Belgium, Serbia, Greece, Montenegro, Romania and the Czechoslovak legions. 2.The Tsar Nicholas II claimed himself as Commander-in-Chief, stopped the central government Duma and start conduct the army himself in 1915, after The Great Retreat. In 1916 Russian started Brusilov offensive successfully, however the condition in the nation kept decline because of the expansion of the war.
3.During WWI, the Tsar kept repressing the revolutionary activities brutally. By the time the revolution happened, the Tsarist government was already isolated from the people and totally unsupported, even the army didn’t support them. Thus they fell apart suddenly.
4.February Revolution was led by capitalism revolutionaries, the target was the Tsarist government. It established a new democratic government led by the capitalists. However, the second “revolution” is led by radical communists, trying to take over the capital government. Thus some people didn’t consider this event as a revolution.
Dear Tsar Nicholas II,
Please forgive my rudeness but in my opinion to go to the front is a real mistake. As a leader of the country, you should be with your people and be protected. To be in the front will put you in great danger. If you are killed--- I hope not but it’s still possible----the whole country will be in panic and we could easily lose the war.
Your wife, my great queen is a lovely and smart woman, however, according to many people’s words she is not as good as you in the prescription of leading a country. If you leave to the front, she will become the leader of the country temporarily, I can’t tell what would happen if the situation in our nation get worse if you let her lead this country. Polatin is a great Wizard, however I also don’t think he can lead the country. His ambition is dangerous and many noblemen in our nation don’t like him. He would put our country in danger if you leave. The revolutionaries are also very dangerous, we all need your power to threaten them, if you leave , they will definitely plan some bad things to the nation. Thus I strongly suggest you to stay in our country .
I'm sorry I've been on the A Cappella trip and haven't been able to post the assignment until now. But here it is:
Russian Revolution Illustration 1. World War I was a key factor in triggering the Russian Revolution. It lasted from 1914 to 1918. During the war, Russia was allied with Britain and France, and its role was to support and protect Serbia. However, they were not as modernized, and they lacked good weaponry.
2. In 1916, the Russians had a very difficult time because their leader, Czar Nicholas II went to the battle front and left his wife in power. The country endured many military and economic disasters, and the people became upset with their government.
3. I think Tsarist government fell apart so totally and quickly in the spring of 1917 because that is when Czar Nicholas II truly lost all his authority. After the strikes, and the formation of the Soviet group, he was losing support. The majority, if not all the Russian people, were displeased and the strikes just brought about the government’s downfall in a quicker manner.
4. The two revolutions include the February Revolution and the October Revolution. During the February Revolution, people marched to Petrograd demanding “peace and bread” and the downfall of autocracy. As a result of this sudden revolution and strikes, factories shut down. During the October Revolution, the government in Petrograd was actually overthrown. It was sort of a follow-up to the February Revolution, which may be why the February Revolution is the only real one. It embodied all the initial ideas of the people, whereas the one in October was more of a continuation. I don’t think it is correct to say that only one is “real.” Both of them are very much revolutions, even if one is a slight continuation of the other.
Czar Nicholas II, It is crucial that you do not go to the front line. You cannot leave the people. We have already been seeing signs of unrest across the country, and if you go things will only get more chaotic. I know you love Alexandra dearly, and she is an amazing, intelligent woman, but I don’t think she has what it takes to run the country. Who knows, someone may try to take advantage of her, since she is a woman, if she becomes the main ruler. Also, you don’t have that much experience with battle strategy and war in general, so stick to what you’re good at. We have generals that can lead our troops. Please, I beg of you, stay here. If you leave everything will fall apart.
Discussing the Illustration: 1. The war that was a key factor in triggering the Russian Revolution was World War I, taking place between 1914 and 1918. Russia was part of the allies, meaning that they joined forces with France, Britain, Serbia, Montenegro, Belgium, Italy Romania, the United States, Japan, Portugal, and Brazil. Russia’s job was to fight the Eastern front, against the Central Powers, namely Germany, Austro-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottomans. 2. The conditions that made the war especially brutal in 1916 were the inflation, which was one of the government’s strategies to finance the war, Revolutionary Propaganda financed by Germans, and record breaking temperatures during the winter. The winter of 1916 to 1917 was among the harshest of winters in the twentieth century. With such conditions, people who were already desperate due to a lack of supplies, suffered even more. 3. I think that the government fell apart so quickly because in earlier revolutions, loyalists most likely were those involved in the previous regime such as the army. In Russia, however, if the army is turning against the government, it leaves no loyalists. The army has access to the government’s weapons, which leaves the government defenseless. When comparing the Russian Revolution to other times of revolution, the Russian government had lost the upper hand in terms of machinery and technology. 4. In February, the Czarist government was overthrown by the people, and a temporary system of democracy was set in place. During this revolution, the old regime was destroyed, and a provisional government was put in place. This revolution marked the end of the Romanov Dynasty and the beginning of a new era. The second movement changed the new type of government from a failing democracy to a communist government. In this upheaval, the old regime had already been overthrown and the people were unhappy with the second part of the revolution: its new regime. I would not consider this movement a revolution, but simply a dispute over the previous revolution. The democratic government was too young to be considered a new regime, and it was the effect of the other revolution. I would consider this a disagreement about the other revolution. Follow Up Activities:
Tsar Nicholas II,
My emperor, as you are already aware of, this war is brutal. It has taken quite a toll on our people’s view of their government. I agree to stay in the war to maintain Russian dignity, but I strongly advise you not to leave the country to assist the fronts. I feel the mood of the country changing as we go deeper and deeper into the war. The people need a scapegoat to blame for their losses. Instead of blaming the enemy, they are starting to blame those who sent their husbands and their sons to the war: the government. With you gone at the front, the people will have no one to look up to. You are the symbol of our government. The people will have no one to remind them of our great government. Your presence ensures that no one discards Russian identity. With you gone, they may forget the glory that we have. They may forget our unity through you.
In addition to this, I may also remind you of the dangers involved with travelling to the front. We have already experienced the Germans’ advanced weaponry taking countless of our beloved brothers. You will be a target. By travelling to the front, you are gambling with your own life. The front is the most dangerous place right now, it is not fit for a great emperor like you. If you do take your chances and come out on the bottom, where does that leave Russia? The people will then see how weak our government’s control is. Crazy ideas may be implanted into their head. Please take my thoughts into consideration. I am simply looking out for your best interests.
Discussing the Illustration: 1. The biggest leading factor that caused the Russian Revolution in 1917 was World War One, which endured from 1914, to 1915. During this time, Russia fought on the side of the allies (France and Britain), against the Germans. Russia fought alongside Germany’s eastern border while Britain and France fought along the western border. This created a two front battle for the Germans; however, the Russians were ill equipped and not ready for the modern technology that the Germans would utilize. 2. By the time 1916 arrived, the Russians had experienced severe losses in men and money count. Russia was in an overall state of decline, and yet the Czar denied every part of it. The citizens of russia demanded the Czar for a government restructure, but the Czar blew off every plea. It also did not help that the Czar went the battlefront and left his wife, who was unpopular at the time, in charge. While the Czar’s wife was in charge, many people believed Rasputin, a Siberian shaman, was influencing her control on the government. The people were weary of Rasputin and did not like how the government was being ran. The Russians were in a state of desperation and saw a revolution as their only chance of being free from Czarist rule. 3. I believe the Czarist government fell so quickly in 1917 because the whole state of Russia was in a decline. The Czarist government had invested too much money and men into the war against Germany at the cost of everyone in Russia. This started to affect not only civilians, but high ranked government officials themselves. The only people unaffected was the Czar and his family, and so it was quite easy for everyone to turn so quickly against him. 4. I believe people say that there was only one revolution in 1917 because the first revolution abolished monarchy in Russia and most people view revolutions with abolishing monarchy; however, this is not the case. Later in 1917, Vladimir Lenin returned to Russia and saw that despite the end of the Czar rule, Russia was still in war with Germany. The country had not changed a bit since the end of the Czarist rule. Lenin saw this as a time for a new revolution. Another change in government. A new type of government that would change Russia forever.
In 1915, Czar Nicholas retired the Grand duke and took command of Russia’s army; however, Czar Nicholas had zero knowledge of warfare whatsoever. With this new power, Czar decided he needed to be on the front to see what was going on himself. In doing so, he left his wife in power and let Russia go to ruin. If I was a close advisor of the Czar’s, I would write him the following:
Dear Czar, It is great that you have obtained so much power by taking control of our beloved country’s military, but think just a little. You have very little knowledge in the background of warfare and in order for you to be liked by the people, you need the country to prosper from this war. I suggest hiring a new war advisor who could help you plan strategic battle plans and who could overlook the front while you take care of more important military matters. As a friend, I do not want to upset you and I want you to succeed, but in order for you to do so, you must think wisely before you take action
Sources for both: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/rasputin.htm http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/08/march-8-1917-russias-february-revolution-begins-in-st-petersburg/ http://history1900s.about.com/od/Russian-Revolution/a/Russian-Revolution.htm http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/firstworldwar/rus-czar-front.htm
1. The great was that triggered the Russian Revolution in 1917 was World War 1. This war took place from 1914 to 1918. Russia played a big part in this war, and was a part of the allies, with Britain, France, Serbia, and eventually the US. It’s enemies were the central powers, which included Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkish Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria.
2. By 1916, the Russians were growing tired of the war. The reason for this was that the Russian army wasn’t being supplied with anything, and because there were major defects in leadership. Conflicts broke out among leaders and the soldiers, and the bitter climate was also discouraging to the Russian’s. In 1917, Russia was pulled out of the war.
3. The Russian Revolution happened because the country was falling apart. The Russians were losing against Germany during WW1, there were long bread lines, and czar Nicholas II being a horrible leader pushed Russians to the end of their rope. The whole autocratic government was mostly the cause of the Russian Revolution. People couldn’t leave their villages without approval. They couldn’t buy land because it was just not a realistic opportunity. People were also starving because of poor harvests which were caused by bad weather conditions. This forced a lot of people off of their farms, and they then went to work at factories or in mines. The factory owners forced workers to work long hours with little pay and horrible conditions. Because of this, strikes were organized which closed down factories and put the whole city on pause. People were sick of being under the rule of an unfair government, which is how the revolution to end the czar’s forces began.
4. The first revolution was in February, which finally removed the czar from power and started a new government for Russia. The next one, which happened in October was when Lenin's bolsheviks took control. The first one, which took place in February, really had no impact on the country, which is why some people discount it as a revolution. The revolution that took place in October had lasting effects, which is why it is known as the “real” revolution. I think that they are correct, because the first revolution really didn’t have any effects on Russia. The czar would have been taken out of power anyways, whether it was earlier or later.
Tsar Nicholas II, I understand that you have chosen to leave for the front to take personal command of Russia’s forces. Now, I’m sure you have taken into consideration the risks that you face with this decision. And just in case you weren’t aware of these risks, I would like to remind you of them. I’m sure that you know how brutal the front is. I believe that we have gotten this far in the war, so Russia should continue to fight. However, I highly do not recommend that you go out to the front to command the armies. The soldiers need to have an authority figure to “follow”, and with your absence, they will not have that figure. People are also getting angry with the government already. If you leave, they will likely become more angry, and might revolt. I think that it would be a good idea for you to stay and rule, while the trained military commanders do their job on the front. Might I remind you that you don’t have military training like the leaders at the front do. They know what they are doing, and I think that you should let the do their job. Another thing is that if you leave for the front, there will be nobody to rule. It’s my understanding that you would leave your wife in charge of the country while you were away. I know that this might seem like a good idea, but remember that your wife does not have any experience ruling a country. So I ask you to please reconsider this decision. If you leave, the whole country could fall apart. We might lose this war because of the chaos that could be caused by your absence. Please listen to me when I say that this decision could have consequences that you do not want to face.
