Tsarist regime Flashcards
(16 cards)
(a) Describe the main features of Tsarist rule over Russia at the beginning of the twentieth century. [4]
- ‘The Tsar had absolute power.’
- ‘It was an autocracy.’
- ‘The Tsar believed that God had placed him in that position. The Church supported him in this view.’
- ‘The Tsar could appoint or sack ministers as he pleased.’
- ‘There was no parliament.’
- ‘In local areas, land captains were appointed by the Tsar.’
- ‘The Tsar also appointed local governors from the aristocracy.’
- ‘The local governors controlled the police.’
- ‘The Tsar’s secret police was the Okhrana.’
- ‘The Tsar could rely on the Army’s support, especially the Cossacks.’
(a) Describe how Stolypin attempted to deal with Russia’s problems. [4]
Stolypin used a ‘stick and carrot’ approach to the problems.’
* ‘‘To reduce terrorism and revolutionary activity, he had thousands of revolutionaries executed, exiled or imprisoned.’.’
* ‘20 000 were exiled and over 1000 hanged.’
* ‘The noose came to be known as ‘Stolypin’s necktie’.
* ’ ‘Stolypin attempted to end the open field system.’
* ‘Stolypin allowed wealthier peasants, the kulaks, to buy more land.’
* ‘The kulaks were allowed to opt out of the mir communes.’ ‘This meant the kulaks could own bigger and more efficient farms.’
* ‘Credit was made available to improve agricultural land from the Peasant Land Bank.’
* ‘He insured urban workers against illness, accident and death of family members.’
* ‘He extended religious freedom to Jews.’ ‘He made education more widely available.’
* He introduced Russification where national groups, such as the Poles, were forced to speak Russian and accept Russian customs.’
* ‘In the countryside, he abolished the peasants annual payment for their freedom.’
* ‘He helped peasants buy land and set up farms. This restored loyalty to the Tsar. It provided more food for the cities.’ ‘
* In the cities he introduced health insurance schemes.’
* ‘In 1908 a programme was announced to bring about universal primary education within ten years.’
(a) What opposition to the rule of the Tsar existed in Russia at the beginning of the twentieth century? [4]
- ‘The Tsar was committed to the idea of autocracy.’
- ‘The Tsar, the Church and the nobles had privileged lives.’
- ‘The Tsar censored the press and banned political parties.’
- ‘The punishments of the Okhrana, his secret police, were cruel.’
- ‘The peasants wanted to own more land.’
- ‘The Tsar used force against demonstrating hungry peasants after poor harvests.’
- ‘Workers in the cities worked and lived in terrible conditions.’
- ‘The Tsar’s policy of ‘Russification’ offended many in the Russian Empire.’
- ‘There were political agitators such as Bolsheviks and Social Revolutionaries.’
- The growing middle classes, including industrialists, businessmen, bankers and lawyers, wanted greater democracy in Russia.
- ‘Revolutionary violence.’
- ‘Middle class liberals who wanted greater democracy.’
- ‘The Socialist Revolutionaries who wanted to take land of the nobility to give to the peasants.’
- ‘The Social Democrats, who were split into Bolsheviks and Mensheviks.’
- ‘The Bolsheviks believed in revolution.’
- ‘The Marxists who came from the emerging middle class. They believed capitalism would be
- replaced by communism.’
(a) Describe the reforms of Stolypin. [4]
- ‘Stolypin attempted to reform agriculture.’
- ‘Stolypin allowed wealthier peasants, the kulaks, to buy more land.’
- ‘He allowed the kulaks to leave the mir.’
- ‘This meant they could own more land and develop more efficient farms.’
- ‘The Peasant Land Bank was established to give loans to help develop
- farming.’
- ‘He came down hard on strikers, protesters and revolutionaries.’
- ‘20 000 were exiled and over 1000 hanged.’
- ‘The noose came to be known as ‘Stolypin’s necktie’.’
- ‘He used a ‘carrot and stick’ approach.’
- ‘He insured urban workers against illness, accident and death of family
- members.’
- ‘He extended religious freedom to Jews.’
(a) Describe how Stolypin attempted to deal with Russia’s problems. [4]
- ‘Stolypin used a ‘stick and carrot’ approach to the problems.’
