Russia on the eve of WWI Flashcards
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How did the Russian people respond to the declaration of war 1914?
Very positively, seemed that the previously broken relationship between Tsar and the people was saved.
What had the Tsar given in 1905 to appease liberals?
Tsar introduced some concessions but it wasn’t enough to appease them
What was the consequence of Nicholas II introducing the Fundamental Laws in 1906?
The tsar had supreme autocratic power, could change decisions made, got rid of any conclusion drawn not in favour of the Tsar. Upset the middle class and lower classes as it had such limited power.
What was the Vyborg appeal and why did it fail?
200 members of the Duma told the people to revolt against the Duma. It failed, as the government used the appeal as an opportunity to use violence against its people and to repress them
Why did this lead to more radical parties gaining support?
This had convinced the population that the only way for change to come was radical ideas (direct action), leading them to turn to radical parties and them gaining support.
E.g in the Second Duma’s election more social revolutionaries and social democrats gain support. Election of third Duma dominated by right wing.
What was the intention of Stolypin’s “wager of the strong”?
To de-revolutionise the Duma and reduce their political power. Stolypin addressed the peasants financial worries by irradicating their debt, he also wanted to create a layer of wealthy peasants- “wage on the Strong” so that he could ensure a sense of security within the peasants
Wage on the stong was the more prosporous class of peasants
What happened as a result of “wager of the strong”?
A number were paying an increasing sum of tax showing a possible large profit, and some peasants became more entrepreneurial. But this was not a significant number, and it was a very slow process. By 1914 16% more land had been consolidated from strips into farms showing, progress however slow.
This ended in 1914 when the war started, Stolypin was assassinated in 1911.
What were living and working conditons like in the cities?
Lots of peasants moved from fields to cities, meaning conditions were cramped, harsh, and only getting worse and there were an increasing number of strikes going on.
What were the results of the strikes on working conditions?
1914 there was a general strike that only ended due to the beginning of the war. The govts measures drove workers to take action for themselves
Was the Tsar’s dynasty at risk in 1914?
Maybe his throne wasn’t at direct risk but there was great tension within Russia that meant that if peasants banded together they could overthrow him.