Discussing the Illustration 1. World War I was the great war that triggered the Russian Revolution. This war lasted from July 28, 1914 to November 11, 1918. Russia was allied with Britain and France in the beginning of the war. The Allies were fighting against the Central Powers during World War I. Germany, the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria were the Central Powers, but Italy switched the join the Allies secretly when World War I started. The United States entered the war in 1917, and joined the Allies. 2. There were many factors that made the war particularly difficult for Russia in 1916. First off, Russia did not have many weapons, and without these weapons, they could not defend themselves from the German attacks or push back the German lines. In addition, the cold winter months were very difficult for the Russian soldiers. Many of these soldiers froze, starved, or died from disease of wounds inflicted upon them by their enemy. Russia was becoming tired of the war, and wanted to end the fighting. The Czarist government did not listen to their soldiers and citizens, and only wanted to preserve their honor by staying in the war, even if it meant losing many men. It was very challenging to get food to the soldiers, so many had to deal with very little food. 3. The Czarist government fell so quickly because they were not making choices according to what their people wanted. Russians did not want to stay in the war, but the Czarist government did not take their opinions into account when making decisions. In addition, the strikes that had happened built up tension in the country against the Czarist government. Eventually, all of this tension resulted in the Russian revolution that changed the government entirely. 4. Russia’s revolution in February majorly altered the country’s government, whereas the second revolution in October did not affect the government as much as the previous revolution. The revolution in February set up a provisional government and forced the Czar to relieve himself of the throne. The second revolution did not rid Russia of the old regime, but instead replaced the provisional government with Lenin and the Bolsheviks. Many do not regard this second revolution as a “real revolution” because it did not overthrow a government that had been around for a very long time, and I agree.
Follow-up Activities To: Czar Nicholas From: Advisor Dearest emperor, keeping Russia’s welfare in mind, I strongly advise you not to travel to the Eastern Front. If you leave Russia with your wife while you are gone, there is no telling what may happen. Although you are a great leader, I am not as confident in your wife’s decision making and ability to lead a country such as Russia. In addition, the Eastern Front has many dangers and there is the possibility that you might not return if you meet our soldiers under enemy fire. I sense tensions growing within this country, and I fear that if you leave, there would be an uprising against our great government. Many of this country’s citizens do not understand that we are keeping Russia’s honor by staying in this war, no matter what the costs, and the citizens might become more frustrated than they are already. Instead of travelling yourself, I suggest you send another man who knows about strategy and shares your thoughts. I apologize, but I thought I should let you consider my opinion.
Discussing the Illustration 1. The Great War was also known as World War I and it took place from 1914 to 1918. Russia was involved in the war from 1914 to 1917 and stopped fighting after signing the treaty of Brest-Litovsk. Russia’s allies during the first World War were France and Britain, and Italy joined later on. This group was called the Allies during the war. Their enemies were Germany and Austria-Hungary. This group was called the Central Powers. 2. The conditions that Russia faced in 1916 were bad climate and lack of weaponry. This caused bitterness about the war for the soldiers. The soldiers also did not have a lot of motivation to win the war, so this affected them as well. 3. The people had turned on their government and were against their leaders. There was a lot of poverty and hunger, so the people protested. Then, the Tsar left for Mogilev shortly after the protests. The government quickly fell apart because Lenin promised great rewards if the people turned against the Tsar and the government, so the citizens did that. 4. The February Revolution was important because many people protested and the Romanov dynasty was ended because of it. The Bolsheviks and Lenin came into power during the October Revolution, which was important. February is the more important revolution because it lasted longer and overthrew a dynasty that had been in power for years. People are correct to say that the February Revolution is the only “real” revolution, but the October Revolution should be acknowledged as well.
Follow-up Activities Tsar Nicholas II, This is a dangerous and ferocious war, especially at the front. There are several risks that you must consider before you leave. The citizens are becoming uneasy, and it could get worse if you left. They could become even angrier that you have left your throne instead of caring for them. There is tension between your people and the government, and you should address that instead of going to the front. Also, your wife has never run a country before, and she needs assistance. She would have to take control for quite a while without any previous experience. As your advisor, I believe that you should stay in Russia to manage your country and take care of the people. You are a great ruler and no one can replace you. You should stay in your throne and allow your troops to keep fighting the war. I mean no offense, I am simply thinking about your citizens and your country. Sincerely, Your Advisor
1. It was World War 1. Russia was on the allies side with France and Britain. They were fighting against the central powers, which were the Austro - Hungarian empire and the Germans. It was Russia, which was located on the eastern side of Germany that was fully responsible of the eastern front. The war lasted from 1914-1918.
2. In 1916 there was a harsh winter. The very cold winter made it unbearable for soldiers to fight. It demanded much more supplies from the army as they had to supply thick coats to each soldier to help them survive through the harsh long winter. In addition this abnormally cold winter allowed the snow not to melt. This made it especially hard to get any supplies to the troops who were in need. This whole combination is what made the Russians and soldiers realize that it would not be worth fighting to the last man ,as it was obvious that the Germans were going to win the war in the near future.
3. The great shortage of food and the many Russians countless losses in war against the Germans made the Russians furious. As each day passed people became more desperate. It was obvious to every Russian that they needed a change. Like the French Revolution the workers and women of each household had nothing to lose. Since they had nothing to lose they took on the streets to protest and fight for a better life. They thought that if they died fighting against a government who had failed its people, they would have at least died for a better Russia.
4. The real revolution was in February, as it was the one that triggered every other revolution. The first 90,000 woman whom marched the streets screamed to all the men and women in Russia that they could speak out for a better future. It is still exactly like that today . The Arab Spring was an event that was triggered by a small protest in Tunisia. Once the Tunisian leader left from his country, countries like Libya, Egypt, Yemen went all through revolutions. Today there is still even a revolution in Syria that is happening.
Dear Emperor,
I highly recommend you to stay in St. Petersburg. The war will be only won if you continue to speak to the Russian people. Without these peoples support the soldiers will have no motive to fight. In addition there are many cities in Russia that are having many big financial problems. I suggest that you lead your Russian people through a great industrial revolution. Here there is not enough armaments being produced and if we're able to start producing them in greater amounts we will be able to win the war and take over the city of Berlin. To be honest Emperor I think we really do not have the proper equipment for our own troops to win the war. If they did have the proper equipment we would been advancing much faster in the last few weeks than we are right now. So in conclusion my dear leader I think we you should stay in St. Petersburg as you will help to continue to boost the moral of the people, which will help fill the soldiers with pride and the strength to fight with great fury in the war. In addition my emperor, you will be able to concentrate on producing greater amounts of weapons, which will make it easier for you to win the war overall. So please emperor ,don’t leave St. Petersburg.
1. World War One was a key factor in triggering the Russian Revolution of 1917 which took place from 1914 through 1918. During this ware Russia fought on the eastern front with allied with the British, French, and Americans. 2. Russia was growing bitter about the war for many reasons. First of all they were losing mass amounts of men. By the end of the war they would have lost eight million men. Because of all these losses the Russians had lost their will to fight. Another reason that Russia did not have the internal transport or an industrial base to continue with the war in addition to their lack of military leadership. 3. I think that the Tsarist government fell because of the weak leadership of Czar Nicholas II and his lack of ability do deal with changing times. In other words he wanted to keep his absolute power, however this only lead to angry citizens. Because of him they had poor working conditions, low wages, and had to deal with the hazards of industrialization. No citizen will live like this and that is why the government fell. 4. I think that people say that the only real revolution in Russia was the one first one in February because that was the revolt that initially brought the czar down. The other October revolt was what brought Bolshevik into power. Do I think that The February revolt was the only real revolt, yes and no. Yes because in the October revolt there was really no revolt, and no because even though there was no real revolt in October, the Bolshevik party was what finally shaped Russia.
Follow-up Activity Historians thought that Czar Nicholas II leaving for the front was a big mistake because of the Czar’s lack of training involving the government in addition to zero military training. There were also rumors that Czar Nicholas II had plans to gain separate peace with the Central powers to preserve his power. With this information the Czar was in no means prepared or educated enough to take the position as commander. It is not wise to put a man with no experience in the hands of thousands of men. If I were to try to keep the Czar from going to the Eastern Front, I would say the following. Dear Czar Nicholas II, With the highest respect, I have to advise you my lord, to restrain yourself from aiding the Eastern Front. In no means do I feel that you could not do it, however with your lack of military training I feel that the current commanders should remain in their positions. Yes the military is not performing as hoped; however, our current ranks are doing their best to keep Russia a threat in the war. As to the fact that the current commanding officers have both experiences with war tactics as well as knowledge of the power of our enemies, it would be wise of you to let them handle it. In addition I believe that we need you here in Russia to keep your country in line and remain our king. We would not want something to happen to our lord in the dreadful war for then we would be without our great Czar! Your advisor, Colton Bancroft
Part 1: 1. What war triggered the Russian Revolution? What part did Russia play in the war? Who were its allies and enemies? The war that triggered the Russian Revolution was World War 1, which lasted from 1914- 1918. Russia joined the war in 1914 along side the Allies which consisted predominantly of France, Britain and America. Although Russia was a large country, it was a minor player in the grand scheme of the war and ended up suffering severe losses. They were pushed back on the eastern front by Germany and also defeated in their smaller battle with Japan. 2. What conditions made the war especially trying for them that year? Several bad situations happened during the span of 1916 that ended up lowering Russian morale. For one, the food supplies were poor and inconsistent which led to starving and dying soldiers which was a huge loss of motivation, soldiers who returned to were sent to stop a worker strike ended up joining the workers on the street in protestation, there were also a lot of political accusations that took power from the government by lowering its standards and public perception. 3. Why do you think the Tsarist government fell apart so totally and quickly in the spring of 1917? The Tsarist government fell apart quickly in the spring of 1917 because of the vast number of opposing citizens that wished for its collapse. The government was weak, the territory was extremely large, Russia had just suffered major casualties and had low morale, and the Tsar’s methods often delayed important decisions by months, and the economy was having a hard time sustaining the people. The war pushed the Tsar regime to a breaking point. Prices rose and there was a famine from 1916-1917. The Russian defeats made the government look incompetent to its citizens which led people to sprout rebellious actions. Several opposition groups began popping up. On the 8th of March, International Women’s Day turned into a major riot scene. On March 12th, soldiers who had previously been firing into the crowds mutinied and joined the rebels. Under the pressure and sheer numbers of the opposition, the government crumbled and the Tsar fled from the throne. 4. Why do you think many say that the only real revolution was in February? Are the correct? Why or Why not? I think many people say that the only real revolution was in February because the people forcibly overthrew the government. The February revolution was unexpected, when the riots broke out on the street, the people were there because they believed that things could get no worse for them. But mainly, it is viewed as more of a revolution because it better fits the definition of the word. “A forcible overthrow of the government.” Even though the soldiers mutinied, they had at first been fighting against the rebels. They took down the government and replaced it with a new one. The revolution in October suffered little to no casualties because the revolution was secretly planned and the control of the city was basically handed over to the Bolshevik party instead of forcibly overthrown.
Part 2: Tsar, As you well know, the conditions outside of the palace are harsh, and only getting worse. Too many young men are sent off to war, and too few come back. We are starving and people are dying, too many to count and too many to mourn. Despite the misgivings us people may have given you about your position, you are still our leader and the highest power. It is you that stabilizes the government and keeps it together. Without a leader, the power falls to your wife. Coming recently off of a delivery, your wife has been kept from the politics of our country and therefore uninformed of our latest plights. Our country is in a weakened state and we cannot afford a chance of rash or un-thoughtful decisions. If you move out to the front where are troops are failing, your power leaves with you. For the safety of our country, you must stay away from the war and with your people.
Historians think this was a big mistake because the Tsar had little military experience, the army blamed him specifically for their military failures, the country was in an extremely fragile state and he was leaving it to his wife who was completely influenced by Rasputin who was equally disliked by the people.
1. World War I was 1914-1918. Russia was allied with Britain, France, and Italy. Germany and Austria-Hungary were against her. Russia fought Germany on the Eastern Front, but was easily defeated and stubbornly remained in the war until its collapse in 1917. 2. There was a harsh winter that lasted from 1916-1917. Many resources were taken to the front for the soldiers, so civilians, peasants, were starving. Prices rose and people did not have the money to buy the things they needed to keep themselves warm or from going hungry. 3. Everybody, even the army had turned against the Tsar. There was no place left for the leader to hide. His only choices were to abdicate or be killed by his people. The Tsar had failed to bring victory in World War I, and food shortages were plaguing the country. Soldiers had lost hope in the war. There was no order in the state. People wanted a new leader to bring them to prosperity. 4. The February Revolution brought peace to the country. The October Revolution brought Lenin and the Socialists to power, but it was followed by civil war. The October Revolution also used the momentum from the February Revolution to topple the Provisional Government. After the October Revolution Lenin and the Red Army fought for four harsh years to establish their power.
