russia Flashcards

1
Q

what was the character of nicholas II

A

weak willed,poorly educated and lacked confidence

lacked the taste for power

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2
Q

what was nicholas II attitude

A

he felt it was his duty too firmly uphold autocracy

he prioritized the maintenance of the Romanov dynasty

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3
Q

the abilities of nicholas II

A

he showed an ability to instigate reforms and enforce them with a firm hand

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4
Q

political problems in 1894

A

in general opposition groups wanted changes too the political system in order to get more representation for the people

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5
Q

economic problems in 1894

A
  • a reliance on foreign investment
  • a lack of productivity
  • a lack of free enterprise
  • backwards agriculture
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6
Q

social problems in 1894

A

despite policies such as the peasants land bank the peasants were still upset about their living standards

industrialization and urbanization had caused poor housing and bad public health leading to diereses like cholera

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7
Q

how did liberals oppose the tsar

A

they demanded that Russia should be governed similarly too western countries similar too the UK

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8
Q

what was the union of liberation

A

founded by Pytor Struve the union demanded greater freedoms for all russians and wanted fairer land distribution for peasants

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9
Q

what were the populists

A

they were revolutionaries who believed that agricultural communes and co-operative workshops would provide a base for the Russian economy too grow with ought resorting too capitalism

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10
Q

the socialist revolutionaries (SR’S)

A

the socialist revolutionaries aimed too improve the conditions of the poorest members of society

the group was split into right and left wing

the left were responsible for around 2000 political killings

the SR’S had the most support and were the biggest threat too the Tsar

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11
Q

what were Marxists

A

the SD’S based their ideology on the writings of Karl Marx and believed that the proletariat would rise up and overthrow the Russian autocracy

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12
Q

who were the social democrats

A

the group was influenced by George Plekhanov who emphasised the working class consciousness

some SD supporters known as Mensheviks focused on improving pay and reducing working hours

there was division in the SD’S between the Mensheviks and the Bolsheviks

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13
Q

position of polish people in under Nicholas II

A

as a result of industrialisation in Poland a distinct proletariat emerged which showed an interest in Marxism

there were national democrats groups which made contributions to the dumas

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14
Q

position of Ukrainian people in under Nicholas II

A

the Ukrainians looked too build a separate cultural identity

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15
Q

position of Caucasians people in under Nicholas II

A

russification was easy in these areas as the literacy levels were low

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16
Q

jewish people under the tsar

A

Jews were treated very badly as Nicholas took the same anti Jewish position as his father

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17
Q

influence of Pobedonostsev

A

Pobedonostsev helped too prepare judicial reforms for the Tsar in 1864

he became an advisor and writer on Russian law

he was a major influence on Alexander III’s policies

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18
Q

influence of Witte

A

witte insisted that the state investment should go into heavy industry

this resulted in the great spurt:

  • coal production doubled
  • income from industry shot up from 42 million roubles in 1893 too 161 million by 1897
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19
Q

the Russo-Japanese war 1905

A

causes:

  • Russia and japan had argued over Korea and Manchuria for years
  • Russia had promised to withdraw troops from Manchuria but didnt which angered the Japanese

consequences:
the shocking defeat of Russia led to the effectiveness of the autocracy being questioned

the war sparked unrest

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20
Q

causes of the 1905 revolution

A

the bloody Sunday massacre

Nicholas inability to deal with problems eg the Russo Japanese war

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21
Q

course of events in 1905 revolution

A

jan 9th bloody sunday
4th feb grand duke assasinated by sr’s
in may the union of unions was established
june russian union of peasants was established
september there were mutanies in the army
17th october issued the october manifesto

22
Q

what was the October manifesto

A

the manifesto was an attempt to clarify what powers a legislative assembly might have

essentially it was a precursor to the first constitution

23
Q

what did the October manifesto do

A

it stated:
- the duma would consist of of elected representatives from the provinces of the empire

  • the duma would require the legalisation of trade unions and political parties
  • the Russian people would be granted free speech, worship and the right too freedom of assembly
24
Q

what were the dumas

A

an elected parliament but with lots of restrictions by the tsar

such as:
- he appointed some members personally so they favoured the nobility

-voting rights were changed so that policy were more supported

25
Q

what is the fundamental law

A

this law accepted the dumas but emphasised the tsars power over them

26
Q

what did Stolypin do

A

unused or poorly utilised land was made available to the peasant bank peasants could then buy the land from the bank
on favourable terms

peasants who strip farmed were now able to consolidate their land into small holdings