- ‘He came down hard on strikers, protesters and revolutionaries.’
- ‘20 000 were exiled and over 1000 hanged.’
- ‘The noose came to be known as ‘Stolypin’s necktie’.
- ’ ‘Stolypin attempted to end the open field system.’
- ‘Stolypin allowed wealthier peasants, the kulaks, to buy more land.’
- ‘The kulaks were allowed to opt out of the mir communes.’ ‘This meant the kulaks could own bigger and more efficient farms.’
- ‘Credit was made available to improve agricultural land from the Peasant Land Bank.’
- ‘He insured urban workers against illness, accident and death of family members.’
- ‘He extended religious freedom to Jews.’ ‘He made education more widely available.’
(a) What happened on Bloody Sunday, January 1905? [4]
There was a mass demonstration in St. Petersburg.’
* ‘The marchers were led by Father Gapon and they intended to march to the Tsar’s Winter Palace.’
* ‘It was a peaceful demonstration with many women and children present. The demonstrators were unarmed.’
* ‘The crowd were attacked by soldiers and mounted Cossacks. Official figures showed that about 100 were killed, although others place it as high as 200. There were many injured.’
(a) What were the main features of Russian society before the First World War? [4]
- Russia was ruled by a Tsar.’
- ‘He was an autocrat, the absolute ruler of Russia.’
- ‘The Tsar was supported by the Russian Orthodox Church.’
- ‘The Tsar was supported by his secret police.’
- ‘The Tsar was also supported by the aristocracy.’
- ‘The aristocracy made up 1.5% of society but owned 25% of the land.’
- ‘As a result of industrialisation, a new middle class began to emerge.’
- ‘Up until then, the small middle class consisted of shopkeepers, lawyers and lecturers.’
- ‘Around 80% (a very large section) of the population were peasants.’
- ‘Most had one strip of land.’
- ‘Some peasants moved into the cities to become the industrial workers.’
- ‘Living and working conditions were usually appalling.’
(a) Describe how Tsar Nicholas II ruled Russia at the beginning of the twentieth century [4]
- The Tsar had absolute power.’
- ‘It was an autocracy.’
- ‘The Tsar believed that God had placed him in that position. The Church supported him in this view.’
- ‘The Tsar could appoint or sack ministers as he pleased.’
- ‘There was no parliament.’
- ‘In local areas, land captains were appointed by the Tsar.’
- ‘The Tsar also appointed local governors from the aristocracy.’
- ‘The local governors controlled the police.’
- ‘The Tsar’s secret police was the Okhrana.’
- ‘The Tsar could rely on the Army’s support, especially the Cossacks.’
(a) What happened on Bloody Sunday, January 1905? [4]
- There was a mass demonstration in St. Petersburg.’
- ‘The marchers were led by Father Gapon and they intended to march to the Tsar’s Winter Palace.’
- ‘It was a peaceful demonstration with many women and children present. The demonstrators were unarmed.’
- ‘The crowd were attacked by soldiers and mounted Cossacks. Official figures showed that about 100 were killed, although others place it as high as 200. There were many injured.’
- ‘Public outrage plunged Russia into full-scale revolt.’
(a) What was the impact of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05 on the people of Russia? [4]
- . ‘It was an embarrassing failure.’
- ‘Food and materials needed in the cities were transferred to the troops in the Far East.’
- ‘At the start, there were patriotic marches.’
- ‘Troops were taken from all over the country, resulting in little opposition.’
- ‘With news of military defeats, unrest spread throughout Russia.’
- ‘Food was scarce.’
- ‘There was starvation.’
- ‘There were many deaths of soldiers and sailors.’
- ‘There were serious riots in Warsaw, Riga and Baku.’
- ‘The Minister of the Interior, Plehve, was assassinated.’
- ‘The Union of Liberation organised anti-government meetings and demanded peace and the setting up of a parliament.’
- ‘The Tsar told the Union to mind their own business.’
- ‘The continuing defeats were an utter humiliation for Russia.’
- ‘Russians considered Japan a third-rate military power/much smaller power.’
- ‘Father Gapon’s Petition included an end to the war with Japan.’
- ‘The resulting march led to ‘Bloody Sunday’.’