Regardless of the success of the revolution, one cannot deny the existence of the second revolution. The October Revolution was what allowed Vladimir Lenin to rise to power and demonstrate his power to the Russian people. The government was in shambles. A revolution or political overthrow would have happened anyway. Vladimir Lenin took advantage of the situation before another of his fellow Russians. 5. Czar Nicholas, I respect you for your decision to take command of your army. A country needs a strong, willing leader like you to empower them. As your adviser, I must question your decision to leave your wife in charge of Russia. She is clearly incompetent and ignorant of political matters. She has children to take care of and cannot devote all her energies to leading Russia. The country will surely fall in ruin if you leave her up to it. Another issue is that mystic, Rasputin. He has healed your son, yes, of hemophilia, but that does not mean he has the right to influence all further decisions regarding the well-being of Russia. Who knows what the man will do? All humans have an evil side to them, sir. You never know when Rasputin will decide to show that side of himself. Sir, I advise you not to leave your innocent wife in the hands of this potential scoundrel. Sir, please do not take this note for offense. I am only looking out for your best interests. Please make the right decision and protect Russia. We are already in a difficult situation because of Germany. Do not bring this great country even lower.
World War 1 was a key factor in triggering the Russian Revolution. It spanned from 1914 to 1918 and proved the incompetence of the Tsar as many were being slaughtered, due to poor military technology, on the Eastern Front by the Germans. Russia was allied with France and England against the Germans. Russia's involvement was to occupy the Germans on the east and make them fight a two front war, making them weaker by having to split their army on a two front war. In 1916 conditions for the Russian’s were hard, German was an industrialized country with all of the new weapons and machines of death while the more obsolete Russian army clung to more primitive tactics and even still carried horseback cavalry units. Some battles were fought where Germans slaughtered Russian’s and suffered little to no casualties. With tensions rising high inside Russia’s borders, most of the blame for the failures in war was put on it’s government. The Tsarist regime was held accountable for the immense loss of land and casualties as a result of the war and would soon be overthrown. Also, Tsar Nicholas was abroad visiting troops for most of the war and left his wife and Rasputin, a Shaman, in charge of the government in his absence. The two ran the country almost into the ground upsetting and starving many of their own citizens. Russia’s people had become tired of the oppression of the government and a revolution loomed ominously closer. In 1917, there were two revolutions, one in February, a few short months of democracy, and another a few months later establishing the communist regime. Many Russian’s say that there was only one revolution because the revolution in February was seen more as a transition period until a bold leader was able to stabilize a widely agreed upon governmental system. Also, the democracy did not last at all, but communism would remain prominent for many years to come.
1. World War 1 (1914-1918) was the key factor in triggering the Russian Revolution of 1917. Russia's part in the war was initially to protect Serbia. In addition, because Russia was a part of the Triple Entente along with France and Britain, Russia had to support them in war. It's enemies were the Central Powers, including Austria-Hungary, Germany, England, and the Ottoman Empire.
2. Germany shifted it's focus to the Eastern Front and were much better led, trained and supplied than the Russian forces. Therefore, Russia lost a total of nearly 5,000,000 men by the end of 1916. The huge losses on the battlefield were also due to lack of rifles, ammunition, uniforms, food, and water. With that, the soldiers hopes also faded. and they began to feel as though they weren't being treated like human beings, or even valuable soldiers.
3. The Russian people lived under dreadful economic and social conditions but never revolted because they were in thought that this is what they had to live with to win the war. It was their sacrifice. However, when Russia came to be badly organized and unsuccessful in the involvement of World War 1, the people realized they had no more reason to take the living conditions they were forced into. Therefore, they revolted because Russia wasn't doing it's part for them, and their lives couldn't get worse so they had really nothing more to lose. They were pushed to their outermost limits.
4. I think that they say that the only real revolution was in February because that was the revolution that caused major change. After that, there were more disputes about the next leader rather than actual dramatic change (because the big change in February had already taken place). I believe they are correct because a revolution is a forcible overthrow of a government or social order for a new system, and that was done in February only.
Follow up 1:
Going to the front line was a mistake by the Tsar for reasons. Primarily, he didn't have the military background to lead the troops and therefore the public blamed the Tsar personally for military failures. In addition, going to the front line meant being absent from the capitol for months/ years, and in result leaving the government in the hands of the hated empress.
Nicholas II Tsar, I am writing to you in deep concern for the safety of Russia. I understand that, as a leader, you feel it your duty to go rally the troops and participate in the war. However, it is not your job and poses a threat to our troops if you decide to lead them. You belong in the capitol, not the front. You have no military background and should not feel like you have to do this without any experience. There are men much more experienced that can take over. We need you back in the capitol, trying to improve the chaos and economic horror that has evolved in our country. That is your job and that is what the people expect of you. I know you might think yourself a coward or selfish or such for not going to the front with your people, but I promise you, you have plenty to do here that would be equally as heroic to fix. I strongly urge you to remain at your position here in Russia, in the capitol, and leave the war in the hands of a trusted man with experience.
With much concern and sincerity for Russia and my friend, Anna
World War One triggered the Russian Revolution. They joined forces with Britain, Russia and France. Russia became really involved in the war however their soldiers weren’t supplied with enough guns, shelter and food so they did poorly and suffered many losses.
There were three main conditions that caused hardship for the Russian’s in World War One. First, their troops hardly had any food and other supplies. Second, their country was being paid to be in the war and because they had no money, they had to keep fighting despite their circumstances. Third, they lacked military leadership and struggled to find their way on the battlefield.
The Tsarist government fell apart because of multiple factors leading up to the spring of 1917. The country got tired of the losses that they were facing during WWI, the rumors that were being spread about their leaders love life, and about how the Tsar Nicholas II was an unworthy leader. Revolts had been going on since WWI because of the food shortages
I think people are correct in saying that the only real revolution was in February because this revolution brought down the Czar. The second revolution in October didn’t really accomplish anything, and because of this I agree with the statement that the only real reolvution happened in February.
Tsar Nicholas, It is important that you do not take any further actions to visit your troops on the front. The citizens of your country have begun to revolt and rebel against the government and if you leave now the government will collapse. I know that you trust your wife and I do respect her, but I do not believe that she is qualified to rule a country. She has no prior experience and to leave her with a country experiencing such turmoil would not only be bad for the people but unfair for her as well. Please let the generals on the front do their jobs and stay here and do yours. I know that it is tempting to leave your current position and be immersed in the action of the war but it is vital to your countries future that you stay and do what you have done for so long. Please stay in our country for it will be better for everyone in the long run.
1. The war that trigger war that triggered the Russian Revolution in 1917 was World War One (1914-1918). The Russians were not doing well in during the war and the Provisional Government refused to pull Russia out of the war The solders did not like this idea so they started to withdraw from the army and protest the war. Russia joined the war in 1914 and sided with the Allies which was along side France, Britain, and America. Russia suffered many losses being involved in the war.
2. During World War One some of the conditions that the Russians had faced were that the troops did not enough supplies such as food, shelter, and weapons. Soldiers lost their motivation to continue fighting in the war and started protesting the war. They were being payed to fight in the war so therefore they were forced to be in the war.
3. The Tsarist government fell apart because all the soldiers in the army turned against Tsar. The Tsarist government was weak and the country lost their motivation with all the losses they faced during WWI. With the food shortage since WWI revolts began . Tsar fled the throne proving to be a untrustworthy leader causing the government to fall apart.
4. I think that the reason why people say that the only real revolution was in February because of all the protest and riots that happened causing the government to fall apart. This revolution brought down their government and replaced it with something new. The revolution that occurred in October did not suffer many people from the war and it did not accomplish as much.
Dear Tsar I congratulate your victory in obtaining control over Russia after leaving for the front. Just bare in mind that this path you have chosen may have some consequences. Be careful when on the front since it is horrifying and very dangerous. Be sure to keep in mind Russia's warfare. I suggest that you do not go to the from and stay where you are right now. You have a responsibility to take care of your wife and while your gone you would leave her alone, unprotected. I think that you are the best leader for the country right now and you should not leave your wife in charge us. I do not believe that she is capable of running a country like you oh great one. If you leave for the front who knows if you will return strong or at all for the matter and lead us once again. Please send a general to the front instead of putting your life at risk and please take my consider this option and take my advise. I only want the best for our country and think that you leaving us will not be the best solution. Protect, lead and guide us in the right direction.
1. The Great War that was a key factor in triggering the Russian Revolution of 1917 was World War 1. World War 1 was from 1914 to 1918. Russia played a very minor role in World War 1 even though the war caused many casualties for the Russians. Though the Russians invaded Germany, the Germans ended up pushing forward on the eastern front and ended up losing many men. The Russians were allied with France, Italy, Britain, the United States, and many more.
2. The Russians were growing bitter about the war because of the tough conditions that they had to endure during the War. One, the weather was very tough to handle. During World War 1, the soldiers had to use trench warfare. Though trench warfare was a great technique, there were also many downsides of it. Some of these downsides are daily death in the trenches, rat infestation, frogs, lice, chores, daily boredom, and the smell. These soldiers were also in mud daily.
3. I believe the Tsarist government fell apart so totally and quickly in the spring of 1917 because in my opinion he lost all of the loyalty and control he had. He lost all of his loyalty and control because of the attacks and it just made his government fall quickly. Over time he was losing support so in the end he decided to give up the throne.
4. The February Revolution gave Russia a few chaotic months of democracy. The February Revolution was not the only revolution in Russia during the year of 1917. The other revolution during 1917 was the October Revolution. The February Revolution was focused on Petrograd, which is St. Petersburg today. The only difference is during the October Revolution, the Soviets which was led by Vladimir Lenin took over the government in Petrograd. I believe they were both “real” revolutions the only difference is one was a little more successful.
Follow-up Activities (1):
Dear Tsar Nicholas II,
All I can say to you is don’t go. If you go the people will despite you one for leaving and two for letting everything become even more chaotic. As much as I love you and Alexandra, I think it is unbelievably stupid that you are letting Alexandra become the leader and a ruler of a whole country! She has no experience or training to do so. You also do not know how to run a military. You little to no experience running one and it is absolutely ridiculous that you are leaving what you already have and own behind you. There are others such as generals that can lead the troops while you stay behind and lead your country. All I can tell you is please don’t leave, or you and your country will crumble.
1. World War I was the ket factor in triggering the Russian Revolution. This war took place from 1914 to 1919. Russia was in an alliance with Britain and France, though did not play a major role in this war. Since Germany was an allie with Serbia, when Serbia declared war on Austria, Germany was obliged to declare war on Russia. Initially, Russia was successful against Germany in Galicia, but was defeated many times after that by Germany. Russia lost over 30,000 Russian soldiers at Tannenburg alone. At the end of this bloody war, Russia had lost over 1,700,000 men at war.
2. The Russians were growing bitter about the war because the bad weather conditions made the battle extremely hard. So many soldiers longed to get out of it because they were tired of the rain causing floods and making it very difficult for them to work around.
3. All of Russia's major losses exposed the government's incompetence of how to handle war. Tsar Nicholas was solely in charge of the military, and the blame should have been placed on him, rather than the government as a whole. Many workers went on strike and held marches for International Women's Day. This was when troops fired into the crowd, which only set fire to the anger the rioters had. Not long after Tsar was forced to abdicate.
4. The first Revolution, in February of 1917, Russia overthrew the Tsar monarchy and was able to establish a provisional government. Later that year, in October, Russia create the world's first communist country. February's revolution is commonly considered more important, and that is because of how effective it was. Over 90,000 women marched through the streets on International Women's Day to protest the extensive amount of labor and harsh conditions they endure solely for the purpose of surviving and providing for their families. By the next day, over 150,000 women and men had come together to demand a change. Czar was eventually forced to abdicate and then real progress began. On the contrast, in October that year, the Bolsheviks easily took over this unstable country, and became. the new leaders of Russia. Although I think that was a very important event, I agree that the first revolution was far more significant than the second.
Follow-Up Activity "Nicholas II may have believed that, by taking charge, his army would be inspired and would fight with renewed vigour. Unfortunately, the Tsar knew little about the command and organisation of large military forces, and the series of defeats and humiliations continued" (BBC). This left Russia itself vulnerable without leadership and responsible to whatever happened in his absence.
