Yr 11 MODERN HISTORY Prelims - The Decline and Fall of the Romanovs

How long did the Russian Empire exist?

196 years (1721-1917)

How many nationalities was the Empire comprised of?

23 - many resented Russian rule

What % of the Empired population was Russian?

40% of Russia's 132 million people

What were the population class percentages?

83% Peasants

10% Gentry (church leaders, land owners, Bureacrates)

4% Proletariat (industrial workers)

2% Bourgeoisie (Wealthy buisness people)

1% Ruling class (Tsar & his inner circle)

Who were Nicholas II's predecessors?

Alexander II (The Liberator) 1855 - 1881: liberated the serfs (state owned slaves) by abolishing serfdom. Was assassinated because of this,

Alexander III 1881 - 1894: Cut off outside western influences in order to save Russia and created anti-semetic polocies.

Russification

a form of cultural assimilation, either voluntary or state-imposed, in which non-Russians adopt Russian language and culture, often as a result of government policies to consolidate power, promote centralisation, and increase Russian political and cultural dominance.

What were Russia's relations with foreign powers like?

Russia had territory that exteneded across into Asia. It didn't have a good relationship with Japan because of the fighting over Manchuria.

France was Russia's main ally, and they both were in the Triple Entente in WW1

Serbia and Russia were also close allies, and Austria-Hungary was concerned that Russia might try and absorb Serbia and the Balkans, which was highly contested between A-H and Serbia.

Nicholas II

Ruled from 1894 - 1917.

Did not want to be Tsar at all.

Married a German princess named Alexandra and had five children together.

Only listened to advisors who told him what he wanted to hear.

Encouraged Russians to look to him as a father figure (nicknamed himself "The Little Father of Russia")

Nicholas's rule as an Autocrat

Believed he had unlimited power over the people. He declared the law and could overrule any existing laws.

Any form of resistance to Nicholas could be met with death, prison or exile.

Political parties illeagal until 1905 - no parliament until 1906

No constitution to limit the Tsar's power

Strict press censorship and heavy propaganda

The Okhrana

The Tsar's secret police who spied on and eliminated people who questioned or rebeled against the Tsar's authority

Industrial Revolution in Russia

There was a need for industrialisation because although Russia was on of the biggest powers in the world, it had fallen way behind all the other major nations. Working conditions were poor, taxes were hard, unions and strikes were illeagal. Discontent amoung the workers began to spark rebellion.

What % of the population was working the land?

80% before 1914 (WW1), though these workers often did not own this land and were not payed well.

What was one of the key industrialises in Russia?

The Trans-Siberian Railway. in 1896 there was 39.500 km of railway.

What were some key economic, political, and social greivences in Russia?

Economic: Wealth in the hands of the 1%, slow to industrialise, low wages

Political: Autocratic leader, no political representation, no constitution

Social: Low quality of life, social imbalance, industrilisation, Russification, industrialisation & urbinisation bringing the people together

Active political groups in Russia

Socailist Democratic Party (Marxist)

- Bolsheviks

- Mensheviks

Social Revolutionary Party

Russo-Japanese War

(1904-1905)

Fought between Russia and Japan over Manchuria

First time an Asian nation beat a European nation

A lot of money and military power invested by Russia

Estimated between 43,300 - 71,500 Russians dead

When, where and why did Bloody Sunday take place?

22/1/1905, a peaceful demonstration of over 100 000 workers and their families marched through St. Petersburg to deliver a partition to the Tsar at the Winter Palace about the grievances of the people. It was humble and loyal, appealing to their "Little Father" for help

Organised and led by Father Georgie Gapon.

What were the asks in the petition?

8 hour working days, better wages, better working conditions, free education, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, the right to form trade unions and strike, an end to censorship, and the creation of Dumas (national representative assembly)

What happened on Bloody Sunday?

When they arrived the Tsar was absent, and they were met by soldiers who opened fire on the peaceful crowd. In total about 200 people were killed and hundreds more wounded. This included women and children.

This event triggered the 1905 revolution.

The 1905 revolution

Civil unrest that followed the failed Russo-Japanese War and the massacre of Bloody Sunday. Forced Tsar Nicholas to issue the October Manifesto.

The October Manifesto

(1905), issued by Nich. II, attempted to quiet strikes, local revolts, promised freedom of speech and assembly, called the Duma into session. The Duma's meant that the Tsar could not make laws without their imput and greatly restricted his power.

The Fundamental Laws

Created in 1806, basically stripped the October manifesto of all that it had promised. It gave Nicholas the right to dissolve the Duma's whenever he pleased, and allowed him to create laws WITHOUT the permission of the Duma when it was not in session. Greatly conceded all the trust the Empire had gained in the Tsar.

How long did the Duma's last?

The first two Duma's only lasted less than 5 months before being dissolved by the Tsar. The two after that lasted a few years each as they had less radical members. The longest Duma lasted about 7 years before Nicholas's abdication.

Russia in WW1

Russia was involved in the Triple Entente and allies with Serbia, so they came to their aid by declaring war on Austria-Hungry, which made all the other powers come into the war.

Despite not having any prior miolitary knowledge, Nicholas declared himself "Commander in Cheif" of the Russian army and went to the front lines

Who was in charge of the Russian homefront in WW1 and why was this an issue?

Nicholas left his wife Alexandra in charge. She was German, and this was unfortunate because they were fighting Germany, so this did not curry favour with the public. Her main advisor (and suspected lover) Rasputin gave her "psychic advice" about the war that she would communicate to her husband and he would sometimes follow.

What was Russia's main problem on the homefront?

Because majority of the population (80%) was working the land as peasants before WW1 and then called away to fight during WW1, there was a shortage of food and workers.

What was Russia's main failure on the Eastern front?

The industrialisation of Russia was not fast enough to keep up with the demand of the modern warfare. Though Russia had one of the largest armies in the world, they were often untrained and unequipped when going in to battle. Of the estimated 7 million men fighting, only 5 million had rifles, leaving the rest to either die or wait for their comrads to die to get a rifle.

When and why did Nicholas abdicate?

He abdicated in March 1917 after unrest in Petrograd due to food shortages, strikes, and protests. The army refused to supress the protests, many soldiers joined in. He lost control of the captital and stepped down on behalf of himself and his son (Alexi).

What was the Provisional Government?

Created in March 1917, its purpose was to act as a temporary authority to maintain law and order and lead the country into a democracy. It aimed to reduce reforms for civil liberties and human rights. It gave back Polands independence and reinstated Finland's constitution.

Why did the Provisional Government fail?

It's main failure was it's decision to keep Russia in WW1. It was also forced to share power with the Petrograd Soviets, which left the leadership without a united front. It also failed to address key economic issues like land management and the economy in general.

What happened during the October revolution?

In Oct 1917, Bolshevik Party overthrew the Russian Provisional Government, seizing power in Petrograd by taking key buildings and storming the Winter Palace. Led by Bolshevik Red Guards, this planned insurrection dislodged the ineffectual government, arrested its ministers, and began the establishment of the world's first Soviet Socialist Republic, setting the stage for the Russian Civil War.

What happened to the Romanovs?

After his abdication, Nicholas II and his family were placed under house arrest, managed to establish good relations with the interim government and eventually fled the country during the October Revolution.

On July 17, 1918, Bolshevik authorities shot Nicholas II, his immediate family, and four servant members. The reason they were killed is because the new govenment didn't want them to escape and gain influence again, as there was some growing sympathy for the Tsar.