Causes of the Russian Revolution
Russel Tarr
Diamond 9 Diagram
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Autocracy was shown to be outmoded, inflexible and hopelessly inadequate, especially when the Tsar was someone as stubborn as Nicholas II.
The Provisional Government lacked authority: it was not elected, it failed to call elections, and was led by an aristocrat (Prince Lvov)
Trotsky worked hard behind the scenes to organise the Bolshevik takeover of power so that when they decided to seize power it was almost bloodless.
Lenin returned to Russia and delivered a series of inspirational speeches promising peace, bread and land to the Russian people.
Witte's industrialisation policies had created poverty and unrest in the cities. In the countryside, Stolypin's agricultural reforms had not had time to take effect.
The Provisional Government failed to deal with the central issues of peace, bread and land and support for its democratic ideals faded away.
Failures in the Russo-Japanese War and World War One undermined morale in the army and the prestige of the monarchy.
During the Kornilov Coup, the Provisional Government was forced to give weapons to the Bolsheviks to defend the capital. This left them even weaker.
The Soviets (workers' councils) controlled the army (Order Number 1) and were more inclined to support the Bolsheviks, who promised All Power to the Soviets