1. The war that was a key factor in triggering the Russian Revolution of 1917 was World War One. It was fought from 1914 to 1918. Russia fought on the side of the Allies along with Britain, Italy, and France against Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Bulgaria, known as the Central Powers. Italy initially fought on the side of the Central Powers but later changed alliances. 2. The war was difficult for the Russians in 1916 for several reasons. They were constantly beaten and driven back from the Eastern Front. The weapons and numbers of the Germans held the Russians at a disadvantage. The lack of victory crushed the morale both on the Eastern Front and at home. That, combined with the struggling economy that resulted in food shortages, created unrest amongst the Russian people. The government did not listen to their requests to pull out of the war. Tension between the government and rest of the country increased with every day the war continued. 3. The Tsarist government fell apart so totally and quickly in 1917 because all connections between it and its people had been broken. The humiliating failures Russia experienced in World War One and the Czar’s refusal to withdraw had made him very unpopular. Military and police forces could not control the riots and protests that broke out in St. Petersburg. Finally, the Czar realized that he had lost control completely. 4. Some people say that the only real revolution was in February because it marked the end of the Romanov dynasty. After the Czar stepped down, Russia experienced a few fleeting months of democracy before the October revolution brought communism to the country. I do not think this view is correct, however. Both revolutions were very ‘real’ and had equal impacts on Russia. The one in February ended the monarchy and the one in October introduced communism, both of which had drastic effects on the shape of society. The people were ready to accept any different kind of government after the long line of czars and February revolution, which made the later revolution possible.
My dear Nicholas, Please return home as soon as possible. It is not safe for you out on the front. If something were to happen to you, some rebel leader would seize the throne before we could put a stop to it. We have little control over the people. They are rebelling and forming protests; they are angry over the country’s failure in the war and the food shortages that everyone is struggling with. You know I admire your wife, and view her with utmost respect, but from a political standpoint I do not think she is fit to run the country. Her advisor, Rasputin, is uneducated. I do not trust him. Return home, my friend. The country needs you.
Please post your responses to the 4 "Discussing the Illustration" questions and the first "Follow-up Activities" below. Refer to the homework plan for due dates.
I did not receive the packet
ReplyDeleteDue to formatting issues, I have put these in a google document. Here is the link:
ReplyDeletehttps://docs.google.com/a/pacificridge.org/document/d/17DVNgBohiLRk7IQjt26k5GgZZlrPPk8xwBnisbcY5IY/edit
1.The war that triggered the Russian Revolution of 1917 was World War I. Russia fought on the eastern front against Germany. Their allies were France, Brittan, Italy, and the United States.
ReplyDelete2.Trench warfare was hell for every man. With adversities like rats, disease, sores, lack of sleep and gas attacks, the trenches were nobodies vacation home. It was especially trying for them that year because Lenin offered everyone peace and a quick exit to WWI.
3.The Tsarist government fell so quickly because people were just tired and hopeless about the war. Lenin was also a contributor because how he promised the soldiers safety and security that is why they turned against the Tsar
4. I feel that that was the only revolution because the government shifter from an absolute power to a democracy which is a revolution. When Lenin came to power it wasn't as much of a revoltion because he was just another leader with absolute power, just a different one.
I also have a formatting issue (I am over the maximum characters). I will share on a google document and also print out a copy for class tomorrow.
ReplyDeletehttps://docs.google.com/a/pacificridge.org/document/d/1IkeD7DsNv0LYcTQOLXyQv9npgjBt9_uxEDkPbkyIat8/edit
Part One:
ReplyDelete1) The Great War, or Wold War I was a reaction to the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, militarism, nationalism, tangled alliances and imperialism. The fallout of these multiple factors resulted in a bloody conflict that took millions or lives and lasted four long years, from 1914 to 1918. While several countries were involved some had more prominent roles than others. Russia played a rather minor part. Although they joined the allied powers and added to their forces, they suffered major losses to their enemies, the central powers. They were the main opposing force on the Eastern front, and waged a small war with Japan, both of which they lost.
2) With all of the efforts, supplies and troops being put into the war, the people of Russia greatly suffered. The troops suffered as well as the people back home. The economy plummeted and food shortages became common. Added with the harsh winter, the poor had hard lives. The state of the home front was ruined, and as a result the war effort was decreased.
3) The effects of war quickly took their effect on the mental state of the people. The oppression of the people by the government and the economical state made the people realize that their government was unfit to lead them. Riots and protests became common. The Tsarist government simply fell apart because of the mistake of staying in WWI, inefficiency, corruption, and government policies broke the bond between the people and the Tsar.
Part Two:
ReplyDeleteWhile there was another Russian Revolution in 1905, it was nothing compared to that of 1917. They had been brutally beaten by the Japanese in the same year and they had gone through “Bloody Sunday” as a reaction to a peaceful protest. The revolution was sparked as a result of this, and the combined power effort or all kinds of citizens was set forth on the government. However, Tsar Nicholas quickly issued the October Manifesto and snuffed out the protests. The people learned their place once more. Many argue that this was not a revolution as all, as it accomplished basically nothing. But despite this opinion, the small revolution added fuel to the fire and added even more incentive for the larger revolution of 1917.
Tsar Nicholas II’s decision to take personal command is often though a huge mistake on his part because of the drastic effect it had on the country. While he left because the he though that the army was not having enough success, his decision insured the same for his government. His leave left his wife Alexandra in charge of the affairs. She was already rather unpopular with the people and her allowing and uneducated Siberian peasant, Rustapin, to influence her decisions only made it worse. Because of Rustapin, several political decisions were made the Russian populous angrier and worsened the relationship between the people and the Tsarist government.
Tsar Nicholas II,
In my opinion it would be an extreme mistake to go to the front. Your place is with the people of Russia. We are always in need of you, especially in times like this. There is unrest and we need all your wisdom. The people are clearly at unrest and need you to guide them through these hard times. Only you are capable of ruling.
While your wife is a lovely and capable woman, she does not know everything she needs to to take care of this country. Leaving would surely be a mistake. For some reason the people do not find her as powerful and respectable as you. While I cannot fathom why this is, we are unable of changing all their minds. The situation of this country must be dealt with delicately, and you are the only one to do the job.
Furthermore while the performance of the front lines are inadequate, they are outmatched. Although I have no doubt that in your capable hands they would flourish, death would still hang in the air. It is very possibly that you could accidentally be killed by the German scoundrels. Your tragic death could easily tear the country apart. We would be left without a leader in a war we couldn't win without you.
As a result of these various things, I believe that you should remain here.
Works Cited
"The 1905 Russian Revolution." The 1905 Russian Revolution. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2013. .
"Firstworldwar.com." First World War.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2013. .
"Firstworldwar.com." First World War.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2013. .
"On This Day: Russia's February Revolution Begins." On This Day: Russia's February Revolution Begins. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2013. .
"War and Revolution in Russia 1914 - 1921." BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2013. .
1.The war that was a key factor for the Russian Revolution was World War 1, which was from June of 1914 – November of 1918. Russia was with the allies, who were France, Britain, America, and more. Then their enemies were the central powers, who were Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and more.
ReplyDelete2.The conditions that made the war especially trying for the Russians in 1916 were not getting their demands heard, not getting the necessitates to live, and sending their men to war. These were the conditions for the people, who suffered a ton, imagine the soldiers. The soldiers would starve for days, they would die from freezing to death, and there were a ton of diseases spreading. These were harsh environments. Everybody wanted to leave this war, because of how bad it was becoming and how unbeneficial it was.
3.I believe the Tsarist government fell so quickly was because of not hearing peoples demands, no getting out of war when they could, and the government just betrayed the people and put a wall between them. The people were tired of the government not hearing them out, so they started to do protests. They also just did not believe in the government anymore.
4.The two revolutions were the October Revolution and the February Revolution. These two were very important, because of how greatly the people came together and fought for their demands. The October Revolution was when the people that followed the Bolshevik party overthrew the Provisional government, and received a great change in their government. There was a huge movement throughout the whole country. Now the February Revolution was when the people overthrew their monarchy, which were Tzar Nicholas II and his family. That is when the Provisional government came into power, which was later on seen to be a bad idea. I think people say that the February Revolution was more important, because it was the start and the beginning to a new country. This step allowed them to do the October Revolution. I feel that they were both real revolutions, because it gave the people the power to make action when they needed to. In both cases the people forced for their demands and in each they received their demands and got more out of it, which was a better country.
Yasmeen Ketcherside
ReplyDeleteMarch 21, 2013
Webber 7th Period
A great war was a key factor in triggering the Russian Revolution of 1917. What war was that, and in what years did they take place? What part did Russia played in the war and who were its allies and enemies?
The great was that triggered the Russian Revolution in 1917 was World War 1. This War lasted for four long years, 1914-1918. Russia fought in war with France and Britain. They fought together against The Central Powers, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy, which later Italy switches sides and Austria Hungary drops out of the war.
(History Notes)
By 1916, the Russians were growing bitter about the war, and millions longed to get out of it. What conditions made the war especially trying for them that year?
In 1916, In Russia there was much political protest. General Sukhomlinov got arrested; he was the “Minister of War”. He was soon replaced. Russia opened major offensive operations, which was about four hundred kilometers long. It continued for ten weeks and hurt the Austrian-Hungary side with many loses. There were also Kulaks, which were peasant landowners. Kulaks owned 90% of land in European Russia. “The most valuable commodity throughout the war was grain”. The Kulaks were very clever because they knew that people wanted grain so the price for grain increased. “Food prices accelerated three times higher than wages” and because of this, “the average urban labourer ate between 200 and 300 grams of food a day.”
(http://www.marxists.org/glossary/events/w/ww1/russia.htm)
In February 1917, protest marches in St. Petersburg led to a full-scale revolt. At first, soldiers fired on the crowds. But soon, many more of them turned their guns against the Tsar’s forces as in the photo on the right. In early March, Tsar Nicholas gave up the throne. Why do you think the Tsar Nicholas gave up the throne? Why do you think Tsarist government fell apart so totally and quickly in the spring of 1917?
I think that Tsar Nicholas left the throne was because Russia believed he lacked the qualities of a leader, and many of the people were poor and hungry and blamed him. Tsar was a weak leader for such a mighty country. I think that the Tsarist government fell so hard was because they were weak before the First World War and the War to them to the breaking point.
(http://www.academia.edu/2349865/Why_did_the_Tsarist_regime_collapse_in_1917)
The February Revolution gave Russia a few chaotic months of Democracy. There were two revolutions in Russia in 1917. But some say the two real revolutions was the one in February. Why do you think they say that? Are the correct? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteThe causes for the Russian Revolution in February 1917 was that the, “were ongoing resentment at the cruel treatment of peasants by patricians, poor working conditions experienced by city workers in the fledgling industrial economy and a growing sense of political and social awareness of the lower orders in general (democratic ideas were reaching Russia from the West and being touted by political activists).” This caused many vicious strikes and riots. I think that this revolution was also a big revolution was because it was the first one. I think they are correct because they are treated poorly so they fight for what they want and they are not sure how things will go.
(http://www.local-life.com/st-petersburg/articles/1917-russian-revolution)
In August 1915, Tsar Nicholas 2 left for the front to take person command of Russia’s forces. Many historians say this was a big mistake. Why? Read more about this decision and what historians this of it. Pretend you are a close adviser to the Tsar. Write a long memo to urging him not to leave.
Dear Tsar Nicholas,
From my understandings you will be leaving to take person command of Russia’s forces. Please leave someone more reliable, like a good friend or me if you would like, but please don’t leave your wife in charge. I would rather you leave a child than her (no offense). She will not take responsibilities and will screw something up. This is a mistake you are making! You will regret this and this will be a big mistake. We need you as a country; it’s not just me. You are our big ol’ mighty leader and you are the best! Please whatever you do, do not leave.
Your wife will probably get tricked into doing something she shouldn’t. She will be so oblivious to the fact that she is ruling a country. I had a dream the other night that some tall man came up to one of your small children and “healed” them. Not sure how but she was so gullible that she let this make take over.
You are a wise, man with a family and you would leave them to go out to command Russia’s forces? Please sir don’t leave what so ever! I you want to be a ruler of this country and help up reach the top you will stay.
