The collapse of autocracy, 1894–1917 Flashcards
(134 cards)
1
Q
What is important to remember about the power of the Dumas?
A
- They were only representative assemblies and not responsible for creating legislation and policies.
2
Q
Why did support for the Tsar decrease in the nobility during WW1?
A
- The nobility were powerful landowners. They were
advisors to the Tsar and had a big influence on the
running of the country. - Whilst the Tsar was on the front line, the Tsarina and Rasputin were inept and began dismissing noble advisors.
- Consequently the Tsar lost the faith of his, traditionally, closest supporters
3
Q
What did the PG do about the workers?
A
- To appease the workers the government introduced one of their main demands - an eight hour day.
- But, they also tried to limit the power of the new Workers Committees that were springing up in many
factories. - Workers were keen to take control of factories and introduce changes.
4
Q
What were 2 slogans of the Bolshevik Party?
A
‘Peace, Land and Bread,’ and ‘All power to the Soviets.’
5
Q
What did the Fundamental Laws allow the Tsar to do?
A
‘Regain’ his position as supreme leader.
Shows that the Tsar never had any intention of being a constitutional monarch.
6
Q
What was the difference in beliefs between the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks?
A
Bolsheviks - Wanted a small, centrally controlled, highly disciplined party of professional revolutionaries who would lead the revolution on behalf of the Bolsheviks.
- Refused to work with other parties and trade unions.
- Believed the bourgeois and proletariat revolutions could occur simultaneously.
Mensheviks - Wanted a democratic party open to all.
- Was willing to cooperate with other parties and trade unions.
- Believed the workers should lead the revolution and that a proletariat revolution could only occur after the bourgeois revolution.
7
Q
Who did Nicolas rely on to deal with challenges to his authority?
A
The army and the Okhrana.
8
Q
Who assassinated Plehve and when?
A
- July 1904
- Ordered by Ezno Asif (Head of the socialist brigade of SR’S).
9
Q
Why was 1905 only a ‘dress rehearsal’ for revolution?
A
- No real devolution of power; which still rested in the hands of an irresolute Tsar and his ministers.
- No radical redistribution of property or re-alignment of the hierarchical class structure in society.
- The traditional institutions of the State (bureaucracy, church, military and police) continued to function as usual.
10
Q
Explain how the Zemstva became more liberal before 1905.
A
- The liberals were strongly represented in the Zemstva, and were highly critical of autocracy.
- Alexander III’s introduction of Land Captains in 1889 to remove complaining Zemstva members and overrule Zemstva decisions only increased their opposition.
- Furthermore, the govts inability to coordinate famine relief 91/92, which the Zemstva were left to provide, exemplified Tsarist incompetence.
- When the Zemstvo of Tver petitioned Nicolas II for a national Duma in 1895, it was dismissed as a ‘senseless dream’.
11
Q
What were the features of the Second Duma?
A
- Peter Stolypin , the new Prime Minister, (illegally) engineered the elections to increase the number of Octobrists.
- However, this time, the Bolsheviks and SR’s participated, increasing the number of radical deputies.
- It opposed most Tsarist proposals, including agrarian reform.
- It was dissolved and leading radicals were exiled.
12
Q
How many strikes were there in the years 1912, 1913 and 1914 individually?
A
- 1912 - over 2000
- 1913 - 24,000
- 1914 - over a million
12
Q
Who were the liberals mostly represented by in the Duma and what did call for?
A
- The Kadets (Constitutional Democrats) - favoured a constitutional monarchy with parliamentary government, full civil rights, the compulsory redistribution of the nobles’ estates and the legal settlement of industrial disputes.
12
Q
Why did the middle class grow before 1914?
A
- As industrialisation gained pace, an emerging middle class of businessmen and professionals grew in size
- A minority of nobles’ sons also entered the world of industry and commerce, as did a number of enterprising peasants.
- Many of the middle class served on the Zemstva.
12
Q
What was the literacy rate amongst the working class relative to the whole population?
