The Causes of These Revolutions (Grade 11 NSC Matric History): Revision Notes

The Causes of These Revolutions

Understanding the timeline context

Overview of the 1917 revolutions

The year 1917 marked a turning point in Russian history, ending centuries of monarchy and establishing the world's first socialist state. Two distinct revolutions occurred during this crucial year, each with different characteristics and causes.

The February Revolution was spontaneous and unplanned. It developed from violent riots on the streets of St Petersburg and successfully removed Tsar Nicholas II from power. This democratic revolution introduced significant political reforms and represented the people's demand for change.

The October Revolution, also known as the Bolshevik Revolution, was carefully planned and executed by a group of revolutionaries. Unlike the February Revolution, this was not a democratic movement. By 1918, the Bolsheviks had abandoned democracy entirely and declared themselves representatives of a dictatorship of the proletariat.

Political causes of the revolutions

The failure to reform after 1905

The political foundations for revolution were laid years before 1917. After the 1905 Revolution, Tsar Nicholas II remained reluctant to introduce any meaningful political reforms. His approach to governance became increasingly problematic as he relied on repressive measures rather than addressing legitimate grievances.

Stolypin's repressive policies played a crucial role in building revolutionary sentiment. As Prime Minister from 1906 to 1911, Stolypin was notably repressive in his methods. He persecuted Jewish communities, treated protesters harshly, and exiled political activists, including future revolutionary leader Lenin. This harsh treatment only increased discontent among workers and intellectuals.

The working class faced particular hardships under this system. Growing discontent spread easily through crowded working-class areas, where revolutionary ideas could circulate more freely. When strikes were declared illegal, workers organised secret meetings to plan resistance. As people became more dissatisfied with their conditions, protests grew increasingly violent.

Stolypin's assassination in September 1911 marked the end of this period, but the damage to the regime's reputation was already significant.

Nationalism and ethnic tensions

Russia's complex ethnic composition created additional political pressures. The Russian Empire consisted of many smaller nations and states, including Poland, Lithuania, Finland, and Latvia. Each of these regions had distinct cultural identities and growing nationalist movements.

Political leadership crisis

A major political crisis emerged from the Tsar's inability to work effectively with Russia's parliament, the Duma. Multiple factors contributed to this breakdown:

The educated classes and the Duma became increasingly critical of the Tsar's autocratic methods. When the government rejected the Duma's demands for reform, tensions escalated dramatically. Tsar Nicholas II maintained complete control but demonstrated his incompetence in managing the war effort effectively.

The Tsar's refusal to share power created an impossible situation. He rejected moderate reforms proposed by the Duma and continued to rely on the old bureaucratic system that was clearly failing to meet Russia's modern challenges.

In September 1915, various political parties formed the Progressive Bloc, which called for a completely new government that would be responsible to the Duma instead of the Tsar. This represented a fundamental challenge to autocratic rule.

The influence of Tsarina Alexandra and Rasputin

When Tsar Nicholas II left to command the army, his wife Tsarina Alexandra took over control of the government. This arrangement created enormous problems for the regime's credibility and effectiveness.

Tsarina Alexandra was deeply unpopular with the Russian people. She was strong-willed and hated parliamentary institutions, preferring absolute rule. She had previously urged her husband to rule without any democratic constraints and attempted to continue this approach in his absence.

However, Alexandra proved unable to rule effectively. She frequently dismissed or reappointed prime ministers, which angered the Duma and created governmental instability. Most damaging of all, she fell under the influence of Rasputin, a peasant and self-proclaimed holy man.

Rasputin gained political power by claiming he could control Alexei Ramanov's haemophilia (Alexei was the Tsar's son and heir). Through this influence over the royal family, Rasputin began affecting government appointments and policy decisions. His growing political influence became so damaging that the Tsar eventually had Rasputin killed in 1916, but by then the monarchy's reputation was severely damaged.

Economic causes of the revolutions

The devastating impact of the First World War

The First World War created economic catastrophe throughout Russia, providing the immediate economic causes for both revolutions. The war disrupted every aspect of Russian economic life and created conditions that made revolution almost inevitable.

Industrial collapse occurred when factories were forced to close down across the country. The Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy) prevented Russia from accessing outside markets, cutting off crucial trade relationships. This economic isolation meant Russia could no longer import necessary goods or export products to generate income.

Many remaining factories were converted to meet the army's demands for military equipment and supplies. This meant fewer consumer goods were produced, creating shortages of basic necessities for civilians.

Agricultural crisis developed when Ukraine, Russia's main wheat-growing region, was devastated by the war. Poor harvests combined with the disruption of transportation systems meant food could not reach urban centres effectively. The result was severe food shortages that affected millions of Russian people.

Transportation breakdown made existing problems worse. The inadequate transport system could not handle the demands of moving military supplies, food, and civilian goods simultaneously. This meant even available food and products often could not reach the people who needed them.

Food shortages and economic hardship

The combination of these factors created a crisis of food shortages, rising prices, low wages, and high unemployment. Food prices became so high that ordinary workers could not afford basic necessities, leading to strikes and civil unrest.

Social causes of the revolutions

Urban living conditions

The social conditions in Russian cities had become unbearable by 1917, particularly for the working class. A massive population movement occurred as many peasants moved from rural areas to towns seeking work, but this created severe overcrowding in urban centres.

In major cities like St Petersburg, workers lived in overcrowded housing with an average of six people per room. These cramped conditions made it easy for revolutionary ideas to spread and for workers to organise collective action against the government.

Working conditions and labour exploitation

Factory workers endured terrible working conditions that created enormous resentment against the existing system. Workers received bad wages that barely allowed them to survive, while facing dangerous working conditions and harsh discipline from factory owners and managers.

The situation became even worse during the war years when working hours increased dramatically. Workers were forced to work approximately 60 hours per week, and these long hours increased further due to wartime demands. This exhausting schedule, combined with food shortages and poor living conditions, made workers desperate for change.

These social conditions created a revolutionary situation where workers had little to lose and everything to gain from supporting political change. The combination of economic hardship, political repression, and social suffering made revolution almost inevitable by 1917.

Remember!