collapse of autocracy 1894-1917 Flashcards
(24 cards)
Khodynka Field crush
May 1896
1400 trampled to death, others injured.
what were the “ years of the red cockerel“?
1902 to 1907
– time of serious unrest in Russia, marked by widespread disturbances in towns and countryside.
– so many instance of arson, name coin referring to leaping flames
– unrest worst in central provinces, spread into Georgia, Ukraine, and Poland
Stolypin dealt with disturbances ferociously (flogging, arrests, exiles, executions)
– Industrial strikes escalated
17,000 in 1894; 90,000 in 1904
Russo Japanese war
1904-05
– Plehve encouraged response to Japanese assault on for eastern naval base, “short swift victorious war“, detract from unrest at home.
– series of defea, detract from unrest at home.
– series of defeats, turned opposition to the government. Plehve Assassination in 1904, crowds celebrated on the streets. ts, turned opposition to the government. Assassination in 1904, crowds celebrated on the streets.
what was bloody Sunday?
Ninth of January 19 05
– Russian forces had surrendered to Japanese in December, growing discontent. 3rd January strike began at Putilov iron works, 150,000 workers
– father Gapon (union leader) organised peace for March on Sunday 9th. 12,000 troops sent to break up demonstration, sparked outbreak of rebellion.
– Workers everywhere begin forming legal trade unions (e.g. All Russian union of railway workers)
What was the Potëmkin mutiny?
– 14th of June 19 05
– Russian black sea ship, began over mouldy meat ration
– Seven officers killed, red revolutionary flag raised
– Troop is fired on townsfolk (paying respect) and sailors, 2000 killed, 3000 wounded
what was the October manifesto?
and structure of Dumas?
– Empire seemed to be near total collapse.
– manifesto promised constitutional reform:
– grant civic freedom (personal rights freedom of conscience/speech/assembly/union)
– establish a state Duma, with the power to approve laws
DUMAS
Lower chamber (state duma)
– members elected through indirect voting by estates (nobles and peasants)
Upper chamber (state Council)
– half elected by zemstva, half by Tsar
– Noble religious/educational/financial representatives
All had equal legislative and veto power
what were the fundamental laws?
23rd of April 1906 (five days before first Duma met)
– Tsar had right to veto legislation
– Rule by decree in an emergency
– appoint and dismiss government ministers/dissolve Duma
Main political groups from 1905
social democratic workers party, split in 1903 to:
Bolsheviks: led by learning, believed in centralisation and role of proletariat under party guidance.
Mensheviks: led by martov, believed in cooperation with liberals rather than peasantry, legal methods
Socialist revolutionaries (SR):
– led by Chernov, favoured populist ideas of redistribution of land, violent methods
Kadets:
Central liberal, favoured constitutional monarchy with Parliamentary government
Rightists, e.g union of Russian people:
Favoured orthodoxy and monarchism. Antisemitism and promoted violent attacks on left wing/minorities through gangs (e.g. black hundreds).
four Dumas
1) May – July 1906
boycotted by SDs and SRs , rightists
Strongly critical of Tsar and ministers, brought about Witte’s resignation
duma past vote of no confidence after demands refused, 10 weeks later was dissolved and Stolypin became Prime Minister
2) Feb-June 1907
Extreme left-wing increased as everyone participated, even more oppositional.
No support for Stolypin’s agrarian reform program, passed legislation under emergency powers
3) 1907-1912
submissive doer, agreed to 2200/2500 of government proposals. Some disputes e.g. over education and local governments, some legislation forced through.
4) 1912-17
Docile body, new Prime Minister Kokovstov ignored its influence, to divided to fight back – replaced with direct action/strike activity
Industrial development to 1914
– Railway track virtually doubled (state controlled 70%)
– Growth rate of over 8% per annum (1894 to 1913)
– foreign investment soared (280 rubles in 1895, 2000 in 1914)
–heavy industry:
coal: 183mill puds (1890), 671mill (1900)
oil: 153mill (1885), 570mill (1913)
Stolypins land reforms
– 1906 more state land available for peasants to buy,
Bank set up
– peasants given rights to leave the commune
– redemption payments abolished
Encourage to sell smaller farms to more prosperous ones
– grainproduction:
56 mil tons (1900) to 90 mil tons (1914)
By 1909, worlds largest cereal exporter
– fewer than 1 percent achieved Kulak status
Urban population changes
Living conditions (lena goldfields massacre)
– 2 million factory workers (1900)
6 million(1913)
– urban population quadrupled, 7 to 28 million (1867–1917)
– working conditions grossly inadequate, unsanitary and communal accommodation
– st petersburg 3000 cholera deaths in 1908–09
– Lena Goldfield massacre, Siberia 1912
Striking for better wages and conditions
500 killed or injured
Class structure in this period
– More complex, however continuing division between small mobility and broad peasantry
– around 1/3 of all nobles land transferred to towns men or peasants between 1861–1905
– small middle class expanded as economic change quickened – found influence in Dumas and Zemstva
Cultural changes
– patriarchal structure/family predominating, although women found greater independence through factory work (1908, first all Russian Congress of women in Saint Petersburg)
– growth of education, 5 million rubles (1896) to 82 million (1914)
– Relaxation of censorship from 1905 produced “silver age “of Russian culture, poets, musicians, ballets
liberal opposition
– pressing for changes in governmental structure, influenced through role in zemstvas.