A
- 57.2% compared to 21% in the whole population.
12
Q
What were peasant living and working conditions in the countryside like?
A
- Many peasants (50%) continued to work at subsistence level, subject to recurrent famine.
- Rural population growth made conditions worse, particularly as holdings were divided between sons and the amount of land farmed by individual families declined.
- The gulf between the kulaks and poorest landless peasants widened, and too few moved to the towns to ease the pressure on resources.
- Peasant mortality rates were high and very few had access to doctors.
12
Q
Who wrote for the SD party newspaper and what was it called?
A
- Lenin, co-edited by Martov
- ‘Iskra’
12
Q
Describe the ‘July Days’.
A
- There was a political crisis when the Kadet ministers resigned in a protest over the June Offensive (400k dead, 170k deserted).
- Demonstrations on the streets were only put down when the Government managed to persuade some loyal troops to attack the demonstrators.
- The Bolsheviks were closely involved, and Kerensky took the opportunity to arrest all the leaders he could find. Lenin fled to Finland.
- Took 3 days to quell
12
Q
Who was Plehve?
A
- Minister of the Interior 1902-04
- Ruthlessly pursued revolutionaries and radicals.
- Secretly organised Jewish pogroms.
- Hated by all radicals.
12
Q
What was the change in the urban population between 1867 and 1917?
A
- Quadrupled from 7 million to 28 million.
- By 1914, more than 10% of the population were factory workers.
12
Q
What was the issue with offering improvements in living conditions for the working class?
A
Every change led to demands for more.
12
Q
How much rail did Russia have by 1914?
A
62,000km, the second most in the world.
13
Q
Describe the Kornilov Affair
A
- The Kornilov Affair on the 27th August 1917 was a coup d’état by the General of the Russian Army, Lavr Kornilov.
- He ordered 6 regiments of troops to march on Petrograd. It failed when Kerensky, who initially backed Kornilov, panicked. He released imprisoned Bolsheviks and provided the Soviet with weapons to halt the advance.
- Kornilov’s supply lines were cut and the coup leaders arrested
13
Q
What were some negatives about Nicolas II’s character?
A
- Not blessed with his father’s strength of character or intelligence.
- 5’7 compared to 6’4 father, not built to be an autocrat.
- Provided no support for govt, instead disrupted it when he meddled.
- Too mild-mannered and shy to lead his subordinates.
- Raging anti-semite, encouraged and enforced pogroms.
- Completely indecisive. Incapable of making firm decisions or providing any sense of direction.
- Easily manipulated
13
How did the Tsar deal with the liberals?
- The liberals tried to cooperate, through the Duma, with the Tsarist government but were frustrated with the lack of cooperation of the Tsar and his advisors.
- A number of Kadet leaders were arrested after the dissolution of the first Duma in 1906
- After dissolving the second Duma in 1907, the Tsarist government altered the franchise so that the electorate was reduced in size, favouring the right-leaning parties.
- The Tsar increasingly ignored and overruled the Dumas, resorting to emergency powers to pass the laws he wanted.
- THERE WAS LITTLE SEMBLANCE OF A CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY BY 1914.
13
What were the long-term reasons for the Tsar agreeing to the October Manifesto?
- Russia had modernised economically but autocracy had not kept pace and failed to adapt to an evolving Russia.
- Discontent amongst the urban workers living/working in subhuman conditions.
- Discontent among the peasants: high taxation, low living standards, redemption payments, land issues.
- Discontent from minorities - Russification
- Resentment from m/c over Russia's backwardness and lack of power sharing.
13
Did the middle class support or oppose the regime?
The lack of an elected national assembly, at any rate until 1906, often made them opponents of the regime.
13
Why did support for the Tsar decrease in the liberals?
- The liberals were the dissatisfied nobility who actually
formed opposition parties against the Tsar.
- They mainly wanted more political influence and a democratic parliament.
- The introduction of the Duma in 1906 seemed like a great leap in the right direction but the consequent fundamental laws restricted its power.
