OCR A-Level History - Russia 1894-1941 (1894-1905)

Pobedonostev

Significant religious minister, Chief procurator of the Holy Synod. advocate of autocracy and greater freedoms were 'dangerous delusions'. was behind many of the pogroms.

Witte

Became Minister for Finance in 1892. In 1903 blamed for protests about the state of the economy. Placed Russia on the gold standard in 1897, and focussed on heavy industry as 'the great spurt' followed. Income from industry increased by 119 million roubles in 4 years of power.

Guchkov

Leader of Octobrist Party

Plehve

Much hated minister of the interior 1902-4

Stolypin

Ordered the speeding up of the trial system for rioters introducing field-court martials. quick trials and executions resulted from this. Aimed to use land redistribution to create educated, higher class peasants. 'Wager on the Strong' included the introduction of a land bank and consolidation of smallholdings. 2 million left communes meaning regions were short of labour.

Zemstva

Created to act as regional councils but were dominated by nobility and professionals. Poor attempt at democracy.

Russification

Policy aimed at assimilating the different nationalities in Russia to the pure 'Rus'. Anti-semitism formed a large part of this, Russian orthodox-church also key.

Bloody Sunday

Jan 1905, group of demonstrators marching with Father Gapon at the Winter Palace were shot by soldiers. Catalyst to revolution.

Duma

Elected parliament but only certain people could vote for representatives (restricted franchise). This was a condition of the Oct. Manifesto. However, first was dissolved in the first day and the Tsar remained the right to ignore the rulings of the ... under the 'Fundamental Laws'.

The October Manifesto

Tsar was advised by Witte to appease the protestors, and came up with an attempt to clarify the powers that a legislative assembly might have. It would abandon policies of Russification, elected representative of 51 provinces would make up a Duma and trade unions would be involved in policy making.

Strike/Unrest leading to 1905 rev.

peasant protests linked to bad harvest 1902; anti-war protests leading to the assassination of Plehve; start of Putilov engineering factory strike.