1894-1914 Opposition and Ideologies

Question 1

What contributed to the increasing numbers favouring more representation and rule of law?

Answer 1

Spread of middle class & expansion of education.

Question 2

Where was liberalism particularly strong?

Answer 2

The zemstva - shown by their actions of the Great Famine 1891-92. Their resentment was triggered by a reduction of zemstva powers under Alex 3rd.

Question 3

What did the zemstva petition Nicholas 2nd for in 1895 that he declared a ‘senseless dream’?

Answer 3

An advisory body - Constituent Assembly
Prince Lvov still campaigned for this

Question 4

What was immediately banned upon creation in 1896?

Answer 4

Shipov’s attempt to create an All-Zemstvo Organisation in opposition to the Tsar.

Question 5

What was the Beseda Symposium?

Answer 5

Estab in 1899 to discuss the liberal agenda - particularly judicial reform and education inadequacy.

Question 6

What contributed hugely to the size of the Beseda Symposium?

Answer 6

In 1900 the Tsar purged the zemstva of liberals.

Question 7

What was founded in 1903 under Pyotr Struve and what were his personal beliefs?

Answer 7

Union of Liberation
He was an ex-marxist - opposed violent revolution.
Believed in a ‘peaceful evolution’ into socialism.
Wanted a constitutional, workers-led system.

Question 8

What did the Union of Liberation do in 1904?

Answer 8

Held a meeting discussing mission statement - declared their intent to work for a constitutional government.

Question 9

Why did liberals escape the wrath of the Okhrana?

Answer 9

the 1905 Revolution meant their attention was focused elsewhere but this served to bring them to prominence.

Question 10

What was established as a result of the Beseda Symposium & the Union of Liberation?

Answer 10

A representative State Duma. W

Question 11

What was revived post-Great Famine?

Answer 11

The concept of agrarian socialism.

Question 12

What did students champion in St Petersburg that contributed to the formation of the SRs?

Answer 12

Populism - inspired by the People’s will and violent protest.

Question 13

What was the climax of the student protests?

Answer 13

The assassination of the Minister for Education - Bogolepov by Karpovich in 1901.

Question 14

Why was the SR founded in 1901?

Answer 14

To appeal to the peasants through commitment to ‘land socialisation & decentralised government’.

Question 15

What did Chernov write during this time?

Answer 15

the party journal - Revolutionary Russia.

Question 16

What did the SRs argue about the workers and peasants?

Answer 16

That they should work together since they had shared interests and they had. large peasant membership and 50% urban workers membership.

Question 17

Which previous political group were the SRs similar to in tactics?

Answer 17

The Narodyniks - they went out to villages and appealed to the people by stirring up discontent and disruption.

Question 18

How many political officials did the SRs assassinate in 1901-1905?

Answer 18

2000.

Question 19

How many SRs were sentenced to death 1905-1909?

Answer 19

4579

Question 20

What was the impact of the industrial takeoff on Marxist ideals?

Answer 20

Made them widely available.

Question 21

What happened in 1898?

Answer 21

The First Congress Of the Russian SDWP - only 9 delegates. They chose their name, elected a 3-man CC and produced a manifesto saying the working class had been exploited and the future of Russia should be a people-led revolution.

Question 22

What happened at the Second SDWP Party Congress?

Answer 22

Held in London with 51 delegates - Lenin beat out Martov in debates over centralisation or division - the genesis of the Bolshevik-Menshevik split.

Question 23

What event during this period did both the SRs and SDWP benefit from despite not participating in?

Answer 23

1905 Rev.

Question 24

Despite reforms such as the 1912 Insurance Law, what did the State fear?

Answer 24

Independent working-class activity and potential for revolutionaries to work through TUs - 457 TUs shut down in 1912.

Question 25

From 1907, what served to reduce union action?

Answer 25

Economic depression, rise in unemployment and a political clampdown.

Question 26

Where was the majority of political action centred?

Answer 26

St Petersburg, half in the metal trades. This demonstrated the States failure to pacify working class, and resistance from employers and repressive measures added to anger.

Question 27

What % of businesses had a strike?

Answer 27

12%

Question 28

What largely appeased the moderate liberal opposition?

Answer 28

The October Manifesto.

Question 29

Where was there not opposition that was historically very oppositional?

Answer 29

The National Minorities - Poles and Finns not strong enough.
Ukrainians, Georgians and Belorussians content to stay in Empire for now.

Question 30

What weakened the SR and SDWP in 1905?

Answer 30

The exile of Chernov and Lenin
Ideological divisions over how to respond to 1905 Rev.

Question 31

As membership declined, how did the SR and SDWP continue to function?

Answer 31

underground with local labour leaders.

Question 32

What happened in 1912-1914 with the Bolsheviks?

Answer 32

They took 6 institutions from the Mensheviks and took seats in the Duma.
Pravda launched in 1912 - high circulation

Question 33

What was support like for the Bolsheviks in 1912?

Answer 33

Limited - benefitted from SRs boycotting election and they had no military success or experience.

Question 34

What promises did the Bolsheviks come up short on?

Answer 34

General Strike
Mass street demonstrations
Recreate Soviet of Workers Deputies

Question 35

in 1914, what destroyed all popular support for the opposition?

Answer 35

WW1.