Economic and political problems
- Created by: Tori
- Created on: 04-06-20 21:35
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- Economic and Political problems
- Problems in Agriculture
- Inflation (which had become an ongoing problem in the war) became worse in 1917.
- Russia paper money lost half its value in the latter half of 1917.
- Thus, many peasants refused to accept payment in paper money.
- This, coupled with huge problems in Russia's transport network led to a significant fall in the amount of bread available in the cities.
- In October 1917, the government was able to purchase only 56% of the grain it had purchased a year earlier.
- Russia paper money lost half its value in the latter half of 1917.
- By mid-1917 the countryside was also expecting a new revolution.
- Peasants refused to wait for a new government to authorise land reform.
- Lnadless peasants seized land from landlords.
- Peasants refused to wait for a new government to authorise land reform.
- Inflation (which had become an ongoing problem in the war) became worse in 1917.
- Problems in industry
- Life in the cities deteriorated dramatically during 1917.
- Between Jan-June, the production of fuel fell by more than 1/3.
- Factory production dropped by 36%.
- In reponse to the deterioriating conditions workers launched strikes.
- From Feb-October 2.5 million workers went on strike.
- From July, workers went further by democratising their fractories.
- Workers elected factory committees that took control of production and wages.
- In responce, large factories and mines in the Urals and the Donbass closed their operations, locking workers out.
- As a result production fell further.
- Life in the cities deteriorated dramatically during 1917.
- The formation of Kerensky's government took place in a time of deepening economic crisis.
- Rather than leading to more efficient economic organisation, as the Kadets had hoped, the revolution had led to a breakdown of the existing system.
- The Kornilov Affair
- Kerensky appointed General Lavr Kornilov to take control of the Russian Army.
- Kornilov had no sympathy for revolutionaries and was keen to assert the government's authority over the Soviet's, trade unions and unruly peasants.
- Kerensky hoped that Kornilov;s hardline apporach would help restore order.
- Kornilov had no sympathy for revolutionaries and was keen to assert the government's authority over the Soviet's, trade unions and unruly peasants.
- Kornilov took the position of commander-in-cheif, but demanded the government implement harsh, repressive policies:
- Strikes were banned for the duration of the war.
- Striking workers could be punishable by death.
- Railway workers were placed under military control.
- Desertion from the army was punishable by death.
- Strikes were banned for the duration of the war.
- The Kornilov Revolt
- Kornilov apparently demanded to place Petrograd under military control.
- Kerensky refused, knowing that the workers of Petrograd would resist.
- As a result, Kerensky dismissed Kornilov as commander-in-cheif.
- Kornilov responded by ordering a detachment of troops to march on Petrograd.
- Kerensky assumed that Kornilov was attempting a military takeover,
- Kornilov responded by ordering a detachment of troops to march on Petrograd.
- As a result, Kerensky dismissed Kornilov as commander-in-cheif.
- Kerensky refused, knowing that the workers of Petrograd would resist.
- Kornilov apparently demanded to place Petrograd under military control.
- Arming the Bolsheviks
- Kerensky was forced to ask the Petrograd Soviet to defend the capital.
- He agreed to arm the Red Guards (a bolshevik-dominated militia).
- This decision strengthened the Bolsheviks, and by the end of August the Bolsheviks had a third of the seats in the Soviet.
- Additionally, Kerensky agreed to release Bolsheviks from prison so that they could defend the captial. which also strengthened the Bolsheviks.
- This decision strengthened the Bolsheviks, and by the end of August the Bolsheviks had a third of the seats in the Soviet.
- He agreed to arm the Red Guards (a bolshevik-dominated militia).
- Kerensky was forced to ask the Petrograd Soviet to defend the capital.
- Kornilov defeated
- The Bolsheviks played a key role in defeating Kornilov's forces:
- Trotsky ordered railway unions to prevent the train carrying Kornilov's troops from enyering the city.
- Bolsheviks infiltraited Kornilov's troops and persuaded many to abandon the attack.
- The Bolsheviks played a key role in defeating Kornilov's forces:
- Consequences of the revolt
- The Kornilov Affair seriously weakened the PG:
- The vast majoirty of Russian workers lost faith in the PG.
- Discipline within the Russian armed forces deteriorated further.
- Support for the Bolsheviks grew.
- They were credited with saving the revolution (eg pursuaded many of Kornilov's troops to abandon the attack).
- By September the Bolsheviks had won majorities in the Moscow and Petrograd Soviets.
- The Kornilov Affair seriously weakened the PG:
- Kerensky appointed General Lavr Kornilov to take control of the Russian Army.
- Problems in Agriculture
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