Collapse of the Tsarist Regime (Russia, 1904-1917)

These flashcards review the major political, military, social, and personal factors that undermined Tsar Nicholas II’s authority and led to the fall of the Tsarist regime in 1917.

What territorial dispute triggered the Russo-Japanese War in 1904?

Control over Korea and Manchuria.

Which treaty ended the Russo-Japanese War and humiliated Russia?

The Treaty of Portsmouth (1905).

How did Russia’s defeat in the Russo-Japanese War affect public perception of Tsar Nicholas II?

It exposed the Tsar’s weakness and led many Russians to blame him for national humiliation, weakening his authority.

What event on 22 January 1905 saw soldiers fire on peaceful protestors at the Winter Palace?

Bloody Sunday.

Why were workers and peasants marching to the Winter Palace on Bloody Sunday?

To present a petition asking the Tsar for better living and working conditions.

How did Bloody Sunday contribute to the 1905 Revolution?

The massacre sparked nationwide strikes and unrest, forcing the Tsar to concede the creation of the Duma and weakening his autocratic power.

What legislative body did Tsar Nicholas II create after the 1905 Revolution to placate unrest?

The Duma (Russian parliament).

Which two major battles in 1914-1915 exemplified Russia’s heavy losses in World War I?

The Battles of Tannenberg and Masurian Lakes.

In what year did Tsar Nicholas II take personal command of the Russian army?

1915.

Why did Nicholas II’s decision to lead the army personally in WWI backfire politically?

As an autocrat he was held personally responsible for defeats, lowering morale and public confidence in his rule.

List two critical shortages Russian soldiers faced during WWI.

Lack of rifles/boots and inadequate food supplies.

How did WWI exacerbate food shortages in Russia?

Farm workers and horses were conscripted, reducing agricultural output and leaving cities and soldiers hungry.

Why was Tsarina Alexandra distrusted by many Russians during WWI?

Her aristocratic German background made her unpopular while Russia was at war with Germany.

Who was the mystical advisor whose influence over Tsarina Alexandra caused scandal?

Grigori Rasputin.

Give one example of how Tsarina Alexandra’s governance weakened the regime.

She appointed inexperienced and unqualified ministers, often under Rasputin’s influence, leading to political instability.

How did Rasputin gain influence over the royal family?

He appeared to alleviate Tsarevich Alexei’s hemophilia, gaining Alexandra’s trust.

What impact did Rasputin’s influence have on public perception of the monarchy?

It fueled rumors of corruption and moral decay, further eroding trust in the Tsarist regime.

What was one immediate military consequence of Russia’s poor leadership in WWI?

Low troop morale and increased desertions.

Which socio-economic group organized strikes and trade unions after Bloody Sunday?

Urban workers and peasants.

What major labor action in September 1905 demonstrated the regime’s weakening control?

A general strike that paralyzed St. Petersburg.

Explain the link between wartime hardships and revolutionary sentiment in 1917.

Food and fuel shortages, rising prices, and military defeats convinced soldiers and civilians that the Tsar was incompetent, prompting calls for revolution.

How did the humiliating defeat by Japan contrast with Russia’s status among European powers?

As a major European empire, being defeated by a smaller Asian nation shocked Russians and international observers, damaging prestige.

What key political weakness did all four factors (Russo-Japanese War, Bloody Sunday, WWI, Tsarina’s rule) expose?

The incompetence and autocratic rigidity of Tsar Nicholas II.

Why did many Russians view the Tsar as ‘uncaring and disconnected’ after Bloody Sunday?

He failed to meet protesters, and the army’s violence was attributed to his authority.

Summarize the primary reason WWI is considered the tipping point for the Tsarist collapse.

Military disasters and home-front hardships directly tied to Nicholas II’s leadership destroyed remaining support, making revolution inevitable.