1.4) Nicholas II Flashcards
When did Nicholas II come to the thone?
1894
What was Nicholas II like as a ruler?
An unswerving autocrat
Ruthless
Addicted to power
Who was Nicholas’ wife?
Alexander the Tsarina
How might have Alexandra had a harmful impact on Nicholas’ rule?
- She was determined for him to share none of his power.
- The Tsar were chosen by God so should not share power
- Extremely religious
What did Nicholas’ coontemporaries think of him?
- Most thought he was unfit to rule
- he did not have the qualities of a leader, like his father and grandfather
- He was weak
- He was intelligent, and handed a broken nation
What were Nicholas’ policies and his rule like rule?
- 1895 denounced the zemstvo’s plea for a central government
- autocratic
- Economy boomed under Witte, more workers also meant more strikes
- Russification policy, hated Jews and encouraged only schooling in Russian. Converted Muslims to Russian orthodox christians
Who were the opposition to the Tsar?
Socialist Revolutionaries
Social Democrats
Liberals
What were the aims of the Socialist revolutionaries?
- To get rid of tsar and his government
- To give all the land to the peasants to farm collectively - so forming thousands of peasant communities
Who supported the socialist revolutionaries?
Mainly appealed to peasants, who supported the party which wanted to give them the land. Sometimes called the peasants party
What were the tactics of the socialist revolutionaries?
- Propaganda to encourage revolution
- Violent acts (terrorism to bring about the collapse of the government. Responsible for the deaths of several important government officials- assassination attempts
What were the aims of the social democrats?
- Overthrow the Tsar
- Create a social state
Who supported the social democrats?
- Workers in large towns
- students
What were the tactics of the social democrats?
Bolsheviks- small, secret, tightly disciplined, professional revolutionaries. Planned to sieze power at right time in small groups
Mencheviks- party should be mass organisation. Party would work with other groups to improve wages and working conditions.
What were the aims of the Liberals?
- free elections
- Have a parliament
- A constitutional monarch
- Freedom or speech, worship and conscience
A monarchy like in England
Who supported the liberals?
- Middle and educated class
- Teachers, doctors, lawyers
- Gentry