- Overall therefore the Nobility had lost faith in the Tsar
and were frustrated by their lack of power.
13
When were most of the liberals largely won over by the Tsar?
- The majority of liberals were won over by the October Manifesto in 1905, but many were angered again after the 1906 Fundamental Laws.
13
When and who was assassinated in February 1905?
4th Feb - Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich, Nicolas' Uncle and governor-general of Moscow
14
How much did membership for the Bolsheviks rise by in 1917?
Membership of the Bolsehevik party had risen from 24,000 members in February 1917 to 200,000 members by September 1917.
14
What happened in 1913 which proved the strength of autocracy at the time?
- Millions came out onto the streets of St Petersburg, Moscow and other cities on the 300th anniversary (tercentenary) of the Romanov dynasty.
14
What did the 'Emancipation of Labour' Marxist association do?
- Smuggled Marxist literature into Russia, encouraging urban workers to collaborate with the bourgeoisie in order to overthrow Tsardom.
- First Russian Marxist group.
14
What were the successes of agricultural legislation?
- Peasant ownership of land increased from 20% in 1905 to nearly 50% in 1915.
- Grain production rose annually, and by 1909, Russia was the world's largest cereal exporter.
- Some peasants, the kulaks, consolidated their land, often 'buying out' poorer peasants to create more efficient and profitable farms.
- Some peasants sold out and moved to the towns to find work, so boosting the industrial labour supply.
15
How was Tsarist authority recovered after the 1905 'revolution'?
- Most of the army remained loyal and helped to storm the HQ's of the Moscow and St Petersburg Soviets in Nov/Dec 1905.
- Most of the leaders of the Soviets were arrested, executed or sent to Siberia.
- Troops restored order in the countryside and the government proposed an end to redemption payments.
- The October Manifesto split the opposition between radicals and liberals.
16
What did the October Manifesto promise?
- Civil liberties, such as freedom of speech, conscience, press and assembly for all.
- A State Duma, elected by universal suffrage, to pass laws.
- Although it promised constitutional reform, Nicolas had no real intentions of becoming a constitutional monarch.
17
What were the immediate triggers for Nicolas agreeing to the October Manifesto? (long don't learn all)
- Rejection of the Tsarist proposal for a restricted Duma by a conference of Zemstva conservatives in September.
- The Government's inability to exert order and repress the various opposition movements - such as the Petrograd Soviet who coordinated activities in other cities, or the widespread disorder in the countryside.
- The October General Strike brought Russia to an economic standstill - included workers and employees, even some in the treasury and state bank went on strike.
- Mutinies in the army meant that the Tsar had too few troops to repress disorder and run essential services.
- Sergei Witte saw it as the only way of preserving Tsardom and preventing 'sweeping away a thousand years of history'.
18
List some key battles in the Russo-Japanese war.
- Russia surrendered the naval base at Port Arthur on 5th January 1905.
- 20 February – 10 March 1905 - Russian forces defeated at Mukden, with 90,000 Russians killed/wounded.
- After 7 months of sailing to Japan, 24/27 ships of the Baltic fleet were sunk in the battle of Tsushima on 27–28 May 1905 - in just 90 minutes.
19
What were the main priorities of the liberal opposition?
- Civil rights and a State Duma which had the power to initiate and pass laws.
20
When and why was the idea of rural socialism revived?
- The famine of 1891-92
21
What was the issue with peasant grain production?
- Grain output per acre was less than a third of that of Britain or Germany, yet peasants were driven hard to produce a surplus for export and paid high taxes, contributing to famine and poor living conditions.
22
Describe the events in Odessa in 1905
14th-24th June - Naval Mutiny of the Battleship Potemkin. In Odessa, the authorities tried to disperse sympathetic crowds, killing more than 2000.
23
What was the condition of agriculture before 1905?
Small and inefficient.
24
When and where did a strike occur in January 1905?
3rd Jan - Outbreak of a strike at the Putilov works in St Petersburg, involving 150,000 workers.
