Causes and Outcomes of the Russian Revolution 1905-1917

Tsar Nicholas II

Autocratic ruler of Russia, resisted reforms.

Russification

Policy enforcing Russian language and Orthodox Christianity.

Social Hierarchy

Peasants dominated, nobility lacked power.

Emancipation of Serfs

1861 policy freeing serfs, limited impact.

Sergei Witte

Statesman advocating foreign loans for development.

Trans-Siberian Railroad

Major railway project doubling length under Witte.

Socialist Revolutionaries

Radical group seeking wealth redistribution in Russia.

Social Democratic Labor Party

Opposition group inspired by Karl Marx's ideas.

Bolsheviks

Lenin-led faction advocating centralized revolutionary leadership.

Mensheviks

Trotsky-led faction favoring broader revolutionary participation.

Russo-Japanese War

Conflict exposing Russian military weaknesses against Japan.

Battle of Tsushima

Decisive naval defeat for Russia in May 1905.

Bloody Sunday

1905 protest leading to violent repression by army.

1905 Revolution

Political unrest following Bloody Sunday events.

Soviets

Workers' councils organizing strikes during 1905 Revolution.

October Manifesto 1905

Document promising civil liberties and Duma formation.

Duma

Elected assembly with limited powers under Tsar.

Fundamental Laws 1906

Laws asserting Tsar's supreme authority over Duma.

Okhrana

Secret police targeting political dissenters.

First Duma

1906 assembly dismissed by Nicholas II.

Second Duma

1907 assembly faced land reform disagreements.

Economic Structure

Undeveloped agriculture and corrupt tax system.

Political System

Tsar held absolute power without parliamentary limits.

Nationalist Unrest

Discontent among non-Russian ethnic groups due to Russification.

Peasant Revolts

Peasants attacked aristocracy during 1905 unrest.

Political Violence

Opposition often resorted to violence against the Tsar.

Foreign Loans

Witte's strategy to fund industrial growth.

High Interest Rates

Witte's method to attract foreign investment.

Duma

Legislative body in Russia, became an open forum.

Nicholas II

Dismissed Duma, sought alliances with Britain, France.

Pyotr Stolypin

Prime Minister from 1906, focused on agricultural reform.

Stolypin's Reforms

Combined peasant farms to boost productivity.

Peasant Uprisings

Suppressed brutally by Stolypin to maintain order.

Agricultural Output

Increased by 14% under Stolypin's policies.

Third Duma

Operated from 1907 to 1912, included landowners.

Fourth Duma

Lasted from 1912 to 1914, faced political divisions.

World War I

Triggered dismissal of the Fourth Duma in 1914.

Land Reform Policy

Developed during the Third Duma for agricultural improvement.

Military Reorganization

Implemented during Third Duma for military efficiency.

Workers Insurance

Policy created in the Third Duma for worker protection.

Serbia

Nation Russia aimed to protect during WWI.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand

His assassination triggered WWI in 1914.

Austria-Hungary

Declared war on Serbia, starting WWI.

Germany

Austria-Hungary's ally, feared by Russia.

Russo-Japanese War

Russia's defeat led to military improvements.

Russian Army Size

Larger than Germany's in 1914.

Two Fronts

Germany fought on both Western and Eastern fronts.

Cavalry

Inefficient Russian military unit against modern warfare.

Battle of Tannenberg

1914 defeat showing German military superiority.

Military Intelligence

Germany intercepted Russian communications during WWI.

Russian Casualties

70,000 killed and 92,000 captured at Tannenberg.

Railway Prioritization

Military needs disrupted civilian supply transport.

Inflation

Result of Russia printing more money during war.

Duma

Russian legislative body, recalled in July 1915.

Progressive Bloc

Duma group advocating for civil liberties.

Tsar Nicholas II

Took command of military despite lacking skills.

Power Vacuum

Created by Nicholas's absence from court.

Grigori Rasputin

Tsarina's advisor, distrusted by the public.

February Revolution

Workers' strikes led to Nicholas's abdication.

Abdication Date

March 2, 1917, Nicholas stepped down.

Provisional Government

Formed after Nicholas's abdication, led by Duma.

George Lvov

First prime minister of the provisional government.

Alexander Kerensky

Second prime minister, leader of Social Revolutionary Party.

Petrograd Soviet

Claimed to represent workers' and soldiers' rights.

Reforms

Included political amnesty and voting rights.

Dual Authority

Shared power between provisional government and soviet.

Lenin's Regime

Bolshevik government established after provisional government fall.

Council of People's Commissars

Main governing body led by Lenin.

Peace, Land and Bread

Bolshevik slogan representing key policies.

Decree on Land

Law for land transfer to peasants.

Decree on Peace

Withdrawal from war without indemnities.

Decree on Workers

Empowered workers to manage factories.

Bolshevik Censorship

Suppression of opposition press and parties.

The Cheka

Secret police established to combat counter-revolution.

Red Terror

Violent campaign against perceived enemies of Bolsheviks.

Dissolution of the Assembly

Bolsheviks dismissed Constituent Assembly post-elections.

Treaty of Brest-Litvosk

1918 treaty ceding territory to Germany.

Czech Legion

Armed group sparking Russian Civil War.

Reds

Bolsheviks, supporters of Lenin's regime.

Whites

Counter-revolutionaries opposing Bolshevik rule.

Greens

Peasant resistance groups against Bolshevik policies.

Trotsky's Role

Negotiated peace with Germany as foreign minister.

Foreign Intervention

Allied support for White armies against Bolsheviks.

War Communism

Bolshevik policy of nationalizing industry and requisitioning grain.

New Economic Policy (NEP)

Post-war policy allowing limited market economy.

Lenin's Justification

NEP seen as necessary compromise for future progress.

Bolshevik Victory Reasons

Disorganization among Whites and strong Red unity.

Trotsky's Leadership

Led Red Army and recruited former tsarist officers.

Propaganda Use

Bolsheviks utilized media to gain public support.

Railway Control

Key advantage for rapid troop and supply movement.

Industrial Decline

Production fell 82% during War Communism.

Famine Causes

Peasants' subsistence farming led to food shortages.

Lenin's Strategy

Relaxed economy did not imply relaxed political control.

Civil War Outcome

Bolsheviks secured victory by 1920.

Provisional Government

Temporary government established after the tsar's fall.

Land Redistribution

Peasants demanded land from nobility and church.

Peasant Seizures

Peasants took land when government failed to act.

Bolsheviks

Political party led by Lenin, aimed for revolution.

Lenin's Return

Lenin's arrival in Russia weakened the provisional government.

Revolutionary Legality

Bolsheviks recognized land seizures as legitimate.