Russia in Revolution 1894-1924

What was introduced in 1861 and who introduced it?

Emancipation of the Serfs - introduced by Tsar Alexander II

What was the role of the serfs before 1861?

They would work on the riches land to then sell items on the market and take a fraction of the profits

What was the emancipation of the Serfs?

Serfs could now buy their own land to work on there and take all of their profits - however you had to buy the land over 49 years (life expectancy was 40) so the rich did not lose anything

3 Pillars of Tsarism

What was nationalism?

What was orthodoxy?

What was autocracy?

What was the Russo-Japanese War?

-Japan were interested in Russian port (Port Arthur) and attacked the port

-Russians were unprepared for the war and thought it would be easy

What was Bloody Sunday?

-In January 1905, 150,000 unarmed working class members gathered in St Petersburg in attempt to give the Tsar a petition (more pay, less hours)

-Campaign was intercepted by Russian army who killed 200 and injured 800

What was Tsarisms Crisis of modernisation?

Crisis of progression in society - industrialisation, population expansion and nationalism

Did the peasants oppose the Tsarist regmine before 1905?

-peasants were so poorly educated they did not realised the government were taking their money and therefore did not blame them

-instead they blamed landowners as that was who was taking their money

What was the Oppression of Nationalities/Russification?

Attempt to make non-Russians Russian - made them speak Russian and adopt Russian culture&religion

Why did the working class oppose the Tsarist regime before 1905?

-unhappy as their living and working conditions were poor

-worked 60 hours a week on low pay

-no health and safety so injuries were frequent

Who were the 3 opposition parties to the Tsarist regime in 1905?

Liberals (middle class), Socialist Revolutionaires (middle class and peasants) and Social Democrats (marxists)

What did the Liberals want in 1905?

What did the Social Revolutionaries want in 1905?

What did the Social democrats want in 1905?

What was Marxism?

Political and economic theory of capitalism, landowners could be dominant and exploit the poor

What happened when the Marxist party split?

Some Marxists believed they were a long way of capitalism and should therefore try to improve the working conditions for the workers. Lenin disagreed and the party split in 1903 into the Bolsheviks (Lenin) and Mensheviks (Martov)

The reasons for a limited impact from the opposition groups on Tsarism?

Social factors (tried to gain middle class support which was 2% of population), divisions in opposition groups (some wanted to keep capitalism, some wanted to overthrow it) and Repression (opposition groups were illegal and opposition leaders had to live abroad such as Lenin)

What were the political causes of the 1905 revolution?

-people who wanted reform did not have a lot in common apart from hatred of Tsarism

-Russia was still autocratic having just the Zemsta (form of local government)

What were the social causes of the 1905 revolution?

-huge population growth

-80% of population were peasents

-in various harvest failures causing famine

What were the economic causes of the 1905 revolution?

-economy was growing under Witte

-working and living conditions were poor, many lived in slums

What were the similarities in the opposition groups to the Tsar?

-all wanted an end to autocracy and Tsarism

-all led by middle class

What were the main causes of the 1905 revolution?

-Bloody Sunday

-Russo-Japanese War

-Opposition to Tsarism

-Population growth

What happened as a result of Bloody Sunday?

-nearly 500,000 workers went on strike

-students striked so universities closed

-liberals bombarded the government with petitions

How did the Russo-Japanese War end?

-The Treaty of Portsmouth was signed, ending the war

-Russia had sacrificed some of their land, which was humiliating

What was the St. Petersburg Soviet?

-a workers council in St Petersburg

-opposed Tsarism

-Leon Trotsky was a key member

What happened during the 1905 revolution?

-one ship in the military rebelled

-several riots, strikes (of 400,000) and political assassinations (Tsars uncle)

-Union of Unions and St Petersburg Soviet created

-Bulygin created February Manifesto but it was rejected and strikes continued

How did Nicholas react to the 1905 revolution?

-created August & October manifestos (took suggestions from the rejected February manifesto)

What was in the October Manifesto of 1905?

-August manifesto ignored as workers soon realised they had no power

-guaranteed freedom of speech and assembly

-Duma now had real power and could create new laws

-revolutionaries were happy

What was in the August Manifesto of 1905?

-new elected assembly called the Duma

-Duma could discuss new laws but had no real power

-this was for Nicholas to buy some time on opposition

What were the 3 elements on the August Manifesto 1905?

Why was the August Manifesto ignored?

Who were the Kadets and what was their reaction to the October Manifesto?

-radical liberals (middle)

-they were happy with the October Manifesto, but wanted more reform

-they were happy with Tsarism

Who were the Octobrists and what was their reaction to the October Manifesto?

-liberals (middle)

-wanted a constitutional monarchy (monarchy is in charge, but more power is spread

-they were supporters of Tsarism but not autocracy (absolutism)

What was the Socialists reaction to the October Manifesto?