25
Who drew up the October Manifesto and what was his aim?
Sergei Witte. He aimed to isolate the left by pacifying the liberals.
26
What is important to remember about Bloody Sunday?
It was a symptom of the conditions in Russia, not a cause of them.
27
What was the conditions of the nobility in 1914?
- Although about a third of nobles' land was transferred to peasants and town dwellers between 1861 and 1914, the majority of the nobles retained their landed wealth and were relied upon to fill the top positions in government.
28
What union was created in March 1905?
An 'All-Russian Union of Railway Workers'.
Soviets of elected factory workers were also formed to coordinate strikes.
29
What were some errors the Tsar made that lead to the failure of WW1?
- When he went to the Front in 1915 the Tsar left his wife, Alexandra, in charge of the Government. She
was German, so people suspected her of sabotaging the war effort so Germany would win.
- It was widely thought that Alexandra and Rasputin were lovers - not true - and that Rasputin had a
great political influence although the Tsar was often 'bullied' by his wife into doing things.
- By 1916 there was a clear feeling that the Government under the Tsar could not win the war. Nicholas
II was managing to alienate moderates as well as revolutionaries.
- At this stage the revolutionaries still had very little support - they were still tiny, minority parties pursued by the Okhrana and with very little influence.
30
When did the Third Duma exist?
Nov 1907 - June 1912
31
What were some military factors that lead to the failure of WW1?
- There were real difficulties in supplying the troops in the front line. There was a severe shortage of ammunition. Transport was a nightmare, as Russia's roads were so poor and the railways just could not cope.
- Russia's Generals had been promoted on seniority, and loyalty to the Tsar, rather than on their understanding of modern warfare. Many were old and had not learnt the lessons of the Russo-Japanese war of 1904-5.
- In 1915, when the Tsar assumed control of the army, things became even worse. He was no better at military planning than his generals.
- Constant defeats drained the loyalty of the troops - by 1917 desertions were high.
32
When was peace agreed and what were the arrangements in the Russo-Japanese war?
23rd August 1905
- Russia recognised Japan's sphere of influence and and surrendered the lease of Port Arthur to Japan.
32
What and when were The Fundamental Laws?
- Issued in April 1906, it was 124 point de facto constitution.
32
What were some positives about Nicolas II's character for being a Tsar?
- Had a strong sense of his duty and upheld the principles of autocracy.
- Excellent manners, had a good memory and could speak several languages
- Never had a string of affairs.
- Strongly religious so had the backing of the Orthodox Church.
- Listened to and was aware of lots of different views (but led to indecisiveness).
32
What were the first things the PG did?
- The new Government wanted to create a feeling of national unity. It immediately released all political
prisoners, removed censorship, allowed religious freedom, abolished the Tsar's police and secret police
forces, set up local council elections where everyone could vote.
- It set about making preparations for the election of a Constituent Assembly. It also tried to maintain military discipline.
33
How many SR's were executed?
Over 2000
33
What was the rural violence from 1903-1904 called?
The Years of the Red Cockerel.
- Attacked officials, set fire to barns, seized woodland and pasture, set fire to official documents.
34
How many political assassinations did the SR's carry out, including an example?
- The SR's carried out out 2000 political assassinations between 1901 and 1905.
- In 1911 they assassinated Peter Stolypin.
35
How did peasant living standards vary from region to region?
- There was much prosperous, commercial farming in Ukraine and the Baltic provinces, whereas backward farming techniques dominated in the noble-dominated areas of central Russia.
- These latter areas were to provide much of the Bolsheviks strongest support
35
What did the PG do about the war?
- The Provisional Government decided the only honourable thing to do was to continue the war, until
the Germans were driven out of Russia.
- They even launched the Kerensky Offensive in June 1917. This made them unpopular as people became increasingly anti-war.
35
What were the failures of the agricultural legislation?
- By 1914, only 10% of land had been transferred from communal to private ownership.
- By 1914, 90% of peasant holdings were still based on scattered strips. Peasants were still reluctant to change farming methods.
