Russian Revolution Background - Key Terms

Alexander II

Archconservative Tsar of Russia, Vladimir Lennin’s brother was executed in 1887 for plotting to kill him, reformer who abolished serfdom in 1861, takes over during the Crimean war and modernizes Russia so they don’t get destroyed by the west.

Zemstvo

Established in 1864, local representative govt., manages local issues and concerns, members elected by a 3 class system of towns people, peasant villagers and noble landowners, established by Alexander II.

“People’s Will”

small anarchist group that assassinated the tsar which ended the reform era in Russia.

Alexander III

New Tsar after Alexander II, was a reactionary, old fashioned, stops all means of reform (Russia still continues to industrialize), rules according to 3 principles (autocracy, orthodoxy, nationality/russification). Sought economic modernization and industrialization, Russification.

Sergei Witte

led the economic modernization and industrialization in Russia during Alexander III’s reign, finance minister from 1892-1903, doubled govt. network of state-owned railways (35,000 miles), established high protective tariffs, put country on gold standard, helped influence the October Manifesto.

Nicholas II

last czar of the Romanov dynasty who rules until his abdication in 1917, focuses on expanding Russia’s sphere of influence around the globe, replaced Alexander III, and ignored diplomatic protests and suffered a Japanese attack, lost the Russo-Japanese war.

Bloody Sunday

a massacre of peaceful protesters at the Winter Palance in St. Petersburg in 1905, triggered a revolution which forces Nicholas II to compromise and establish a Duma therefore creating a (conservative) constitutional monarchy.

October Manifesto

Nicholas II’s compromise as a result of the revolution in October in 1905 in response to Bloody Sunday, grants civil rights to all citizens and establishes a Duma, issued under influence of Sergei Witte,

Duma

The Russian parliament that opened in 1906, elected indirectly by universal male suffrage but controlled after 1907 by the czar and the conservative classes.

Fundamental Laws

the formal Russian constitution issued in 1906 which establishes the Duma, but still allowed the czar to have an absolute veto and have the ability to appoint his own ministers. Confirmed October manifesto but also asserted czar’s power over Duma (right to rule independently of Duma when not in session, right to dissolve the Duma at any point, and power to change the electoral system.)