Political authority, government and Tsar

Question 1

How did Nicholas see himself as a ruler

Answer 1

Inadequate: “I know nothing of the business of ruling”

Question 2

How did Nicholas Promise to Rule?

Answer 2

“As his father had done”

pledge - ‘maintain the principle of autocracy’

Question 3

What evidence is there to suggest Nicholas ruled as his father had done?

Answer 3

1903- appointed reactionary ministers

Question 4

What humiliating defeat did Russia suffer in 1905?

Answer 4

Russo-Japanese War

Question 5

What was the effect of losing the 1905 Russo Japanese War?

Answer 5

• International humiliation

- Stirred up opposition to the Tsar

Question 6

What were the Years of the Red Cockerel?

Answer 6

increased the hardship of peasants (Political and economic compounded by famine) 1903-1904 peasants

=> seized land in the countryside (not enough food being transported into cities) and Committed Arson

Question 7

What happened in the events of bloody Sunday in 1905?

Answer 7

• Peaceful workers strike at Pulitov Works -> 200,000 Marchers Winter palace.
• Marching for better living and social conditions
• (Fearing revolution) Niki ordered Troops to fire on crowd–> 100 deaths
• ->More opposition to Tsar

Question 8

What was significant about the petemkin?

Answer 8

-Naval Mutiny (due to poor living and working conditions)–> death of around 2000 people

Question 9

What was the 1905 revolution?

Answer 9

wave of mass political and social unrest directed at the Tsar and ruling class

Question 10

What were the causes of the 1905 revolution?

Answer 10

• defeat in Russo Japanese War
• Economic discontent: No income tax–> indirect taxation, redemption payments, low wages
• Social conditions: Famine & food shortages ie red cockerel , poor working and living conditions
• Bloody Sunday massacre

Question 11

What was the effect of the 1905 revolution?

Answer 11

• August 6th- Forced Niki to Promise creation of state Duma

- >(Appeasement to negate Risk of revolution)

Question 12

Did the Promise of a Duma satisfy the peasantry?

Answer 12

-No. E.g Printers strike in September

Question 13

What was signed in October 1905

Answer 13

-The October manifesto

Question 14

Why did Nicholas sign the October manifesto

Answer 14

-As a from of appeasement to stay popular

Question 15

What were the clauses of the October Manifesto?

Answer 15

• Civil Liberties for All
• Creation of state Duma ( created new laws and elected by the people
• Redemption payments ended- no longer tied to land economically.

Question 16

How can the October manifesto be viewed as a success?

Answer 16

• led to a temporary reduction in unrest

- Accommodated Liberals

Question 17

How can the October manifesto be viewed a failure?

Answer 17

• Didn’t satisfy revolutionaries ( wanted socialist gov)
• uprisings still continued
• Only certain people could vote ( land amount) -> Not representative democracy
• Constituency bias to nobles

Question 18

What did the fundamental Laws of April 1906 do?

Answer 18

-Niki gave himself new powers -> veto Duma Powers (Backtrack)

-

Question 19

What happened just before the Fundamental Laws?

Answer 19

-Political parties were legislated for election

Question 20

what were the terms of the Fundamental Laws (1906)?

Answer 20

• Reinstated Autocratic Power (rule by decree)
• Dismiss ministers
• Could dissolve Duma

Question 21

What did the Fundamental laws show?

Answer 21

• Nicholas wanted to rule as a classical Monarch

- Duma had no real power

Question 22

Why was the first Duma dismissed by Nicholas?

Answer 22

• Dominated by Radicals –> Demanded radical constitutional change
• Passed Two ‘votes of no confidence’ in gov and Niki

Question 23

Why was the second Duma dissolved?

Answer 23

• PM (Stolypin) wanted to increase the number of Octoberists.(opposing Tsarists policies)
• leading radicals were exiled

Question 24

What was the failure of the third Duma?

Answer 24

• Stolypin emergency Law: reduce representation of peasants

- Still disputed Tsar (wanted no peasant representation) –> dissolved

Question 25

Why was the 4th Duma a failure?

Answer 25

-Suspended in 1915 for demanding more power