- The poorer peasants lost their land and became migrants looking for employment in towns.
- Stolypin's reforms did not address the key issue - the redistribution of land by the nobility, who retained 50% of their land, and land hunger remained.
35
When was the Social Democratic Workers Party (SD's) founded?
1898
36
What was an example of a liberal group in Russia before 1914? What did they wish for? How many banquets did they hold in winter 1904?
- Frustrated liberals formed 'Beseda' in 1899, which merged with the Union of Liberation (founded by Peter Struve) in 1903.
- They wished to see the Tsarist regime develop into a constitutional monarchy.
- Fifty banquets, attended by the liberal elite, were held in Winter 1904 to spread the Union's message.
36
What did the petition of Father Gapon's TU ask for?
Food
Better working/living conditions
A constituent assembly which represented workers.
36
What did Alexander refer to Nicolas as?
'girlie'
36
How did the Russo-Japanese war begin?
In January 1904, Japan attacked the Russian naval base at Port Arthur in China. Plehve called for a 'short, swift...'
37
What was Soviet Order Number One and when was it issued?
Soviet Order Number One, issued on 1st March, focused on the military. Each unit ran by an elected committee, and sent representatives to the Soviet. Weapons were not to be under the control of Officers, and orders from the Soviet were to take priority over orders from the Provisional Government.
38
When did the SD party split and what did it split into?
- After the second party congress in 1903, the SD's split into Bolsheviks (majority, led by Lenin) and Mensheviks (minority, led by Martov).
38
What agricultural changes were made whilst Stolypin was Prime MInister and Minister of the Interior?
- The mir system and collective ownership of land by families was abolished in November 1906.
- As promised in 1905, redemption payments were abolished in January 1907 and peasants became free to leave their villages.
- Peasants could apply for permission to consolidate scattered strips into single farms.
- Peasants Land Bank was extended to make it easier for peasants to set up their own farms.
39
What was the result of Zubatov's setting up of Trade Unions?
- Many in govt and the business community thought unions would politicise workers and damage the economy.
- In 1903, a strike organised by police unions in Odessa escalated into a general strike, so Zubatov was dismissed and unions were disbanded.
- Workers were given a taste of what could be, so pushed harder for trade unions after.
40
What were the features of the Third Duma?
- Stolypin introduced an emergency law to reduce the representation of peasants and workers.
- Consequently, Octobrists and Conservatives dominated and the Duma was more compliant.
- However, there were still some disputes with the Tsar and it was twice suspended.
41
What is Plehve's quote?
' A short, swift victorious war to stem the tide of revolution'
- distract attention from political unrest at home.
42
When and how was the Peasants Union formed?
August 1905 - Peasants rioted and a 'Peasants Union was formed.
43
What was the impact of the October Manifesto?
- Most liberals, such as the 'Kadets', Progressives and Octobrists, accepted the Manifesto.
- The SR's and the SD's rejected it. This meant that opposition was split.
- Many workers were unconvinced by the Tsar's promises and continued to support the SR's and the SD's.
- Peasant risings continued, especially with the hope of land redistribution.
43
On what day did Tsar Nicholas II abdicate?
2nd March 1917 - He abdicated for himself and his son, naming Grand Duke Michael as the new Tsar, who refused, leaving the PG to take charge.
44
When was Bloody Sunday?
9th January 1905
45
When did the Fourth Duma exist?
- Nov 1912 - 1917
46
When did Nicolas II become Tsar?
September 1894, aged 26.
47
What was Peter Struve's quote after the October Manifesto?
- Peter Struve, a liberal, said 'Thank God for the Tsar who has saved us from the people'.
- Demonstrates opposition split.
48
How did the middle class grow during Nicolas' reign?
- Factory and workshop owners, managers, traders and professionals became more prominent in society and many played a major role in the Zemstva.
49
Who made up the majority of the liberal opposition before 1914?
- The new middle class spawned from the industrial and educational expansion.
