Russian Revolution Flashcards

Flashcards about the Russian Revolution of 1905 and the events leading up to the Bolshevik Revolution.

Sergei Witte

Finance Minister of Russia from 1892-1903 who put the Russian currency on the gold standard, increased taxes, introduced tariffs, and relied heavily on foreign loans to modernize Russia.

Peasant Grievances

The desire of peasants for direct ownership of land, elimination of redemption payments, fairer tax systems, and the right to vote in Russia.

Russification

A policy pursued by the Russian regime that discriminated against non-Russian groups.

Russo-Japanese War

Territorial disputes over Korea and Manchuria.

Zemstva Meeting

A meeting of the village council in November in St. Petersburg which demanded a constitution.

Alexander Trepov's Reform

Granted universities autonomy, leading to a rise in protests from university students and lecturers in Russia.

St. Petersburg Soviet

An organization led by Trotsky that was established in St. Petersburg, but later broken up and its leader imprisoned.

October Manifesto

A published document by Nicholas II that seemed to agree to many of the protestors’ demands, such as freedom of press, speech, conscience, no arbitrary arrests, formation of political parties, and the establishment of a national assembly (Duma).

Fundamental Laws

Stated that the Tsar could veto any law, close the Duma, issue laws by decree if the Duma was not in session, and had total control over foreign policy

Peter Stolypin

Prime Minister in 1906 who issued a combination of repressions and concessions, executing ringleaders of the 1905 Revolution and eliminating redemption payments for peasants.

Kulaks

Superpeasants who would own large agricultural sites.

Lena Goldfields Massacre

Workers carried out a strike demanding a reduction of working hours, a 30% increase in wages, and better food, resulting in military troops sent in, leaving 270 dead and 250 wounded.

Schlieffen Plan

Germany would send most of its army west, defeat France in 6 weeks, and then tackle Russia.

Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff

Commanders of the German army who inflicted great defeats on Russia during WWI.

Nicholas II Blunder

Nicholas II assumed the role of commander-in-chief of the Russian army and appointed his wife Alexandra to resume his role causing the press promoted the idea that she was in league with the German government.

Inflation

In 1914, 98% of Russia’s bank notes were backed by gold and between 1914-1917, the state spend over 1.5 billion rubles on the war.

February 18 Protest

The first major protest of the February Revolution where Workers of Putilov Factory announced a strike to demand higher wages because of rising prices of food and goods.

Mutiny on March 11

Troops shot officers who commanded open fire and would shoot into the sky instead of at the protesting mob.

Dual Authority

Power was wielded between two institutions: The provisional government and Petrograd Soviet

First decree of the Petrograd Soviet

This document stated that orders from the provisional government would only be respected if the Soviet agrees with them.

Zimmerman Telegram

Said to their embassy in Mexico about making a military alliance between Germany and Mexico = if a third country goes for war, Mexico would invade the USA.

Lenin's theses

Condemned the provisional government as a “parliamentary bourgeouis republic” and called for the overthrow of the government , as well as all power to go to the Soviets.

June Offensive of 1917

This event led to a number of deaths, discrediting the government in the eyes of the Soviets and led to Prince Lvov resigning.

The July Days

A period of unrest in Petrograd, between 16-20 July 1917 characterised by spontaneous armed demonstrations by soldiers, sailors, and industrial workers.

The Kornilov Affair

Commander-in -Chief who travelled with soldiers to restore law and order in Petrograd and Kerensky turns to the Soviets to defend the city from them.

Trotsky's Position

He is chairman of the Petrograd Soviets and the chairman of the Military Revolutionary Committee, which includes soldiers.

Bolsheviks

All parties supported WW1 except this group which allowed Lenin to denounce them as traitors.

Bolshevik’s

The Bolshevik’s had radicalised anyway and were eager to follow Lenin’s example of ‘Peace! Bread! Land!’