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Who was Stolypin?
Prime Minister of the Russian Empire (1906-1911). He attempted to restore order through policy of cautious reform and brutal repression.
What did Stolypin’s repression look like?
In August 1906, he declared a State of Emergency - suspended Fundamental Laws - allowed use of terror:
Official given right to imprison without trial.
Military given power to dispense justice - right to execute or exile rebels.
1906-1910, Stolypin’s court found 37,620 people guilty of political crimes - 8,640 sent to labour camps and 1,858 were resettled (often meant death).
Prison pop. 1905-1913 = 98,000-250,000.
Trains that carried people were called “Stolypin’s wagons” and the noose “Stolypin’s Necktie”
What was the repression of revolutionary parties like in 1906-07 and how did revolutionaries respond?
Widespread and brutal - main method was trial in military court. Revolutionaries responded by:
SRs continued their campaign of assassinations - 1,126 gov. officials in 1906.
Revolutionaries fled to Finland e.g. Lenin.
Who was Maksimilian Trusevich and what was his role in 1907-14?
Mid- 1907, Maksimilian Trusevich, head of Russian police, instituted a policy of surveillance and subversion - limit the number of executions and disrupt parties through infiltration.
Policies were highly effective - by 1908, the battle against revolutionaries was effectively won.
What were the polices failings?
Failed to stamp out revolutionary newspapers - Fundamental Laws effectively created free press - in 1912, Bols. founded Pravda and the Mens. founded Luch.
What were Stolypin’s land reforms designed to create?
A class of conservative landowning peasants - hoped that as peasants began to own land, they would protect their property, make profit and thus abandon revolutionary radicalism.
When were Stolypin’s land reforms promulgated and what did they do?
In 1906 Stolypin introduced economic reforms:
made it easier to break away from communes and establish independent farms.
encouraged the Peasant Land Bank to give more loans to peasants, in order to buy land and modern farming equipment.
incentives to move to harsh-conditions, but rich in minerals, Siberia with cheap land, interest-free loans and cheap rail travel.
What were the successes of his land reforms?
1905, 20% of peasants owned land, 1915, it was 50%.
Agricultural production increased from 45.9 mil tonnes in 1906 to 61.7 mil in 1913.
1906-14, 25% of peasants had left the mirs.
1906-13, 3.5 million peasants set up homes in Siberia.
80% of migrants to Siberia settled.
Use of fertilisers, machines, tools and crop rotation increased crop production.
What were the failures of the land reforms?
Majority of peasants who accepted Stolypin’s incentives were located in more prosperous areas of Russia - Southern Russia and Ukraine.
Land reforms had a limited impact in cities.
What was the Lena Goldfields Strike and what caused it?
Located in Siberia, striking workers demanded:
an eight hour day instead of eleven.
sick pay.
30% wage increase.
paid overtime.
better quality food and housing.
What was the Lena Goldfields Massacre and what was the aftermath?
Mine’s management asked the police and army to break up the strike - army opened fire on unarmed miners, leading to 172 deaths and similar number of injuries.
Massacre caused outrage. Russian press, Octoberists and Kadets condemned the massacre - led to more strikes - 1912-750,000 workers on strike, 1913-887,000 and 1914 Jan. to July 1,450,000.
