Russian Revolution & WWI Overview

Overview

This lecture explores the collapse of tsarism in Russia, the impact and legacy of imperialism, the causes and nature of World War I, and the features shaping the modern world. It also includes exam preparation strategies and key historical concepts.

Collapse of Tsarism in Russia

• The Russo-Japanese War (1904-05) was Russia’s first major conventional war in the modern era. Russia expected victory but suffered a humiliating defeat after an eight-month journey, losing in a single hour. This loss led to national humiliation, discontent, and sparked the 1905 Revolution.
• The defeat allowed Japan to gain concessions in Manchuria and later annex Korea, further undermining Russian prestige.
• Bloody Sunday (1905): On 22 January, peaceful protesters led by Father Gapon marched to the Winter Palace with a petition for better working conditions and political reforms. Imperial troops opened fire, killing hundreds and injuring thousands. This event shattered the image of the Tsar as a benevolent “Little Father” and triggered widespread unrest, strikes, and mutinies.
• The 1905 Revolution forced the Tsar to make some political reforms, such as the creation of the Duma, but these changes were limited and did not resolve underlying issues.
• World War I intensified Russia’s existing social, political, and economic problems. The war worsened food shortages, increased hardship for peasants and workers, and exposed Nicholas II’s ineffective leadership.
• The Tsar’s inability to address crises, combined with his poor decision-making during the war, amplified calls for change and revolution, ultimately leading to the collapse of the Romanov dynasty.

Key Events and Social Change in Russia

• Father Gapon formed the Assembly of Russian Factory and Mill Workers in 1903 to promote workers’ rights. Many workers believed the Tsar cared for them and blamed officials for their hardships, not the Tsar himself.
• The massacre on Bloody Sunday and poor working conditions led to the 1905 Revolution, which resulted in temporary reforms like the Duma and some changes to the political system.
• Rasputin’s influence over the Romanovs caused controversy. The royal family believed in his healing powers, especially after he helped the Tsar’s son. Nobles distrusted him, while peasants saw him as a representative. He was assassinated by conspirators who felt threatened by his influence and wanted to stabilize the country.

Causes and Nature of World War I

• The main causes of WWI were militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism, which created tension and competition among the Great Powers.
• Alliance systems divided Europe into rival blocs: the Triple Entente (Britain, France, Russia) and the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy), increasing the risk of a large-scale war.
• The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914 triggered the outbreak of war, drawing in multiple nations due to their alliances.
• The Balkans, known as the “powder keg” of Europe, were a region of intense political activity and conflict, contributing to the escalation of war.

Nature and Impact of World War I

• World War I was characterized by industrialized, modern warfare, including trench warfare, massive casualties, and the use of new weapons such as machine guns, chemical gas, and tanks.
• Key battles included Verdun (1916), the Somme (1916), Passchendaele (1917), Tannenberg (1914), and Beersheba (1917). These battles were marked by high casualties, harsh conditions, and psychological trauma (shellshock).
• Soldiers faced boredom, disease, rats, and extreme weather, with experiences varying between the Western, Eastern, and Middle Eastern fronts.
• The war led to significant social changes, especially for women, who took on new roles in the workforce and military support. Government control increased through propaganda, censorship, and conscription.
• The scale of recruitment and casualties forced countries like Britain to introduce conscription, while propaganda was used to maintain morale and support for the war effort.
• The war’s devastation and the Treaty of Versailles contributed to future conflicts and shaped the modern world.

Imperialism and Its Legacies

• European imperialism involved the exploitation of colonies for resources, markets, and national prestige. Examples include King Leopold II’s rule in the Congo and British imperialism in Australia.
• The “Scramble for Africa” saw European powers divide the continent without regard for local populations, leading to exploitation, violence, and long-term consequences for colonized regions.
• The Ottoman Empire, once powerful, declined due to economic problems, internal unrest, and pressure from European powers, losing control of territories and being labeled the “sick man of Europe.”
• Imperialism contributed to conflicts between European powers and shaped the economic and political structures of both the colonizers and the colonized.
• The legacy of imperialism includes the creation of “third world” countries, economic exploitation, and ongoing social and political challenges in former colonies.

Modernity and the Modern World

• Modernity refers to the condition of being modern, shaped by industrialization, urbanization, and new ideas such as nationalism, equality, and liberalism.
• Modernism was a cultural movement that sought new ways to represent the realities of industrial life, emphasizing progress, reason, and individualism.
• The modern world is defined by both continuity (enduring traditions, institutions, and social structures) and change (technological innovation, revolutions, and evolving values).
• The Industrial Revolution transformed societies from rural and agrarian to urban and industrial, increasing literacy, changing work patterns, and encouraging new ways of thinking and living.
• Modernity is associated with progress, but also with challenges such as alienation, increased comparison, and the questioning of traditional beliefs.
• World War I challenged the modernist belief in progress, as technological advances were used for destruction, revealing the limits of human reason and the fragility of modern society.

Study and Exam Preparation Tips

• For “Account for the perspective” questions:
  • Identify the perspective and who holds it.
  • Explain the historical context and motives behind the perspective.
  • Use specific evidence and examples.
  • Link the explanation back to the broader historical situation.
• Use the PEEL structure (Point, Evidence, Explain, Link) for structured responses.
• Learn key events, dates, and make comparisons between different fronts and soldier experiences for essay questions.
• Practice source analysis, focusing on the reliability and usefulness of propaganda and other sources from World War I.
• Review syllabus outcomes and content focus, including the nature of continuity and change, causes and effects of events, and the significance of individuals and movements.

Key Terms & Definitions

• Tsarism: Autocratic monarchy in Russia under the Romanov dynasty.
• Imperialism: Policy of extending a nation’s power through colonization or military force.
• Militarism: Emphasis on building strong armed forces and using military solutions.
• Nationalism: Advocacy of national independence and interests.
• Trench Warfare: Military strategy involving long, fortified trenches for protection.
• Modernity: The state or quality of being modern, associated with progress, innovation, and change.
• Continuity: Aspects of society that remain stable over time.
• Change: Transformations in society due to events, innovations, or movements.

Action Items / Next Steps

• Revise key dates, events, and definitions (e.g., 1905 Revolution, major WWI battles, key treaties).
• Practice using the PEEL structure for perspective and source analysis questions.
• Watch recommended resources such as The Great War YouTube channel and History Skills for further understanding.
• Review the syllabus outcomes and content focus to ensure comprehensive exam preparation.
• Compare and contrast experiences of soldiers on different fronts and analyze the impact of major battles and technological changes.
• Reflect on the legacy of imperialism and the ways modernity has shaped contemporary society.