– Prince Lvov demanded creation of all class zemstva at district level, and national assembly.
– Union of liberation founded under Struve, held 50 society banquets during 1904 winter, petitioned a constitutional system
Development of socialism/opposition
social revolutionary party:
– put forward that interest of peasants and workers, “labouring poor”, were identical, should work together and bring about land retribution.
– stirred up discontent in countryside and performed political assassinations (2000 between 1901–1905)
Social democratic workers party
– 1898 first Congress (interrupted and committee arrested), 1903 second Congress
– split in 1903 between Bolsheviks (disciplined organisation of professional revolutionary leading proletariat) and Mensheviks (broad party with mass working class membership, liberal cooperation)
Trade union opposition continued following economic depression from 1907 and massacre 1912 (continuation from 1905 revolution)
what were military zones?
civilian authority suspended, military assumed command.
Opposed by liberal zemstva - set up union of zemstva to provide medical facilities, Zemgor addressed food shortages and welfare
When was Rasputin murdered?
1916
By Prince Yusupov, attempt to save reputation of the monarchy (Rasputin began to medal in political appointments/policy decisions, rumours that Nicholas’s German wife was sabotaging the war effort)
problems created by WWI
– Military issues: mobilised around 15 million men (1914–1917), could not provide for them. 1914, only two rifles for every three soldiers.
– Spending on Woolworth was immense, rural and industrial workforce severely affected. Production slumped, severe rationing domestically armament and rifle manufacture came out expense of civilian needs.
– Led to starving and desperate workers, January 1917 St Petersburg 150,000 workers demonstrated, 240,000 in February (International women’s Day
what was order number one?
Petra Soviet agreed each regiment could have representatives. Charter of soldiers rights:
Military commission of do only obeyed if it agreed with Soviets orders
– all weapons controlled by soldiers committee is not officers
– all soldiers enjoy full citizens rights went off duty
– no honourific titles for officers, derogatory for soldiers
when did Nicholas II abdicate?
2nd of March 1917
what was the dual power of 1917?
– Provisional government
Under prince Lvov. Members comprised of influential elites, liberals/moderate socialists, favouring constitutional monarchy. Based in Duma chamber
– Petrograd Soviet.
Dominated by mensheviks and social revolutionaries, radical socialist intellectuals. Had power from order number one.
agreed on :
– amnesty for political prisoners, right to organise strikes
- Basic liberties and abolition of discrimination based on class/religion/nationality.
- Planned on constituent assembly being elected
how did the Bolsheviks take over?
– Lenin returned from Switzerland in April 1917, delivered April theses:
Power transferred to Soviets
War brought to immediate end
Land reallocated to peasants
(peace, bread, land)
support not immediate, but further speeches gradually built support as well as incompetence of provisional government
June offensive heightened need for immediate end to war, contributing to July days
July days = 20,000 armed soldiers joined workers and soldiers on streets. Protesting against shortages of food, fuel, loss of jobs. Chanted Bolshevik slogans and seized railway station/key buildings.
Bolsheviks publicly denounced, 8th of July Kominsky became leader of PG. Kornilov Coup gave opportunity for both to be released, supplied with arms – organise band of workers commanded by red guard.
Bolshevik membership reached 200,000 by October. 10th Oct committee agrees on Bolshevik-led Revolution, 25th–27th take over key buildings and communication centres, arrest PG members and announce “revolution “.
consolidation of Bolshevik government
– 26 October, second Congress of Soviets held. Majority went to Bolsheviks and SRs. Moderates left in protest, leaving a Bolshevik and SR coalition.
– Established Sovnarkom as new government. Exclusively Bolsheviks, Lenin as chairman
set about making new decrees:
– promise to end war
– abolished private ownership of land.
– nationality liberalisation and no sex discrimination
– workers control and new legal system.
To suppress opposition from remaining PG and Centre liberals:
– propaganda campaign against political enemies
– censorship of anti-bolshevik media
– establishment of Cheka in December
– opposition leader leaders were rounded up and imprisoned
Constituent assembly met once on 5th Jan 1918. Dissolved hereafter