Sincerely,
Your advisor
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_II_of_Russia)
Follow-up Question
ReplyDelete1.I believe that Tzar Nicholas II made a huge mistake going on the front and leaving the government on his wife’s hands. Tzar do not go to the front. The people here need you more than the people of the front. How are you going to leave your wife in charge, she is nothing like you. You are the master and power of our country. How are the people and I certain that with your departure everything is going to be fine, because in these conditions I am very worried for all of us. I have known your wife for quite a while and she is everything, but she is not our leader. I do not believe she can handle everything that you will put upon her. I believe she will become overwhelmed and make decisions that will affect the country in a negative way. The people will tare her to pieces if she becomes the ruler, because they do not have faith in her. If you leave the country the people will never forget it and make sure you pay for it. My lord please stay for everyone’s sake. We can send other important generals to the front, while you stay here. What if something happens to you while you are at the front. What if you get shot, then there is a for sure chance that we will lose the war. This is a risky move and I would hate if something terrible happened. If you die the country will fall and then what will happen. Who would we leave I power? No one will ever be you. Do not go for many terrible things can happen. I ask you lord to reconsider your decision.
1. World War 1 played a key role in triggering the Russian Revolution. Russia was allied with Britain and France. Russia fought Germany on the eastern front.
ReplyDelete2. The death tolls and poverty especially made the Russians bitter about the war. They felt like they were fighting for nothing.
3. The Tsarist government fell apart so quickly in 1917 because everyone was against the government and there was no hope in keeping the throne.
4. I think they say that the only real revolution was the one in February because although the Provisional government was overthrown in the October revolution, the Tsar was brought down in February which was a lot more significant.
Follow up:
Tsar Nicholas II,
Your people will suffer greatly if you go to the eastern front. I strongly encourage you to hold back for the benefit of the people. People respect your authority and without you this country would not run properly. It is important that we focus on issues happening inside of our country like the economy and the thoughts of the people. Your wife alone cannot lead the country. We need you, not more war.
1. The war that was a key factor in triggering the Russian Revolution of 1917 was world war 1 which took place from June of 1914 – November of 1918. Russia played a very minor role in the war fighting against the Germans on the Eastern front. Their allies were France, Brittan, Italy, and the United States.
ReplyDelete2. Russia dealt with trench warfare which made war conditions rough and unsettling. It was dirty and savage-like in these trenches. At times, there wasn't even access to food and water. It was especially hard for them that year because Lenin offered peace and a quick exit to WWI.
3 .The tsarist government fell so fast because the people were so fed up and hopeless about the long grinding war. Lenin also contributed to this because he promised all soldiers security and safety. This is why the people turned against the Tsar in the first place. Because of Lenin's promising words of comfort, wisdom and hope.
4. I believe that this was the only revolution because this revolution totally altered the government from wanting absolute power and turned it into a democracy. When Lenin tried to attain power, it wasn't considered to be a revoltion because it was just like any power-hungry ruler. I don't consider that to be a revolution since it is was so common back then.
1. World War I was a key factor in the Russian Revolution of 1917. World War 1 lasted from 1914 to 1918. In the war, Russia allied with Britain, France and the other Allied Forces and fought against the Central Powers. Russia faced high casualties in WW1 and poverty. Much of the blame for Russia’s misfortune was placed on the government. This contributed to the tense environment in Russia and the revolution.
ReplyDelete2.World War I exposed many of Russia’s weaknesses. Though the Russian army was the largest in population, it was not the strongest due to the lack of weaponry. Poor infrastructure led to a difficult transport of food and supplies to troops. The government could not keep up with modern warfare and soldiers were badly led. Russia faced heavy losses. Around 1.7 million soldiers were killed, 5 million injured and 2 million civilians died.
3.Before the spring of 1917, the government could always use their army against disturbances that threatened their power. When the soldiers turned on them, the government became powerless. There was nothing to stop the people. Tsar Nicholas realized it was inevitable for him to lose power so he abdicated. He was arrested along with his family and was executed in July 1918.
4.The Russian revolution in February was significant because it was the end of the Russian empire, the Tsar was no longer the absolute ruler, and the Russian people knew they could control their own fate as a society. Personally, I do not agree that the February revolution was the only “real” revolution. The October revolution was equally as important. The October revolution was extremely significant in that the provisional government was overthrown and the Bolsheviks (later renamed the Communist Party) took over. V.I. Lenin, the leader of the Bolsheviks, had many new ideas for the government and rallied the people together. Once the Bolsheviks were in power, the treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed and Russia was taken out of World War I. Focus was then placed on internal issues and a strong society was created.
Tsar Nicholas,
This War has caused many hardships for the Russian people. Even with our large army we struggle to keep up with the warfare of the Central Powers and our soldiers are underequipped.
This is an issue that needs to be addressed and I regard highly your initiative to bring change. Under your supervision, I believe that it would be possible to begin to change the tides in the war for Russia.
However, for the people, War shows up in negative ways more than positive, and if you were not successful in your attempts, the public could wish to make disruptions within your rule.
In a time of prosperity for our people, the war could unite us all but currently many of our citizens are living in poverty due to their debts, taxes and rents. The people do not generally have good feelings regarding their leadership. While currently it is not enough to cause revolts, an unsuccessful war could tip the scales.
Russians have faced many deaths of soldiers and civilians so far in this war and if you took control all the blame could be placed on you. The honorability to look after your people and to use your power to help your country may not shine through to the people who will simply think of the deaths of their loved ones and their personal poverty.
My advice is to leave the position of Commander-in-Chief to Nikolai. You could continue to give orders through him but I urge you not to put your name as the “leader” of the war. The risk is high that you will be unsuccessful, and if you are, the effects will be disastrous.
Lili Muskal
ReplyDeleteDiscussing the Illustration
1. World War 1 in 1914-1918 was a key factor in triggering the revolution. Russia fought with the allies (Britain and France) against Germany because they were angered at Kaiser Wilhelm II for breaking a treaty.
2. Some conditions that made war tough for Russia in 1916 were the lack of motivation in many of the soldiers and their industrial base couldn’t handle the war. The common workers in Russia were unhappy and opposed to the war and Russia did not have the weapons necessary to defeat Germany on the Eastern Front.
3. I think the Tsarist government fell apart because their so-called supporters were really against them. As the picture shows, the Tsarist military turned against Tsar Nicholas. Tsar Nicholas depended on support from his army to control his people and rule by keeping civilians in fear. As soon as his support turned on him, he stood alone. The Tsarist government probably feared a revolt knowing that everyone was against it.
4. I think that some say there was only one revolution in Russia because the time in February was the only of the two where the people overthrew an organized government. The second ‘revolution’ was more like a failed temporary solution. I agree with this statement and I think to the fact that people consider the U.S. fighting Britain a revolution rather than the fall of the Articles of Confederation.
Follow Up Activities
ReplyDelete1. Tsar Nicholas went to the front to rally his troops. This was a huge mistake because the Army and Military blamed him for their failures and he left his publicly hated Empress in charge of the government who was influenced by the even more hated Rasputin.
Dear Emperor,
DeleteAs you already know, our Russian troops are struggling at the front; however, I’d like to advise you not to rally them. Though you are a considerate ruler who cares about the lack of success at the front, you have little military experience yourself. If you show up at the front and show the soldiers your lack of knowledge about the battle field, they may become angry knowing you are their commander in chief. But lets not forget, Russia couldn’t survive a day without you in the throne.
The journey to Russia could take months, even a year or two. You are the only person holding Russia together and keeping the country intact, I couldn’t dare imagine a day without you. But say you did leave, the only person in charge would be your dear empress. Do you honestly think she could fulfill your duties to the great extent you do? Do you think she’d be able to hold a country together. Not only is it very unlikely that she could compare to you, but the common people are held together by your power, they could be angered if you left power in the hands of your wife.
And I have to remind you that your empress could be left alone for a year. The amount of power and work could get to her and she could search for help, or even possibly love. I couldn’t say how the people would feel about a leader other than you.
You are such a great leader Tsar and no one can compare to you. Please do your country, your wife and me a favor and don’t go to the front. The generals at the front will rally the forces if it is at possible. The Tsarist government and Russia will not stay intact if you leave it for an instant. Like a good leader, you care about your forces, but Russia needs your leadership on the throne at all times.
Your Advisor,
Mark
Illustration
ReplyDelete1. It was WWI which started in 1914 ended in 1918. Russia was fighting against the central powers in the eastern front. Its enemies were German Empire, Austro-Hungarian Empire, Ottoman Empire and Kingdom of Bulgaria. Its allies were the French Republic, British Empire, Italy,Japan, Belgium, Serbia, Greece, Montenegro, Romania and the Czechoslovak legions.
2.The Tsar Nicholas II claimed himself as Commander-in-Chief, stopped the central government Duma and start conduct the army himself in 1915, after The Great Retreat. In 1916 Russian started Brusilov offensive successfully, however the condition in the nation kept decline because of the expansion of the war.
3.During WWI, the Tsar kept repressing the revolutionary activities brutally. By the time the revolution happened, the Tsarist government was already isolated from the people and totally unsupported, even the army didn’t support them. Thus they fell apart suddenly.
4.February Revolution was led by capitalism revolutionaries, the target was the Tsarist government. It established a new democratic government led by the capitalists. However, the second “revolution” is led by radical communists, trying to take over the capital government. Thus some people didn’t consider this event as a revolution.
Dear Tsar Nicholas II,
Please forgive my rudeness but in my opinion to go to the front is a real mistake. As a leader of the country, you should be with your people and be protected. To be in the front will put you in great danger. If you are killed--- I hope not but it’s still possible----the whole country will be in panic and we could easily lose the war.
Your wife, my great queen is a lovely and smart woman, however, according to many people’s words she is not as good as you in the prescription of leading a country. If you leave to the front, she will become the leader of the country temporarily, I can’t tell what would happen if the situation in our nation get worse if you let her lead this country. Polatin is a great Wizard, however I also don’t think he can lead the country. His ambition is dangerous and many noblemen in our nation don’t like him. He would put our country in danger if you leave.
The revolutionaries are also very dangerous, we all need your power to threaten them, if you leave , they will definitely plan some bad things to the nation. Thus I strongly suggest you to stay in our country .
Because of the character limit, my response can be found here: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B2zRVQ7aYbYZdjVfQ0tJaU92NDg/edit?usp=sharing
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry I've been on the A Cappella trip and haven't been able to post the assignment until now. But here it is:
ReplyDeleteRussian Revolution Illustration
1. World War I was a key factor in triggering the Russian Revolution. It lasted from 1914 to 1918. During the war, Russia was allied with Britain and France, and its role was to support and protect Serbia. However, they were not as modernized, and they lacked good weaponry.
2. In 1916, the Russians had a very difficult time because their leader, Czar Nicholas II went to the battle front and left his wife in power. The country endured many military and economic disasters, and the people became upset with their government.
3. I think Tsarist government fell apart so totally and quickly in the spring of 1917 because that is when Czar Nicholas II truly lost all his authority. After the strikes, and the formation of the Soviet group, he was losing support. The majority, if not all the Russian people, were displeased and the strikes just brought about the government’s downfall in a quicker manner.
4. The two revolutions include the February Revolution and the October Revolution. During the February Revolution, people marched to Petrograd demanding “peace and bread” and the downfall of autocracy. As a result of this sudden revolution and strikes, factories shut down. During the October Revolution, the government in Petrograd was actually overthrown. It was sort of a follow-up to the February Revolution, which may be why the February Revolution is the only real one. It embodied all the initial ideas of the people, whereas the one in October was more of a continuation. I don’t think it is correct to say that only one is “real.” Both of them are very much revolutions, even if one is a slight continuation of the other.
Czar Nicholas II,
It is crucial that you do not go to the front line. You cannot leave the people. We have already been seeing signs of unrest across the country, and if you go things will only get more chaotic. I know you love Alexandra dearly, and she is an amazing, intelligent woman, but I don’t think she has what it takes to run the country. Who knows, someone may try to take advantage of her, since she is a woman, if she becomes the main ruler. Also, you don’t have that much experience with battle strategy and war in general, so stick to what you’re good at. We have generals that can lead our troops. Please, I beg of you, stay here. If you leave everything will fall apart.
Discussing the Illustration:
ReplyDelete1. The war that was a key factor in triggering the Russian Revolution was World War I, taking place between 1914 and 1918. Russia was part of the allies, meaning that they joined forces with France, Britain, Serbia, Montenegro, Belgium, Italy Romania, the United States, Japan, Portugal, and Brazil. Russia’s job was to fight the Eastern front, against the Central Powers, namely Germany, Austro-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottomans.
2. The conditions that made the war especially brutal in 1916 were the inflation, which was one of the government’s strategies to finance the war, Revolutionary Propaganda financed by Germans, and record breaking temperatures during the winter. The winter of 1916 to 1917 was among the harshest of winters in the twentieth century. With such conditions, people who were already desperate due to a lack of supplies, suffered even more.