- e.g. lawyers, teachers, engineers and other professional groups.
- Joined politically by the more liberal members of the nobility.
50
Why did support for the Tsar decrease in the peasantry?
The image of the Tsar as the “little father” ended when he ordered his troops to open fire on the crowds in 1905.
- However it was the war which really turned the peasants against the Tsar. The war caused great economic hardships for the farming peasants but there was very little they could do to change the system of government in terms of their geographical and social position.
- It was the peasants fighting on the front line who had real power. If the Tsar’s army turned against him then he had no power to crush an uprising.
51
List policies used from 1894 to prove that industrial growth was largely state-managed.
- Interest rates were raised to encourage foreign loans.
- A new rouble, backed by the value of gold, was issued in 1897 to raise business confidence.
- Foreign capital was raised to fund the development of railways, electricity plants, mining and oilfields.
- Heavy industry was prioritised over lighter industry.
52
What is the main conclusion about working class discontent and radical opposition before 1914?
- The government still feared opposition, especially from the trade unions, many of which were closed down.
- The government failed to pacify working-class discontent BUT THE TSARIST AUTOCRACY WAS NOT IN GRAVE DANGER BEFORE 1914.
53
When did the Second Duma exist?
Feb-June 1907
54
What caused industrial militancy in the years 1910 to 1913?
- Real wages declined due to high inflation and an employers' squeeze on wages in the face of growing world competition.
- Unsurprisingly, there were many strikes in this period (see c79).
55
On what dates did the Bolsheviks seize power and how?
On 24/25 October the Bolsheviks seized power by driving the Provisional Government out of the Winter Palace.
56
What is the quote about how prepared Nicolas thought he was to be Tsar after his father's' death?
“What is going to happen to me and all of Russia? I am not prepared to be a Tsar. I never wanted to become one. I know nothing of the business of ruling.”
57
What was the issue Russia had with industrialisation?
- The cost of industrialisation was high and Russia became dependent on foreign investment, which increased nearly tenfold from 1880 and 1900.
58
List some improvements in working-class conditions before 1914.
- Improvements in the provision of education and in social welfare ->>>>
- 1885 night time work for women and children banned.
- 1897 working hours reduced to 11.5 hours per day.
- 1903 factory inspectorate expanded
- 1905 TU's legalised.
- 1914 normal factory hours reduced to 10 hours per day.
59
Why were urban working and living conditions so bad?
- There was limited regulation in the workplace, allowing employers to pay almost unlivable wages which failed to keep pace with inflation.
- An industrial depression from 1900 to 1908 hit workers hard.
- Unions and strikes were officially banned before 1904/5.
60
What were some examples of liberal critics?
- Liberal intellectuals such as Leo Tolstoy helped popularise the need for political change.
- Even Zubatov, head of the Moscow Okhrana, favoured liberalisation and was given permission to legalise TU's in 1900, but his experiment was abandoned in 1903.
61
What were the consequences of the Russo-Japanese War for Russia?
- Initial surge of anti-Japanese patriotism turned into opposition against the government and govt officials (e.g. assassination of Plehve met with indifference.
- Humiliation and a suffering of decreased international reputation.
- Renewed demands by Zemstva for a national assembly
- Economic difficulties, including food and fuel shortages, inflation and mass unemployment.
- 1905 'revolution'
62
Where did Russia rank on the league table of industrial powers?
5th
63
How many people died on Bloody Sunday?
- official - 230 killed, 450 wounded
- unofficial - almost 4000 killed
64
Why is the language used in the October Manifesto significant?
- 'to extend' 'in the future' 'the principle of universal franchise'
- Purposefully vague, simply buying time.
65
What did the PG do about land?
- The Provisional Government was reluctant to tackle the Land Question. Many of its members and
supporters were landowners, and it did not want to alienate them.
- It also felt only a fully elected government would have the authority to carry out a successful land reform. Of course this quickly alienated the peasants.
66
Why did the radical opposition have no clear leader after 1905?