-they were not happy as they did not trust the government and thought they would go back on their word (Trotsky thought this)

Who were the Union of Russian People?

-formed as a result of October Manifesto

-created by Nicholas and funded by government

-closely linked with the Black Hundreds

Who were the Black Hundreds?

-para military gangs closely linked with Tsarist regime

-targetted Russian jews

-from 1905-6 they were involved in anti-jewish pogroms

Who were the Okhrana?

The Russian secret police until 1917

What was the state of the Tsarist regime by the end of 1905?

-confident as they still had peasants, army and nobility on their side

-opposition repressed (Moscow&St Petersburg Soviets)

How was Witte important to the survival of the Tsarist regime in 1905?

He advised Nicholas to give the Russian people the concessions they wanted - Nicholas gave them a 8 hour working day and freedom of speech&assembly

Who was Paul Milyukov?

Leader of Constitutional Democratic Party (liberals)

Who was Father Gapon?

leader of Bloody Sunday demonstration

Who was Leon Trotsky?

the leader of St Petersburg Soviet, organised strikes

What happened in May 1906?

-Witte was dismissed (not repressive enough)

-Fundamental Laws were created

What were the problems with Russian agriculture before 1906?

-a lot of Russia's land was unproductive

-lack of fertilisers and machinery

-droughts&extreme temperatures lead to famine

What was involved in Stolypins agrarian reforms?

-to create property owning peasants (Kulaks)

-abolish redemption payments

-remove strip farming

How were Stolypins agrarian reforms successful?

-created an industrial boom from 1906-14

-agricultural income, imports and exports all increased

-peasants now owned land and therefore were happy with the Tsar

How were Stolypins agrarian reforms unsuccessful?

-workers conditions were still poor

-stopped by WWI in 1914

What were some features of Stolypins repression?

-dissolved the Dumas if they were too radical

-closed 600 unions and 1000 newspapers

-Stolypins necktie

-any discontent or opposition was crushed

What was Stolypins necktie?

-stolypin created military court martials for any political crimes where many were sentenced to death

-they were killed in 24 hours so you could not appeal

-1906-9 3000 were killed

What were Stolypins wagons?

trains used to exile Russians away

What were the Fundamental Laws?

-1906 (made same day as Witte got dismissed)

-new consistution where Nicholas could call election whenever we wanted, quickly create new laws and be named the 'Supreme Governor

-main features of October Manifesto were abolished

What year was the first duma active?

1906

What year was the second Duma active?

1907

What years were the third Duma active?

1907-12

What years were the fourth Duma active?

1912-14

Why was the first Duma unsuccessful?

-they wanted the abolition of the state council (Nicholas didn't)

-they didn't bow to Nicholas (disrespectful)

-they tried to debate land reform so the Tsar dissolved them

What was the Vyborg Manifesto?

1906 - ministers of the first duma (prince lvov) went to Finland to try to rally support for Russia to stop paying taxes and to overthrow the Tsar

-failed s no-one listened to them

Why was the second Duma unsuccessful?

-they did not support Stolypins land reforms so Stolypin dissolved them for being too radical

-he banned Bolsheviks from the electoral system (accused them of treason)

Were the 3rd and 4th Dumas successful?

-3rd Duma lasted full 5 year term and was much less trouble than the first 2 Dumas

-4th Duma was also less trouble, but were disbanded when WW1 broke out and joined the provisional government

Were the peasants happy with Tsarism from 1905-7?

-they were now opposing the Tsar and Tsarist regime

-motivated by land hunger

-'peasants revolt' - unorganised rebellions

How did Nicholas react to the peasants revolt from 1905-7?

-he sent the army to areas of unrest and told them to show now mercy

-15,000 killed, 20,000 wounded and 45,000 exile to Siberia

-this was not very effective

What was the Trans-Siberian railway?

-railway from Moscow to Far East Russia

What was the Siberian Tundra?

-section of Siberia that is extremely cold

What other reforms did Stolypin want? (other than agrarian)

-streamline local government (more power to the Zemstva)

-education (4 years of education starting at 8)

-compensation (for factory workers hurt in industrial incidents)

How did Russia react to Stolypins other reforms?

-opposed by nobility and church

-Tsar lost faith in him

-assassinated in 1911

What was the Lena Goldfields Massacre?

-Lena Goldmines was a mining company

-government ministers and tsars mum were shareholders

-workers strikes (goldmines stopped for month) when they were given rancid horsemeat

-they demanded 30% wage increase and 8 hour day

What problems arose from Russias involvement in WW1?

-1915 Munitions Crisis

-Transport Crisis (military transport prioritised so the Trans-Siberian railway was clogged up)

-inflation (supply of food couldn't keep up with demand - food rotted on clogged up railways)

What was the 1915 Munitions Crisis?

