2. Tsarism's Last Chance 1906-1917

Question 0

What were the fundamental laws of 1906?

Answer 0

Created a national parliament, with the lower house of the Duma being elected. The ‘Council of State’ were the upper house and were appointed by the Tsar or elected. The parliament didn’t for fill the needs of the political opposition. Article 87 significant.

Question 1

Key Developments in 1906?

Answer 1

Stability slowly restored. Liberals didn’t want Russia to slide into anarchy so cooperated with the regime. A loan from France of 850 million roubles was secured by the Tsar with Witte (desperately needed). After 1905 Witte was removed from his position and replaced by Stolypin. Fundamental laws of 1906 made.

Question 2

What was article 87?

Answer 2

Part of the fundamental laws of 1906. It allowed the Tsar to rule by decree and ignore the parliament.

Question 3

The first Duma information. (Elected April 1906)

Answer 3

Many of the members wanted land reforms. Dissolved after 73 days due too them making too many radical demands, e.g. Release of political figures.

Question 4

The second Duma information. (February 1907)

Answer 4

Passed important land reforms that were supported by Stolypin. However, many members demanded further political reforms. The police claimed members of the Duma were causing mutinies in the army giving the Tsar a reason to dissolve it again, lasting 3 months.

Question 5

Information on the third Duma. (November 1907).

Answer 5

This Duma was elected by only the wealthiest 30% of men could vote. As a result there were not many reformist members as the wealthy didn’t want reforms. This Duma didn’t support reforms and supported the Tsar. Land reforms were passed but this Duma was known as ‘Duma of Lords and Lackeys’. Ended upon Stolypin’s assassination in 1911.

Question 6

Information on the fourth Duma. (June 2012)

Answer 6

After Stolypin was assassinated the new Duma was created, which both supported the Tsar and was didn’t fully support reform.

Question 7

What were the key reforms that the Duma passed?

Answer 7

Replacement of Land Captains with more effective Justices of the Peace. A plan for universal education introduced. Health and accident insurance for workers. Improvements to the Russian armed force. Helped move closer to Russia being a democracy.

Question 8

Who was Stolypin and what was his role from 1906 till his assassination?

Answer 8

Became Prime Minister of Russia (1906-1911). Opposed revolutionary groups such as the Bolsheviks and supported agrarian reforms. Understood that making peasants smaller land owners prevented groups opposing the Tsar (SR’s). Helped improve agriculture. By 1907 only supporters of Tsar in Duma.

Question 9

What were ‘Mir’?

Answer 9

A commune where peasants worked on a farm collectively. Land redistribution would be carried out by the elders of the Mir. If a peasant wished to leave the Mir they would need permission from the majority of the elders.

Question 10

What were Stolypins land reforms?

Answer 10

1906- law passed making it easier for peasants to leave a Mir (no longer needed permission from elders). Also The Peasants Land back encouraged to give more loans.
1910- the inefficient Mir farms were dissolved.

Question 11

How did Stolypin encourage Peasants to increase efficiency?

Answer 11

Incentives and government loans given to peasants to make farms in Siberia. He hoped that by increasing the number of landowners farming more efficiently would leave less people needed for the farms. His would encourage them to move to the city to meet the demand for workers.

Question 12

What were the impacts of Stolypins reforms?

Answer 12

1905- 20% of peasants owned land… 1915- 50% did. Agricultural production increased over 40%. Further improvements were prevented by WW1. Industrial unrest and bad living conditions continued. June 1914 a general strike was declared in Moscow, however it was stopped by the war- showed economic tensions had not been resolved by Stolypin’s reforms.

Question 13

Successes of Stolypins reforms?

Answer 13

1906-14, 25% of peasants lefts Mirs. Some peasants who owned land became more loyal. Third and fourth Dumas didnt threaten the Tsar. The increased support from the peasantry was seen as a threat by Lenin.

Question 14

Failures of Stolypin’s reforms?

Answer 14

Land reforms had limited impact on the cities. Stolypin weakened the Dumas.