27
Q

reppression under stolypin

A

Stolypin thought that the method of dealing with opposition was too soft so he introduced field court marshal trials which resulted in quick trials and executions

28
Q

the political social and economic situation in Russia

in 1914

A

politically Russia was fairly stable this was due to the creation of the dumas

the economy had grown slightly by 1914

their was discontent in the urban areas

29
Q

the impact of the first world war

A

Russian defeats crushed the morale of the army

Russia had lost 1.7 million troops

due too food requisitioning people starved

due too the war their was inflation

30
Q

food shortages in ww2

A

due too food requisition transport problems and exporting grain their was food shortages during ww1

31
Q

what was the provisional government

A

the provisional government was a self appointed it consisted mostly of members of the 1912 Duma

they had too share power with the petrograd soviet who mostly opposed them

32
Q

who was Kerensky and what did he do

A

Kerensky was minister for war in 1917 he launched an offensive i ww1 which filed badly

however he put down the july days rebellion which got him promoted to prime minister

33
Q

the kornilov revolt

A

the military commander Kornilov marched with his troops with the intention of shutting down the petrograd soviet

Kerensky agreed to the Bolsheviks being given arms in order protect petrograd as he thought kornilov would impose a dictatorship

however the battle was avoided as railway workers refused too transport Kornilov’s army

the revolt boosted the Bolsheviks popularity as they were seen as protectors of petrograd

34
Q

what was the petrograd soviet

A

It was a council of soldiers and striking workers who led the February Revolution and brought down the monarchy in February 1917

35
Q

the role of Lenin in the 1917 revolution

A

despite being in exile Lenin was still a great influence on the revolutionary movement

he was instrumental in the Bolshevik power seizure

36
Q

the role of trotsky in the 1917 revolution

A

he organised the October revolution

he help too set up the military revolutionary committee this meant that the soviets had the means too control Petrograd

37
Q

events of feb and march 1917

A

their were strikes in February as well as bread rationing being introduced on the 19th

on the 27th of feb the petrograd soviet was formed alongside the provisional duma committee

march 1st Soviet order no 1 was passed which gave the Petrograd soviet total control over the Russian military

on march second Nicholas abdicated

38
Q

what were the july days

A

a period in the Russian Revolution during which workers and soldiers of Petrograd staged armed demonstrations against the Provisional Government that resulted in a temporary decline of Bolshevik influence and in the formation of a new Provisional Government

39
Q

what was the April thesis

A

a series of directives that Lenin set out
-demanded the provisional government should be overthrown

  • abandoning co-elision with other parties
  • called for a seizure of power by the soviets
40
Q

character and abilities of stalin

A

resourceful humble and determined

good administrator and organised

41
Q

rivalries and divisions in the bolshevick party

A

Trotsky wanted permanent (worldwide) revolution whereas the right wanted

Zinoviev and Kamenev opposed stalins ideas on peasants and foreign policy they were both removed as secretaries of thier local parties

Bukharin spoke against stalins collectivisation ideas and was removed from his positions of pravda editior and president of comintern

42
Q

stalins tactics

A

Stalin was skilled at manipulating debates and people in order too consolidate his power

43
Q

Stalin’s victory

A

stalin was able too remove those who opposed him and with key figures such as trotsky removed he was able too dominate government

44
Q

socialism in one country vs permanent revolution

A

the left wanted permenant revolution as the were headed by trotsky wheras the right wanted socialism in one country a policy which stalin supported

45
Q

consolidation of power

A

the cult of personality - this was propaganda that stalin promoted such as renaming Tsaritsyn too Stalingrad

he also controlled newspapers,established youth groups and manipulated the arts

46
Q

the growth of the police state

A

NKVD this was set up too crush opposition to Stalin’s personal dictatorship

the NKVD created a permenant terror

they were crucial in instigating the purges

47
Q

purges

A

those who failed too implement collectivization or who opposed the liquidation of the kulaks were expelled from the party

in the mid 1930’s some prominent politburo members were were executed or exiled after being called oppositionists

48
Q

collectivisation

A

when a number of small farms are combined too make a larger unit the idea behind this was for peasants too collaborate and make as much food as possible

food production increased however peasants did not like collectivisation

49
Q

dekulakisation

A

it is estimated that between 1928 and 1930 between 1-3 million kulak families were deported and a further 30,000 were shot

50
Q

the five year plans

A

the five year plans were a set of targets for the economy too meet

the first fyp was successful
the second statistically made more money than the first

however out of fear these stats were questionable