Russia, 1917–1953 – Dissent and Revolution, 1917: The condition of Russia…

The idea

Before February 1917, Tsar Nicholas II's autocratic political authority was severely undermined by his decision to take personal command of the army in 1915, leaving the government in the hands of Tsarina Alexandra and Rasputin. The First World War effort exposed Russia's logistical failures, with severe munitions shortages and high casualties demoralising the military. Economically, the war triggered massive inflation and disrupted transport networks, preventing grain from reaching urban centres. This created a dire social state in cities like Petrograd, where bread rationing and freezing conditions exacerbated widespread discontent among workers, peasants, and even the previously loyal elite, setting the stage for revolution.

What earns the marks

• Assess the impact of Nicholas II's departure to Stavka in 1915 on the credibility and stability of the autocracy.
• Evaluate the logistical and military failures of the Russian war effort, including the aftermath of the 1916 Brusilov Offensive.
• Analyse the economic collapse, specifically hyperinflation and the breakdown of the railway system leading to urban starvation.
• Explain the social discontent across different classes, from striking workers in Petrograd to disillusioned nobles and land-hungry peasants.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Claiming the First World War was the sole cause of discontent.

  Put it right: Acknowledge pre-existing structural economic and social grievances from before 1914 that the war merely exacerbated.

• Stating that the Russian army was entirely defeated by 1917.

  Put it right: Note that while morale was low and logistics failed, the army was still intact and had seen some successes like the 1916 Brusilov Offensive.

• Assuming the peasantry were unaffected by the urban crisis.

  Put it right: Explain that peasants hoarded grain due to inflation and a lack of consumer goods, which worsened the national economic state.

Exam tips

• Link the Tsar's political decisions directly to the worsening economic and social conditions to build a cohesive analytical argument.
• Use specific evidence, such as the inflation rate or the number of striking workers in Petrograd, to substantiate claims about the scale of discontent.
• Evaluate the relative importance of long-term social issues versus the short-term catalyst of the First World War when discussing the causes of the revolution.