- Leon Trotsky, Chairman of the St Petersburg Soviet, was exiled to Siberia.
- Lenin, who only returned from exile in November, fled to Finland in December.
67
What did the Socialist Revolutionary Party (SR's) believe in?
- It combined Marxism with the Populist belief in land redistribution.
- The party journal 'Revolutionary Russia' called on both peasants and urban workers to challenge autocracy.
68
At what rate did the Russian economy grow between 1892 and 1914?
- 8%
69
What were the short-term reasons for Nicolas agreeing to the October Manifesto?
- Humiliation and economic disruption of Russo-Japanese War
- Hardship and food shortages caused by economic slump and poor harvests in 03-04
- Bloody Sunday and Tsar's reaction
- Pressure from political groups and an increasingly assertive Zemstva.
- Real wages fell by 20% in 1905.
70
Why did Russia go to war with Japan?
Both Russia and Japan wanted to expand into the Chinese Empire. Because...
- Russia wanted coastlines and ports
- Trade -> commercial opportunities in the Far East.
Also - war would engender patriotism after economic depression of early 1900's and 'the years of the red cockerel'. 'Stem the...'
- Nicolas saw the Japanese as 'yellow peril' and wanted to save Port Arthur from their clutches.
- In 1895, China granted a 25 year lease of the Liaodong Peninsula so that they could extend the Trans-Siberian Railway to Port Arthur.
71
When was the Socialist Revolutionary Party (SR's) founded
1901
72
What ministerial change did the Tsar do in 1903 and why?
- The Tsar, who was easily influenced Dismissed his most competent advisor, Sergei Witte, leaving himself surrounded by reactionary ministers.
73
What was the Lena Goldfields Massacre?
- In 1912, the miners at the Lena Goldfields went on strike.
- They worked long hours for poor pay in a harsh climate and demanded better pay and working conditions.
- 270 workers were killed when the army intervened.
74
What rights did the Tsar claim in the Fundamental Laws?
- Exercise 'supreme autocratic power'
- Initiate legislation and approve laws.
- Appoint and dismiss ministers.
- Summon and dissolve the Duma at any point (Article 87)
- Rule by decree in an emergency or when the Duma was not in session.
75
What were some economic factors that lead to the failure of WW1?
- The call up of millions of peasants, and horses, made farming much more difficult.
- Inflation affected living standards. To help pay for the war the Government printed more money and
raised taxes. Wages went up, but prices went up much faster.
- There was an increase in the number of strikes and demonstrations as people felt they were suffering
too much during the war.
- The winter of 1916-7 was especially harsh, making the shortage of fuel even more critical.
76
What was the difference between the first 2 Dumas and the last 2?
The first 2 Dumas featured strong opposition to the Tsar and were quickly dissolved.
The next 2 were more flexible as a result of changes to the voting system.
77
Name 2 major WW1 battles in 1914
August 1914 - Battle of Tannenberg - Lost an army of over 100,000 men
September 1914 - Battle of the Masurian Lakes.
78
When did Nicolas promise to concede the October Manifesto and why then?
17th October - By October, Russia seemed near to collapse. There were strikes and demonstrations in the cities and peasant uprisings in the countryside. The St Petersburg Soviet was set-up to organise a general strike, which began in October. Under, increasing pressure from his advisors, the Tsar issued a decree which promised (c32).
79
Was October a revolution of the masses?
The October revolution was nothing more than a military coup by a highly organised and well motivated armed minority.
80
What were the features of the Fourth Duma?
-The right and left-wing deputies could not cooperate and the fourth Duma was increasingly ignored.
- It voted for war credits in 1914, but was suspended in 1915 after demanding more power.
81
What were the features of the First Duma?
- It was dominated by Kadets and radicals, with many peasant representatives.
- It demanded radical constitutional change.
- It passed a vote of 'no confidence' in the government and was dissolved.
82
When did Lenin produce a pamphlet and what was it called?