-military planners did not expect to be a part of a long war and did not stockpile munitions

-they ordered from USA and England but they failed to meet deadlines

-1916 government created factories to help production

What were the transport problems in WW1?

the railway network was affected as military traffic was prioritised. Trains arrived late meaning food had already rotted, leading to higher food prices

What caused inflation in WW1?

-transport problems

-Germany occupied food production areas

-peasants hoarded grain

What was the Zemgor?

-a combination of the Zemstva (middle class group trying to help the war) and others in towns and corporations (union of towns)

-this group helped the war effort by 5%

-led by Prince Gelvov who was a good leader

What was the state of Russian armed forces in 1914?

-had a large army (5mill)

-however many were uneducated or in bad condition

-also had few machine guns or vehicles

Which parties helped significantly with the war?

Liberals (kadets&octobrists) as they wanted a good duma and government relationship

What was the Progressive Bloc?

-a group made up from within the Duma who wanted to see greater parliamentary control.

-They wanted government minsters to have their own power, however Nicholas refused.

-they were willing to work with Nicholas

What was the great retreat?

-Russia tried to pressure Germany, however were poorly equipped and when Germany pressured back they retreated

-shows how unorganised the Tsar and government were (criticised by Liberals)

Who was Rasputin?

a present who was given power by Nicholas to make decisions, however this was unpopular as people didn't want a peasant making decisions

Who was Alexandra?

Nicholas' wife, always told him to grant concessions to Liberals

What was the February Revolution?

-A series of strikes from January-February 1917, due to food shortages, poor working conditions and general discontent with the Tsar

-Tsar panicked and tried to negotiate with the duma but they refused and he abdicated (2nd March) as he was also not in Petrograd

What were the 1917 January strikes about?

-to commemorate Bloody Sunday (1905), 140,000 helped unorganised demonstrations in Petrograd

-food shortages and working conditions

How many people were on strike by February 1917 and was was the role of the Cossack troops?

200,000, and the cossack troops (responsible for killing rebels) refused to kill rebels and now protected them against the police - this shows how government authority was now breaking down

What was 'Order Number 1'?

Petrograd soviet orders it during February revolution, states all officers in the army should be elected by their own men (rapid decline in power)

What happened when Nicholas abdicated?

-no monarchy as his brother declined and his son was too ill

-several Dumas were set up

-Price Lvov made prime minister

What caused the 1917 February revolution?

-Tsars dictatorship and mistakes

-WW1 (had been going on for 3 years and 17m roubles spent)

-inflation (food shortages, increased tax)

-Rasputin

How was the power distributed after Nicholas's abdication?

Dual power - provisional government (Duma and Progressive Bloc) and Petrograd soviet. However the Petrograd soviet had control over the army and therefore more power

Why was Kerensky play a big role in dual power?

He was the only minister of the provisional government who was also a member of the Petrograd soviet. He was a lawyer with a reputation of supporting left wing views

How was the relationship between the Petrograd soviet and provisional government?

very strained as the provisional government was meant to have power but they were always overruled by the Petrograd soviet as they had control of the army

What were the conflicting views to war from the Petrograd soviet and provisional government?

Petrograd soviet wanted to end the war (revolutionary defencism) and wanted peace with all countries. Provisional government wanted to continue with war until Germany were defeated (supported by foreign minster Milyukov)

How did the Petrograd Soviet and Provisional government try to negotiate to stay or leave the war?

Provisional government created the declaration of war (March 1917) which meant they would continue with war, but wouldn't take territory from other countries.

How did the Petrograd soviet react to the declaration of war?

The Petrograd soviet agreed but wanted it sent to all their allies

What was the Milyukov note?

-Milyukov sent the message but also stated they would continue with war until victory

-However this was then leaked and Milyukov was hated by supporters of the Petrograd soviet

What were the results of the Miluykov note?

-Lvov threatened to resign as prime minister if the PG and PS couldnt resolve their problems

-Milyukov resigned as socialists wanted him out

-Kerensky becomes minister of war

When did Lenin return to Russia?

3rd April 1917

How was Lenin viewed when he returned to Russia? and who allowed him to return?

Provisional government allowed him to come back as they thought they needed Lenin (everyone deserves another chance)

What were the 2 core principles of Lenins April Thesis?

all power to the soviets, down with imperial war

What were the 3 areas that people wanted Lenin to solve? and how did Lenin solve these?

Peace (Lenin dismissed war and wanted immediate peace), land reform (Lenin started the phrase "all power to the peasants", wanting to give peasants land) and soviet power (soviets were to be elected by soldiers and workers)

How successful was the April Thesis?

it was not an instant success, but it gained support

What was the June Offensive/Kerensky Offensive?

Russia launched an attack, organised by Kerensky on Austro-German soldiers. However within a week, Germany had advanced 150 miles deeper into Russian territory