3. I think that the government fell apart so quickly because in earlier revolutions, loyalists most likely were those involved in the previous regime such as the army. In Russia, however, if the army is turning against the government, it leaves no loyalists. The army has access to the government’s weapons, which leaves the government defenseless. When comparing the Russian Revolution to other times of revolution, the Russian government had lost the upper hand in terms of machinery and technology.
4. In February, the Czarist government was overthrown by the people, and a temporary system of democracy was set in place. During this revolution, the old regime was destroyed, and a provisional government was put in place. This revolution marked the end of the Romanov Dynasty and the beginning of a new era. The second movement changed the new type of government from a failing democracy to a communist government. In this upheaval, the old regime had already been overthrown and the people were unhappy with the second part of the revolution: its new regime. I would not consider this movement a revolution, but simply a dispute over the previous revolution. The democratic government was too young to be considered a new regime, and it was the effect of the other revolution. I would consider this a disagreement about the other revolution.
Follow Up Activities:
Tsar Nicholas II,
My emperor, as you are already aware of, this war is brutal. It has taken quite a toll on our people’s view of their government. I agree to stay in the war to maintain Russian dignity, but I strongly advise you not to leave the country to assist the fronts. I feel the mood of the country changing as we go deeper and deeper into the war. The people need a scapegoat to blame for their losses. Instead of blaming the enemy, they are starting to blame those who sent their husbands and their sons to the war: the government. With you gone at the front, the people will have no one to look up to. You are the symbol of our government. The people will have no one to remind them of our great government. Your presence ensures that no one discards Russian identity. With you gone, they may forget the glory that we have. They may forget our unity through you.
In addition to this, I may also remind you of the dangers involved with travelling to the front. We have already experienced the Germans’ advanced weaponry taking countless of our beloved brothers. You will be a target. By travelling to the front, you are gambling with your own life. The front is the most dangerous place right now, it is not fit for a great emperor like you. If you do take your chances and come out on the bottom, where does that leave Russia? The people will then see how weak our government’s control is. Crazy ideas may be implanted into their head. Please take my thoughts into consideration. I am simply looking out for your best interests.
Yours,
Advisor
Sources:
http://warchangesclimate.com/d/Weather_Comparison.html
http://www.history.com/topics/russian-revolution
http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/russiaandukraine/a/Causes-Of-The-Russian-Revolution.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Revolution
Discussing the Illustration:
ReplyDelete1. The biggest leading factor that caused the Russian Revolution in 1917 was World War One, which endured from 1914, to 1915. During this time, Russia fought on the side of the allies (France and Britain), against the Germans. Russia fought alongside Germany’s eastern border while Britain and France fought along the western border. This created a two front battle for the Germans; however, the Russians were ill equipped and not ready for the modern technology that the Germans would utilize.
2. By the time 1916 arrived, the Russians had experienced severe losses in men and money count. Russia was in an overall state of decline, and yet the Czar denied every part of it. The citizens of russia demanded the Czar for a government restructure, but the Czar blew off every plea. It also did not help that the Czar went the battlefront and left his wife, who was unpopular at the time, in charge. While the Czar’s wife was in charge, many people believed Rasputin, a Siberian shaman, was influencing her control on the government. The people were weary of Rasputin and did not like how the government was being ran. The Russians were in a state of desperation and saw a revolution as their only chance of being free from Czarist rule.
3. I believe the Czarist government fell so quickly in 1917 because the whole state of Russia was in a decline. The Czarist government had invested too much money and men into the war against Germany at the cost of everyone in Russia. This started to affect not only civilians, but high ranked government officials themselves. The only people unaffected was the Czar and his family, and so it was quite easy for everyone to turn so quickly against him.
4. I believe people say that there was only one revolution in 1917 because the first revolution abolished monarchy in Russia and most people view revolutions with abolishing monarchy; however, this is not the case. Later in 1917, Vladimir Lenin returned to Russia and saw that despite the end of the Czar rule, Russia was still in war with Germany. The country had not changed a bit since the end of the Czarist rule. Lenin saw this as a time for a new revolution. Another change in government. A new type of government that would change Russia forever.
Follow Up activity:
ReplyDeleteIn 1915, Czar Nicholas retired the Grand duke and took command of Russia’s army; however, Czar Nicholas had zero knowledge of warfare whatsoever. With this new power, Czar decided he needed to be on the front to see what was going on himself. In doing so, he left his wife in power and let Russia go to ruin. If I was a close advisor of the Czar’s, I would write him the following:
Dear Czar,
It is great that you have obtained so much power by taking control of our beloved country’s military, but think just a little. You have very little knowledge in the background of warfare and in order for you to be liked by the people, you need the country to prosper from this war. I suggest hiring a new war advisor who could help you plan strategic battle plans and who could overlook the front while you take care of more important military matters. As a friend, I do not want to upset you and I want you to succeed, but in order for you to do so, you must think wisely before you take action
Sources for both:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I
http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/rasputin.htm
http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/08/march-8-1917-russias-february-revolution-begins-in-st-petersburg/
http://history1900s.about.com/od/Russian-Revolution/a/Russian-Revolution.htm
http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/firstworldwar/rus-czar-front.htm
1. The great was that triggered the Russian Revolution in 1917 was World War 1. This war took place from 1914 to 1918. Russia played a big part in this war, and was a part of the allies, with Britain, France, Serbia, and eventually the US. It’s enemies were the central powers, which included Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkish Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria.
ReplyDelete2. By 1916, the Russians were growing tired of the war. The reason for this was that the Russian army wasn’t being supplied with anything, and because there were major defects in leadership. Conflicts broke out among leaders and the soldiers, and the bitter climate was also discouraging to the Russian’s. In 1917, Russia was pulled out of the war.
3. The Russian Revolution happened because the country was falling apart. The Russians were losing against Germany during WW1, there were long bread lines, and czar Nicholas II being a horrible leader pushed Russians to the end of their rope. The whole autocratic government was mostly the cause of the Russian Revolution. People couldn’t leave their villages without approval. They couldn’t buy land because it was just not a realistic opportunity. People were also starving because of poor harvests which were caused by bad weather conditions. This forced a lot of people off of their farms, and they then went to work at factories or in mines. The factory owners forced workers to work long hours with little pay and horrible conditions. Because of this, strikes were organized which closed down factories and put the whole city on pause. People were sick of being under the rule of an unfair government, which is how the revolution to end the czar’s forces began.
4. The first revolution was in February, which finally removed the czar from power and started a new government for Russia. The next one, which happened in October was when Lenin's bolsheviks took control. The first one, which took place in February, really had no impact on the country, which is why some people discount it as a revolution. The revolution that took place in October had lasting effects, which is why it is known as the “real” revolution. I think that they are correct, because the first revolution really didn’t have any effects on Russia. The czar would have been taken out of power anyways, whether it was earlier or later.
Tsar Nicholas II,
I understand that you have chosen to leave for the front to take personal command of Russia’s forces. Now, I’m sure you have taken into consideration the risks that you face with this decision. And just in case you weren’t aware of these risks, I would like to remind you of them. I’m sure that you know how brutal the front is. I believe that we have gotten this far in the war, so Russia should continue to fight. However, I highly do not recommend that you go out to the front to command the armies. The soldiers need to have an authority figure to “follow”, and with your absence, they will not have that figure. People are also getting angry with the government already. If you leave, they will likely become more angry, and might revolt. I think that it would be a good idea for you to stay and rule, while the trained military commanders do their job on the front. Might I remind you that you don’t have military training like the leaders at the front do. They know what they are doing, and I think that you should let the do their job. Another thing is that if you leave for the front, there will be nobody to rule. It’s my understanding that you would leave your wife in charge of the country while you were away. I know that this might seem like a good idea, but remember that your wife does not have any experience ruling a country. So I ask you to please reconsider this decision. If you leave, the whole country could fall apart. We might lose this war because of the chaos that could be caused by your absence. Please listen to me when I say that this decision could have consequences that you do not want to face.
http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/nicholasii.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_II_of_Russia
Discussing the Illustration
ReplyDelete1. World War I was the great war that triggered the Russian Revolution. This war lasted from July 28, 1914 to November 11, 1918. Russia was allied with Britain and France in the beginning of the war. The Allies were fighting against the Central Powers during World War I. Germany, the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria were the Central Powers, but Italy switched the join the Allies secretly when World War I started. The United States entered the war in 1917, and joined the Allies.
2. There were many factors that made the war particularly difficult for Russia in 1916. First off, Russia did not have many weapons, and without these weapons, they could not defend themselves from the German attacks or push back the German lines. In addition, the cold winter months were very difficult for the Russian soldiers. Many of these soldiers froze, starved, or died from disease of wounds inflicted upon them by their enemy. Russia was becoming tired of the war, and wanted to end the fighting. The Czarist government did not listen to their soldiers and citizens, and only wanted to preserve their honor by staying in the war, even if it meant losing many men. It was very challenging to get food to the soldiers, so many had to deal with very little food.
3. The Czarist government fell so quickly because they were not making choices according to what their people wanted. Russians did not want to stay in the war, but the Czarist government did not take their opinions into account when making decisions. In addition, the strikes that had happened built up tension in the country against the Czarist government. Eventually, all of this tension resulted in the Russian revolution that changed the government entirely.
4. Russia’s revolution in February majorly altered the country’s government, whereas the second revolution in October did not affect the government as much as the previous revolution. The revolution in February set up a provisional government and forced the Czar to relieve himself of the throne. The second revolution did not rid Russia of the old regime, but instead replaced the provisional government with Lenin and the Bolsheviks. Many do not regard this second revolution as a “real revolution” because it did not overthrow a government that had been around for a very long time, and I agree.
Follow-up Activities
To: Czar Nicholas
From: Advisor
Dearest emperor, keeping Russia’s welfare in mind, I strongly advise you not to travel to the Eastern Front. If you leave Russia with your wife while you are gone, there is no telling what may happen. Although you are a great leader, I am not as confident in your wife’s decision making and ability to lead a country such as Russia. In addition, the Eastern Front has many dangers and there is the possibility that you might not return if you meet our soldiers under enemy fire. I sense tensions growing within this country, and I fear that if you leave, there would be an uprising against our great government. Many of this country’s citizens do not understand that we are keeping Russia’s honor by staying in this war, no matter what the costs, and the citizens might become more frustrated than they are already. Instead of travelling yourself, I suggest you send another man who knows about strategy and shares your thoughts. I apologize, but I thought I should let you consider my opinion.
Sources
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/timeline_of_world_war_one.htm
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~raina20s/ww1/play.html
http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/brestlitovsk_trotskywithdrawal.htm
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/on-this-day/March-April-08/On-this-Day--Russia-s-February-Revolution-Begins.html
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/february-revolution-begins-in-russia
http://www.history.com/topics/russian-revolution
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwone/eastern_front_01.shtml
Discussing the Illustration
ReplyDelete1. The Great War was also known as World War I and it took place from 1914 to 1918. Russia was involved in the war from 1914 to 1917 and stopped fighting after signing the treaty of Brest-Litovsk. Russia’s allies during the first World War were France and Britain, and Italy joined later on. This group was called the Allies during the war. Their enemies were Germany and Austria-Hungary. This group was called the Central Powers.
2. The conditions that Russia faced in 1916 were bad climate and lack of weaponry. This caused bitterness about the war for the soldiers. The soldiers also did not have a lot of motivation to win the war, so this affected them as well.
3. The people had turned on their government and were against their leaders. There was a lot of poverty and hunger, so the people protested. Then, the Tsar left for Mogilev shortly after the protests. The government quickly fell apart because Lenin promised great rewards if the people turned against the Tsar and the government, so the citizens did that.
4. The February Revolution was important because many people protested and the Romanov dynasty was ended because of it. The Bolsheviks and Lenin came into power during the October Revolution, which was important. February is the more important revolution because it lasted longer and overthrew a dynasty that had been in power for years. People are correct to say that the February Revolution is the only “real” revolution, but the October Revolution should be acknowledged as well.
Follow-up Activities
Tsar Nicholas II,
This is a dangerous and ferocious war, especially at the front. There are several risks that you must consider before you leave. The citizens are becoming uneasy, and it could get worse if you left. They could become even angrier that you have left your throne instead of caring for them. There is tension between your people and the government, and you should address that instead of going to the front. Also, your wife has never run a country before, and she needs assistance. She would have to take control for quite a while without any previous experience. As your advisor, I believe that you should stay in Russia to manage your country and take care of the people. You are a great ruler and no one can replace you. You should stay in your throne and allow your troops to keep fighting the war. I mean no offense, I am simply thinking about your citizens and your country.