- 'What is to be done' published in 1902
83
Who was Stolypin and what did he believe about agriculture
- Minister of the Interior and PM 06-11
- Believed that a radical reform of agriculture was required to prevent further peasant unrest.
- He wanted to increase individual peasant ownership so as to create a class of profit-orientated farmers (kulaks), who could improve agriculture and support the regime.
84
Who was Zubatov, what did he do and why did he do it?
- Head of the Moscow Okhrana
- Believed working class militancy couldn't be combatted be repression alone.
- Workers had to be convinced that their lives could be improved within the existing system.
- Set up Trade Unions in 1901, which spread rapidly across South and West of the Empire. They were supervised and partially funded by police.
85
Why did support for the Tsar decrease in the industrial classes?
– The working class became radicalised in favour of change (economic) due to their terrible living and working conditions and the fact that they all lived in
close proximity and so could see their shared grievances.
- The war meant a lack of labourers and the closure of
non-essential industry and so both classes were angry
with the regime.
86
What was Nicolas I determined to do when he came to power?
Fulfil his God-given duty and rule 'as his father had done'.
87
How many Dumas were held between 1906 and 1914?
4
88
What was the Provincial Government and when was it announced?
On 2nd March the new Provisional Government was announced. It was made up of Liberals from the
Duma. It was seen as a temporary measure until elections could be held to form a new, more
representative, government - not an easy thing to do in the middle of a war.
89
Who was Georgi Plekhanov
- Leader of Black Repartition (79-81), short-lived revolutionary organisation split from Land and LIberty.
- Established the first Russian Marxist association the 'Emancipation of Labour' in 1883.
90
What did Father Gapon do in 1904?
- Formed an 'officially' approved trade union in 1904, called 'The Assembly'.
91
What did Witte believe was essential to curb revolutionary unrest.
- Economic modernisation and industrialisation.
92
What was the advantage of railway development?
- Stimulated heavy industries, reduced transport costs for manufacturers and provided government revenue.
93
When did Marxist ideas gain popularity?
- When industrialisation increased and the urban working class grew in size.
94
What conditions did the working class live in?
- Most suffered appalling working and living conditions and mortality rates were high.
- Some rented rooms in overcrowded blocks whilst others were housed in barrack-style factory accomodation where ate in communal canteens and shared bath houses.
The least fortunate slept alongside their machines in the factories.
- Around 40% of the rented houses in StPt had no running water and sewage was collected in handcarts.
95
What contributed to the social change before 1914?
- Industrialisation
- A new middle class and urban working class had emerged.
96
What was the Union of Unions?
- Founded in May 1905, an umbrella organisation made up of professional bodies as well as the working class.
- Problem for the Tsar - more effective as a group.
96
When did the First Duma exist?
May-July 1906
97
When and how did a General Strike occur in 1905?
- 23rd September Moscow printers strike spreads to St Petersburg and other cities, creating a General Strike in October.
98
When did a general strike break out in StPtin 1914?
- July 1914, but ended just before war began (Aug1st).
99
List some cultural changes in the years 1894-1914.
Including: Church, women, education, literature, censorship
- The Orthodox Church had less hold over the growing working class in the cities, for many of whom socialist ideas had more appeal.
- Economic development brought new opportunities for women as education provision was expanded.
- By 1914, 45% of 8-11 year-old children were in primary school.
- By 1914, an increasing number of books were being published and the popular press flourished after censorship was ended in 1905.
- Cheap editions of the novels of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky were produced for the newly literate.
- By 1914, Russian culture had expanded and embraced more than the elite.
- However, millions remained highly respectful to the autocracy and the Church, e.g. tercentenary (c88).
100
Describe Bloody Sunday
Gapon organised a peaceful march (20,000) to the Winter Palace, carrying a petition (see c24) for the Tsar. They were non-violent, but were still fired on by armed police and mounted cossacks.
101
How many ministers did the Tsarina appoint in her 17 month period in leadership, and what does this show?
- 4 PMs, 5 MOI, 3 FM, 4WM
- Chronic government instability