- ‘There was unrest from all sections of society including political assassinations.’
- ‘The Tsar decided to grant a Duma through his October Manifesto.’
- ‘The war had been a catalyst for Bloody Sunday and the October Manifesto.’
(a) Describe Rasputin’s role in the Tsarist regime. [4]
He was a close adviser to the Tsar and the Tsarina.’
* ‘He was used to ‘cure’ their son of haemophilia.’
* ‘He had a leading role in running the country when the Tsar went to lead the troops.’
* ‘He advised on who should be in the government and even where troops should be sent.’
* ‘The Tsarina had complete faith in him.’
* ‘He was very unpopular and this helped to make the government unpopular.’
* ‘He advised the Tsarina who was running the country.’
* ‘He got the Tsarina to appoint his friends to top jobs in the government.’
(a) What problems faced the Tsar’s government at the beginning of the twentieth century? [4]
- ‘Russia was a vast empire.’
- ‘It was difficult to rule with 20 different nationalities.’
- ‘80% of the population were peasants.’
- ‘The peasants lived and worked in poor conditions.’
- ‘There were regular famines, and starvation was common.’
- ‘Russian peasants still used ancient farming techniques.’
- ‘There was resentment that the aristocracy, the Church and the Tsar owned most of the land.’
- ‘Industrial workers suffered wretched living conditions and atrocious working conditions.’
- ‘There were no government regulations on child labour, hours, safety or education.’
- ‘Opposition groups were growing and were a threat to the Tsar and the aristocracy.’
- ‘The rising middle classes wanted greater democracy in Russia.’
- ‘The Social Revolutionaries believed a revolution was an answer to the peoples’ troubles.’
- ‘Opposition groups wanted the end of the tsardom.’
- ‘They wanted the nobles’ estates handed over to the people.’
- ‘The Social Democratic Party regularly discussed the possibility of a revolution.’
- ‘There were increasing waves of strikes, demonstrations and protests causing unrest.’
(a) What part did religion play in the Tsarist autocracy? [4]
- ‘Much of the population belonged to the official Orthodox Church.’
- ‘The Orthodox Church was closely linked to the Tsar.’
- ‘The Church supported the way the Tsar ruled.’
- ‘It taught that the Tsar was the head of the country and head of the Church.’
- [2 marks]
- ‘He was considered God’s chosen representative on earth.’
- ‘The Church taught that it was a sin to oppose the will of the Tsar.’
- ‘Other churches did not recognise him as head of their church or religion.’
(a) Describe Kerensky’s reaction to the Kornilov Putsch. [4]
- ‘Kerensky dismissed Kornilov as Commander-in-Chief.’
- ‘Kerensky demanded the arrest of Kornilov.’
- ‘He panicked.’
- ‘He was unsure of the support of his army generals.’
- ‘Kerensky called upon the soviets and people of Petrograd to repulse Kornilov’s troops.’
- ‘Kerensky armed the Bolsheviks to fight Kornilov.’
- ‘He encouraged the Bolsheviks to dig trenches and fortify Petrograd.’
- ‘Kerensky worked with the soviets at railway stations to stop the movement of Kornilov’s troops by rail.’
(a) Describe Russia’s economic problems at the beginning of the twentieth century. [4]
- ‘It was mainly an agricultural country with little industry.’
- ‘Its industries were old fashioned and needed modernisation.’
- ‘Agriculture was outdated with no modern methods being used.’
- ‘Agriculture did not produce enough and there were famines.’
- ‘Investment was needed for industry to develop.’
- ‘More workers were needed if Russia was to industrialise.’
Timeline for Russia
1905 - Bloody Sunday
1914-18 - World War One
Feb 1917 - February Revolution
Oct 1917 - October Revolution
1918 - Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
1918-22. - Russian Civil War
1921 - New Economic Policy (Led by Lenin)
1924 - Lenin dies
1928 - First 5 year plan (Stalin)
1929 - Collectivisation and industrialisation
1933 - Second 5 year plan
1934 - Russia admitted - League of Nations
1934. - Murder of Kirov
1936 - Mass Purges begin (Stalin)
1938 - Third 5 year plan
1939 August Nazi-Soviet Pact