Sincerely,
Your Advisor
Sources:
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/russia_and_world_war_one.htm
http://www.marxists.org/history/ussr/events/timeline/1917.htm
http://www.thenagain.info/webchron/easteurope/FebRev.html
http://www.marxists.org/history/ussr/events/revolution/index.htm
1. It was World War 1. Russia was on the allies side with France and Britain. They were fighting against the central powers, which were the Austro - Hungarian empire and the Germans. It was Russia, which was located on the eastern side of Germany that was fully responsible of the eastern front. The war lasted from 1914-1918.
ReplyDelete2. In 1916 there was a harsh winter. The very cold winter made it unbearable for soldiers to fight. It demanded much more supplies from the army as they had to supply thick coats to each soldier to help them survive through the harsh long winter. In addition this abnormally cold winter allowed the snow not to melt. This made it especially hard to get any supplies to the troops who were in need. This whole combination is what made the Russians and soldiers realize that it would not be worth fighting to the last man ,as it was obvious that the Germans were going to win the war in the near future.
3. The great shortage of food and the many Russians countless losses in war against the Germans made the Russians furious. As each day passed people became more desperate. It was obvious to every Russian that they needed a change. Like the French Revolution the workers and women of each household had nothing to lose. Since they had nothing to lose they took on the streets to protest and fight for a better life. They thought that if they died fighting against a government who had failed its people, they would have at least died for a better Russia.
4. The real revolution was in February, as it was the one that triggered every other revolution. The first 90,000 woman whom marched the streets screamed to all the men and women in Russia that they could speak out for a better future. It is still exactly like that today . The Arab Spring was an event that was triggered by a small protest in Tunisia. Once the Tunisian leader left from his country, countries like Libya, Egypt, Yemen went all through revolutions. Today there is still even a revolution in Syria that is happening.
Dear Emperor,
I highly recommend you to stay in St. Petersburg. The war will be only won if you continue to speak to the Russian people. Without these peoples support the soldiers will have no motive to fight. In addition there are many cities in Russia that are having many big financial problems. I suggest that you lead your Russian people through a great industrial revolution. Here there is not enough armaments being produced and if we're able to start producing them in greater amounts we will be able to win the war and take over the city of Berlin. To be honest Emperor I think we really do not have the proper equipment for our own troops to win the war. If they did have the proper equipment we would been advancing much faster in the last few weeks than we are right now. So in conclusion my dear leader I think we you should stay in St. Petersburg as you will help to continue to boost the moral of the people, which will help fill the soldiers with pride and the strength to fight with great fury in the war. In addition my emperor, you will be able to concentrate on producing greater amounts of weapons, which will make it easier for you to win the war overall. So please emperor ,don’t leave St. Petersburg.
Sincerely,
Your Adivisor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_World_War_I
http://history1900s.about.com/od/Russian-Revolution/a/Russian-Revolution.htm
Colton Bancroft
ReplyDelete1. World War One was a key factor in triggering the Russian Revolution of 1917 which took place from 1914 through 1918. During this ware Russia fought on the eastern front with allied with the British, French, and Americans.
2. Russia was growing bitter about the war for many reasons. First of all they were losing mass amounts of men. By the end of the war they would have lost eight million men. Because of all these losses the Russians had lost their will to fight. Another reason that Russia did not have the internal transport or an industrial base to continue with the war in addition to their lack of military leadership.
3. I think that the Tsarist government fell because of the weak leadership of Czar Nicholas II and his lack of ability do deal with changing times. In other words he wanted to keep his absolute power, however this only lead to angry citizens. Because of him they had poor working conditions, low wages, and had to deal with the hazards of industrialization. No citizen will live like this and that is why the government fell.
4. I think that people say that the only real revolution in Russia was the one first one in February because that was the revolt that initially brought the czar down. The other October revolt was what brought Bolshevik into power. Do I think that The February revolt was the only real revolt, yes and no. Yes because in the October revolt there was really no revolt, and no because even though there was no real revolt in October, the Bolshevik party was what finally shaped Russia.
Follow-up Activity
Historians thought that Czar Nicholas II leaving for the front was a big mistake because of the Czar’s lack of training involving the government in addition to zero military training. There were also rumors that Czar Nicholas II had plans to gain separate peace with the Central powers to preserve his power. With this information the Czar was in no means prepared or educated enough to take the position as commander. It is not wise to put a man with no experience in the hands of thousands of men. If I were to try to keep the Czar from going to the Eastern Front, I would say the following.
Dear Czar Nicholas II,
With the highest respect, I have to advise you my lord, to restrain yourself from aiding the Eastern Front. In no means do I feel that you could not do it, however with your lack of military training I feel that the current commanders should remain in their positions. Yes the military is not performing as hoped; however, our current ranks are doing their best to keep Russia a threat in the war. As to the fact that the current commanding officers have both experiences with war tactics as well as knowledge of the power of our enemies, it would be wise of you to let them handle it. In addition I believe that we need you here in Russia to keep your country in line and remain our king. We would not want something to happen to our lord in the dreadful war for then we would be without our great Czar!
Your advisor,
Colton Bancroft
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWtsar.htm
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_did_Russia_exit_World_War_1
http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/russia_tsarincommand.htm
Part 1:
ReplyDelete1. What war triggered the Russian Revolution? What part did Russia play in the war? Who were its allies and enemies?
The war that triggered the Russian Revolution was World War 1, which lasted from 1914- 1918. Russia joined the war in 1914 along side the Allies which consisted predominantly of France, Britain and America. Although Russia was a large country, it was a minor player in the grand scheme of the war and ended up suffering severe losses. They were pushed back on the eastern front by Germany and also defeated in their smaller battle with Japan.
2. What conditions made the war especially trying for them that year?
Several bad situations happened during the span of 1916 that ended up lowering Russian morale. For one, the food supplies were poor and inconsistent which led to starving and dying soldiers which was a huge loss of motivation, soldiers who returned to were sent to stop a worker strike ended up joining the workers on the street in protestation, there were also a lot of political accusations that took power from the government by lowering its standards and public perception.
3. Why do you think the Tsarist government fell apart so totally and quickly in the spring of 1917?
The Tsarist government fell apart quickly in the spring of 1917 because of the vast number of opposing citizens that wished for its collapse. The government was weak, the territory was extremely large, Russia had just suffered major casualties and had low morale, and the Tsar’s methods often delayed important decisions by months, and the economy was having a hard time sustaining the people. The war pushed the Tsar regime to a breaking point. Prices rose and there was a famine from 1916-1917. The Russian defeats made the government look incompetent to its citizens which led people to sprout rebellious actions. Several opposition groups began popping up. On the 8th of March, International Women’s Day turned into a major riot scene. On March 12th, soldiers who had previously been firing into the crowds mutinied and joined the rebels. Under the pressure and sheer numbers of the opposition, the government crumbled and the Tsar fled from the throne.
4. Why do you think many say that the only real revolution was in February? Are the correct? Why or Why not?
I think many people say that the only real revolution was in February because the people forcibly overthrew the government. The February revolution was unexpected, when the riots broke out on the street, the people were there because they believed that things could get no worse for them. But mainly, it is viewed as more of a revolution because it better fits the definition of the word. “A forcible overthrow of the government.” Even though the soldiers mutinied, they had at first been fighting against the rebels. They took down the government and replaced it with a new one. The revolution in October suffered little to no casualties because the revolution was secretly planned and the control of the city was basically handed over to the Bolshevik party instead of forcibly overthrown.
Part 2:
ReplyDeleteTsar,
As you well know, the conditions outside of the palace are harsh, and only getting worse. Too many young men are sent off to war, and too few come back. We are starving and people are dying, too many to count and too many to mourn. Despite the misgivings us people may have given you about your position, you are still our leader and the highest power. It is you that stabilizes the government and keeps it together. Without a leader, the power falls to your wife. Coming recently off of a delivery, your wife has been kept from the politics of our country and therefore uninformed of our latest plights. Our country is in a weakened state and we cannot afford a chance of rash or un-thoughtful decisions. If you move out to the front where are troops are failing, your power leaves with you. For the safety of our country, you must stay away from the war and with your people.
Sources:
Deletehttp://history1900s.about.com/od/Russian-Revolution/a/Russian-Revolution.htm
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/russia_and_world_war_one.htm
http://www.johndclare.net/Basics_Russia.htm
Historians think this was a big mistake because the Tsar had little military experience, the army blamed him specifically for their military failures, the country was in an extremely fragile state and he was leaving it to his wife who was completely influenced by Rasputin who was equally disliked by the people.
Delete1. World War I was 1914-1918. Russia was allied with Britain, France, and Italy. Germany and Austria-Hungary were against her. Russia fought Germany on the Eastern Front, but was easily defeated and stubbornly remained in the war until its collapse in 1917.
ReplyDelete2. There was a harsh winter that lasted from 1916-1917. Many resources were taken to the front for the soldiers, so civilians, peasants, were starving. Prices rose and people did not have the money to buy the things they needed to keep themselves warm or from going hungry.
3. Everybody, even the army had turned against the Tsar. There was no place left for the leader to hide. His only choices were to abdicate or be killed by his people. The Tsar had failed to bring victory in World War I, and food shortages were plaguing the country. Soldiers had lost hope in the war. There was no order in the state. People wanted a new leader to bring them to prosperity.
4. The February Revolution brought peace to the country. The October Revolution brought Lenin and the Socialists to power, but it was followed by civil war. The October Revolution also used the momentum from the February Revolution to topple the Provisional Government. After the October Revolution Lenin and the Red Army fought for four harsh years to establish their power.
Regardless of the success of the revolution, one cannot deny the existence of the second revolution. The October Revolution was what allowed Vladimir Lenin to rise to power and demonstrate his power to the Russian people. The government was in shambles. A revolution or political overthrow would have happened anyway. Vladimir Lenin took advantage of the situation before another of his fellow Russians.
5.
Czar Nicholas,
I respect you for your decision to take command of your army. A country needs a strong, willing leader like you to empower them.
As your adviser, I must question your decision to leave your wife in charge of Russia. She is clearly incompetent and ignorant of political matters. She has children to take care of and cannot devote all her energies to leading Russia. The country will surely fall in ruin if you leave her up to it.
Another issue is that mystic, Rasputin. He has healed your son, yes, of hemophilia, but that does not mean he has the right to influence all further decisions regarding the well-being of Russia. Who knows what the man will do? All humans have an evil side to them, sir. You never know when Rasputin will decide to show that side of himself. Sir, I advise you not to leave your innocent wife in the hands of this potential scoundrel.
Sir, please do not take this note for offense. I am only looking out for your best interests. Please make the right decision and protect Russia. We are already in a difficult situation because of Germany. Do not bring this great country even lower.
Adviser Gornic
September 1, 1915
World War 1 was a key factor in triggering the Russian Revolution. It spanned from 1914 to 1918 and proved the incompetence of the Tsar as many were being slaughtered, due to poor military technology, on the Eastern Front by the Germans. Russia was allied with France and England against the Germans. Russia's involvement was to occupy the Germans on the east and make them fight a two front war, making them weaker by having to split their army on a two front war. In 1916 conditions for the Russian’s were hard, German was an industrialized country with all of the new weapons and machines of death while the more obsolete Russian army clung to more primitive tactics and even still carried horseback cavalry units. Some battles were fought where Germans slaughtered Russian’s and suffered little to no casualties. With tensions rising high inside Russia’s borders, most of the blame for the failures in war was put on it’s government. The Tsarist regime was held accountable for the immense loss of land and casualties as a result of the war and would soon be overthrown. Also, Tsar Nicholas was abroad visiting troops for most of the war and left his wife and Rasputin, a Shaman, in charge of the government in his absence. The two ran the country almost into the ground upsetting and starving many of their own citizens. Russia’s people had become tired of the oppression of the government and a revolution loomed ominously closer. In 1917, there were two revolutions, one in February, a few short months of democracy, and another a few months later establishing the communist regime. Many Russian’s say that there was only one revolution because the revolution in February was seen more as a transition period until a bold leader was able to stabilize a widely agreed upon governmental system. Also, the democracy did not last at all, but communism would remain prominent for many years to come.
