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Difficulty: HardShifting Power After 1900

"The Provisional Government believes that the spirit of deep patriotism manifested during the struggle of the people against the old regime will inspire our gallant soldiers on the field of battle. On its part, the government will make every effort to provide our army with everything necessary to bring the war to a victorious conclusion. The government will faithfully observe all alliances uniting us with other powers and will fulfill all agreements entered into with our allies."
— Declaration of the Russian Provisional Government, March 1917

Which of the following best explains why the policy outlined in the excerpt contributed to the eventual collapse of the government that issued it?

  1. A
    The declaration led directly to the February Revolution, which immediately established a Marxist government led by Vladimir Lenin.
  2. The commitment to remain in the First World War undermined the government's domestic legitimacy, intensifying popular grievances and facilitating the Bolshevik rise to power in the October Revolution.Answer
  3. C
    The policy alienated the peasantry by immediately implementing radical Bolshevik land redistribution policies that had been demanded during the February Revolution.
  4. D
    The announcement prompted the Tsar to dissolve the Duma, triggering the 1905 Revolution and the subsequent rise of the Provisional Government.

Answer

The commitment to remain in the First World War undermined the government's domestic legitimacy, intensifying popular grievances and facilitating the Bolshevik rise to power in the October Revolution.
The correct answer is correct because the Russian Provisional Government's decision to continue fighting in the First World War, in order to fulfill its diplomatic obligations to the Allies, severely damaged its domestic credibility. A population already suffering from starvation, inflation, and massive military casualties grew increasingly radicalized, allowing the Bolsheviks to capitalize on this dissatisfaction with promises of 'Peace, Land, and Bread' and seize power in the October Revolution.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus document to identify the issuing authority and its foreign policy stance.
The document is issued by the Russian Provisional Government in March 1917 and commits Russia to continuing its participation in the First World War alongside its Entente allies.
This establishes the historical context and the specific state policy being evaluated.
2
Evaluate the domestic impact of continuing Russia's involvement in the First World War in 1917.
The war had devastated the Russian economy, causing massive casualties, severe food shortages in major cities, and widespread war weariness among soldiers, peasants, and workers.
This identifies the primary source of public discontent and instability facing the new government.
3
Determine the political consequences of this domestic discontent.
The Provisional Government's failure to address demands for peace and land reform allowed the radical Bolshevik faction, led by Vladimir Lenin, to gain popular support and overthrow the government in the October Revolution.
This links the government's policy directly to its collapse and the rise of a new political regime.

Key Concept

The collapse of the Russian Empire and the transition of power in 1917, driven by internal economic crises and the external pressures of the First World War.
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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Topics

Shifting Power After 1900

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