ReplyDelete1. World War 1 (1914-1918) was the key factor in triggering the Russian Revolution of 1917. Russia's part in the war was initially to protect Serbia. In addition, because Russia was a part of the Triple Entente along with France and Britain, Russia had to support them in war. It's enemies were the Central Powers, including Austria-Hungary, Germany, England, and the Ottoman Empire.
ReplyDelete2. Germany shifted it's focus to the Eastern Front and were much better led, trained and supplied than the Russian forces. Therefore, Russia lost a total of nearly 5,000,000 men by the end of 1916. The huge losses on the battlefield were also due to lack of rifles, ammunition, uniforms, food, and water. With that, the soldiers hopes also faded. and they began to feel as though they weren't being treated like human beings, or even valuable soldiers.
3. The Russian people lived under dreadful economic and social conditions but never revolted because they were in thought that this is what they had to live with to win the war. It was their sacrifice. However, when Russia came to be badly organized and unsuccessful in the involvement of World War 1, the people realized they had no more reason to take the living conditions they were forced into. Therefore, they revolted because Russia wasn't doing it's part for them, and their lives couldn't get worse so they had really nothing more to lose. They were pushed to their outermost limits.
4. I think that they say that the only real revolution was in February because that was the revolution that caused major change. After that, there were more disputes about the next leader rather than actual dramatic change (because the big change in February had already taken place). I believe they are correct because a revolution is a forcible overthrow of a government or social order for a new system, and that was done in February only.
Follow up 1:
Going to the front line was a mistake by the Tsar for reasons. Primarily, he didn't have the military background to lead the troops and therefore the public blamed the Tsar personally for military failures. In addition, going to the front line meant being absent from the capitol for months/ years, and in result leaving the government in the hands of the hated empress.
Nicholas II Tsar,
I am writing to you in deep concern for the safety of Russia. I understand that, as a leader, you feel it your duty to go rally the troops and participate in the war. However, it is not your job and poses a threat to our troops if you decide to lead them. You belong in the capitol, not the front. You have no military background and should not feel like you have to do this without any experience. There are men much more experienced that can take over. We need you back in the capitol, trying to improve the chaos and economic horror that has evolved in our country. That is your job and that is what the people expect of you. I know you might think yourself a coward or selfish or such for not going to the front with your people, but I promise you, you have plenty to do here that would be equally as heroic to fix. I strongly urge you to remain at your position here in Russia, in the capitol, and leave the war in the hands of a trusted man with experience.
With much concern and sincerity for Russia and my friend,
Anna
http://www.johndclare.net/Russ3.htm
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_role_did_Russia_have_in_World_War_1
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Who_was_Russia's_enemies_and_allies_during_World_War_One
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Revolution
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_did_Tsar_Nicholas_go_to_the_front_lines
http://www.academia.edu/2349865/Why_did_the_Tsarist_regime_collapse_in_1917
World War One triggered the Russian Revolution. They joined forces with Britain, Russia and France. Russia became really involved in the war however their soldiers weren’t supplied with enough guns, shelter and food so they did poorly and suffered many losses.
ReplyDeleteThere were three main conditions that caused hardship for the Russian’s in World War One. First, their troops hardly had any food and other supplies. Second, their country was being paid to be in the war and because they had no money, they had to keep fighting despite their circumstances. Third, they lacked military leadership and struggled to find their way on the battlefield.
The Tsarist government fell apart because of multiple factors leading up to the spring of 1917. The country got tired of the losses that they were facing during WWI, the rumors that were being spread about their leaders love life, and about how the Tsar Nicholas II was an unworthy leader. Revolts had been going on since WWI because of the food shortages
I think people are correct in saying that the only real revolution was in February because this revolution brought down the Czar. The second revolution in October didn’t really accomplish anything, and because of this I agree with the statement that the only real reolvution happened in February.
Tsar Nicholas,
It is important that you do not take any further actions to visit your troops on the front. The citizens of your country have begun to revolt and rebel against the government and if you leave now the government will collapse. I know that you trust your wife and I do respect her, but I do not believe that she is qualified to rule a country. She has no prior experience and to leave her with a country experiencing such turmoil would not only be bad for the people but unfair for her as well. Please let the generals on the front do their jobs and stay here and do yours. I know that it is tempting to leave your current position and be immersed in the action of the war but it is vital to your countries future that you stay and do what you have done for so long. Please stay in our country for it will be better for everyone in the long run.
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ReplyDelete1. The war that trigger war that triggered the Russian Revolution in 1917 was World War One (1914-1918). The Russians were not doing well in during the war and the Provisional Government refused to pull Russia out of the war The solders did not like this idea so they started to withdraw from the army and protest the war. Russia joined the war in 1914 and sided with the Allies which was along side France, Britain, and America. Russia suffered many losses being involved in the war.
ReplyDelete2. During World War One some of the conditions that the Russians had faced were that the troops did not enough supplies such as food, shelter, and weapons. Soldiers lost their motivation to continue fighting in the war and started protesting the war. They were being payed to fight in the war so therefore they were forced to be in the war.
3. The Tsarist government fell apart because all the soldiers in the army turned against Tsar. The Tsarist government was weak and the country lost their motivation with all the losses they faced during WWI. With the food shortage since WWI revolts began . Tsar fled the throne proving to be a untrustworthy leader causing the government to fall apart.
4. I think that the reason why people say that the only real revolution was in February because of all the protest and riots that happened causing the government to fall apart. This revolution brought down their government and replaced it with something new. The revolution that occurred in October did not suffer many people from the war and it did not accomplish as much.
Dear Tsar
I congratulate your victory in obtaining control over Russia after leaving for the front. Just bare in mind that this path you have chosen may have some consequences. Be careful when on the front since it is horrifying and very dangerous. Be sure to keep in mind Russia's warfare. I suggest that you do not go to the from and stay where you are right now. You have a responsibility to take care of your wife and while your gone you would leave her alone, unprotected. I think that you are the best leader for the country right now and you should not leave your wife in charge us. I do not believe that she is capable of running a country like you oh great one. If you leave for the front who knows if you will return strong or at all for the matter and lead us once again. Please send a general to the front instead of putting your life at risk and please take my consider this option and take my advise. I only want the best for our country and think that you leaving us will not be the best solution. Protect, lead and guide us in the right direction.
Neema wrote:
ReplyDeleteDiscussing the Illustration:
1. The Great War that was a key factor in triggering the Russian Revolution of 1917 was World War 1. World War 1 was from 1914 to 1918. Russia played a very minor role in World War 1 even though the war caused many casualties for the Russians. Though the Russians invaded Germany, the Germans ended up pushing forward on the eastern front and ended up losing many men. The Russians were allied with France, Italy, Britain, the United States, and many more.
2. The Russians were growing bitter about the war because of the tough conditions that they had to endure during the War. One, the weather was very tough to handle. During World War 1, the soldiers had to use trench warfare. Though trench warfare was a great technique, there were also many downsides of it. Some of these downsides are daily death in the trenches, rat infestation, frogs, lice, chores, daily boredom, and the smell. These soldiers were also in mud daily.
3. I believe the Tsarist government fell apart so totally and quickly in the spring of 1917 because in my opinion he lost all of the loyalty and control he had. He lost all of his loyalty and control because of the attacks and it just made his government fall quickly. Over time he was losing support so in the end he decided to give up the throne.
4. The February Revolution gave Russia a few chaotic months of democracy. The February Revolution was not the only revolution in Russia during the year of 1917. The other revolution during 1917 was the October Revolution. The February Revolution was focused on Petrograd, which is St. Petersburg today. The only difference is during the October Revolution, the Soviets which was led by Vladimir Lenin took over the government in Petrograd. I believe they were both “real” revolutions the only difference is one was a little more successful.
Follow-up Activities (1):
Dear Tsar Nicholas II,
All I can say to you is don’t go. If you go the people will despite you one for leaving and two for letting everything become even more chaotic. As much as I love you and Alexandra, I think it is unbelievably stupid that you are letting Alexandra become the leader and a ruler of a whole country! She has no experience or training to do so. You also do not know how to run a military. You little to no experience running one and it is absolutely ridiculous that you are leaving what you already have and own behind you. There are others such as generals that can lead the troops while you stay behind and lead your country. All I can tell you is please don’t leave, or you and your country will crumble.
Your Advisor,
Bob
Works Cited:
Notes
http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/trenchlife.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Revolution
1. World War I was the ket factor in triggering the Russian Revolution. This war took place from 1914 to 1919. Russia was in an alliance with Britain and France, though did not play a major role in this war. Since Germany was an allie with Serbia, when Serbia declared war on Austria, Germany was obliged to declare war on Russia. Initially, Russia was successful against Germany in Galicia, but was defeated many times after that by Germany. Russia lost over 30,000 Russian soldiers at Tannenburg alone. At the end of this bloody war, Russia had lost over 1,700,000 men at war.
ReplyDelete2. The Russians were growing bitter about the war because the bad weather conditions made the battle extremely hard. So many soldiers longed to get out of it because they were tired of the rain causing floods and making it very difficult for them to work around.
3. All of Russia's major losses exposed the government's incompetence of how to handle war. Tsar Nicholas was solely in charge of the military, and the blame should have been placed on him, rather than the government as a whole. Many workers went on strike and held marches for International Women's Day. This was when troops fired into the crowd, which only set fire to the anger the rioters had. Not long after Tsar was forced to abdicate.
4. The first Revolution, in February of 1917, Russia overthrew the Tsar monarchy and was able to establish a provisional government. Later that year, in October, Russia create the world's first communist country. February's revolution is commonly considered more important, and that is because of how effective it was. Over 90,000 women marched through the streets on International Women's Day to protest the extensive amount of labor and harsh conditions they endure solely for the purpose of surviving and providing for their families. By the next day, over 150,000 women and men had come together to demand a change. Czar was eventually forced to abdicate and then real progress began. On the contrast, in October that year, the Bolsheviks easily took over this unstable country, and became. the new leaders of Russia. Although I think that was a very important event, I agree that the first revolution was far more significant than the second.
Follow-Up Activity
"Nicholas II may have believed that, by taking charge, his army would be inspired and would fight with renewed vigour. Unfortunately, the Tsar knew little about the command and organisation of large military forces, and the series of defeats and humiliations continued" (BBC). This left Russia itself vulnerable without leadership and responsible to whatever happened in his absence.
http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/minorpowers_russia.htm
http://www.johndclare.net/Basics_Russia.htm
http://history1900s.about.com/od/Russian-Revolution/a/Russian-Revolution.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/higher/history/russia/february/revision/1/
1. The war that was a key factor in triggering the Russian Revolution of 1917 was World War One. It was fought from 1914 to 1918. Russia fought on the side of the Allies along with Britain, Italy, and France against Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Bulgaria, known as the Central Powers. Italy initially fought on the side of the Central Powers but later changed alliances.
ReplyDelete2. The war was difficult for the Russians in 1916 for several reasons. They were constantly beaten and driven back from the Eastern Front. The weapons and numbers of the Germans held the Russians at a disadvantage. The lack of victory crushed the morale both on the Eastern Front and at home. That, combined with the struggling economy that resulted in food shortages, created unrest amongst the Russian people. The government did not listen to their requests to pull out of the war. Tension between the government and rest of the country increased with every day the war continued.
3. The Tsarist government fell apart so totally and quickly in 1917 because all connections between it and its people had been broken. The humiliating failures Russia experienced in World War One and the Czar’s refusal to withdraw had made him very unpopular. Military and police forces could not control the riots and protests that broke out in St. Petersburg. Finally, the Czar realized that he had lost control completely.
4. Some people say that the only real revolution was in February because it marked the end of the Romanov dynasty. After the Czar stepped down, Russia experienced a few fleeting months of democracy before the October revolution brought communism to the country. I do not think this view is correct, however. Both revolutions were very ‘real’ and had equal impacts on Russia. The one in February ended the monarchy and the one in October introduced communism, both of which had drastic effects on the shape of society. The people were ready to accept any different kind of government after the long line of czars and February revolution, which made the later revolution possible.
My dear Nicholas,
Please return home as soon as possible. It is not safe for you out on the front. If something were to happen to you, some rebel leader would seize the throne before we could put a stop to it. We have little control over the people. They are rebelling and forming protests; they are angry over the country’s failure in the war and the food shortages that everyone is struggling with. You know I admire your wife, and view her with utmost respect, but from a political standpoint I do not think she is fit to run the country. Her advisor, Rasputin, is uneducated. I do not trust him. Return home, my friend. The country needs you.
Sincerely,
Joseph