Question 15

What were the changed to the army between 1906-1914?

Answer 15

After 1905 the army needed strengthening resulting in military reforms in 1908 focusing on improving organisation and equipment. The regimental structure was also changed and artillery standardised. ‘The Great Plan’ in 1913 resulted in Russia adopting an offensive strategy on the Western boarders against the Germans, as demanded by the French.

Question 16

What were the Russians failures during WW1?

Answer 16

Economy struggled to maintain supplies for a long war. In 1914 Russians failed to secure a fast victory. Army supported at first but after battles such as Tannenburg and Masurian Lakes due to poor planning and lack of technology+ tactics resulted in a change of the public opinion. 230’000 casualties, many more than Germany. Turkey joining the war severed a key trade line to the Mediterranean.

Question 17

Issues for the Russian armed forces 1915-1916?

Answer 17

Command of the army was inefficient, resulting in transport problems. In August Russian armies retreated from Russian Poland. The Tsar removed his uncle and took the role as Commander-In-Cheif. The Tsar didn’t have much military experience and was now accountable directly for losses. In the retreat 1.5m dies and important cities lost.

Question 18

Issues for the Russian armed forces 1916-1917?

Answer 18

General Alexyev improved Russian artillery production and Russia still had the largest standing army (1.7m), however Alxyev launched an attack on German troops around Lake Norach and 100’000 troops died. An attack on Austro-Hungarian troops was successful but resources were to low to fully exploit the win. Many leaders were poor and desertions increased.

Question 19

How many deaths and casualties were there during the War?

Answer 19

1.6m dead and 3.9m wounded.

Question 20

What happened in February 1917?

Answer 20

Russia fell into revolution and the Tsar was abdicated.

Question 21

What was the political impact of the First World War- Progressive Bloc? 1915

Answer 21

The Progressive Bloc was formed in the Duma made of different groups such as the Kadets. The aim was to convince the Tsar to establish a Ministry Of State Confidence to Helprin the war. The tsar believed this to be a threat to his autocratic power and temporarily closed the Duma.

Question 22

What was the political impact of the First World War- Tsarina? 1915

Answer 22

When the Tsar became Commander-in-chief the Tsarina was left in Petrograd with a lot of political influence. She appointed incompetent politics and dismissed more competent ones e.g. Minister of War Alexei Polivanov. She didn’t trust organisations such as the Zemgor. Her support was further undermined by Resputin. She was also German- fucking unbelievable.

Question 23

What was Zemgor? June 1915

Answer 23

Organisation that emerged from the joining together of the town Dumas and the Zemstva. Focused on helping casualties of the First World War.

Question 24

How was Rasputin relevant in the political support for the Tsar?

Answer 24

When the Tsar left to be the Commander-in-Cheif Rasputin, the monk, helped the Tsarina’s son with his haemophilia and began to influence Alexandra. Rasputin cause national scandals for being a drunk and a womaniser. This undermined support for the Tsarina and the Tsarina. He was killed by Prince Yusupov in Dec 1916.

Question 25

What was the political impact of the First World War- Strikes and Protests? 1915

Answer 25

Strikes and protests out broke in major cities such as Petrograd and Moscow. He ordered strikes to be ended by force. The leader of the Duma, Rodzianko, asked the Tsar to return to Petrograd however he ignored, until it was too late. When he tried to return he was prevented by striking railway workers. He lost support of the Duma and the armed forces until his abdication, March 1917.

Question 26

Impact of the First World War of the economy?

Answer 26

Economy struggling to keep up with demand from the armed forces and growing population by 1917 (inflation 200%). Tsar banned alcohol, reducing tax revenues, quadrupling national debt. Strikes ensued to to increased prices and worse living conditions. 1916 a crisis occurred by which farmers couldn’t receive a stable price for grain. Many peasants stored grain- by 1917 only 10% produced of grain was sold on the market. Trains used for war not supplies, 2200 in 1914-> 300 in 1916. Resulted in severe grain shortages + army calorie intake halved to 2000.

Question 27

Reasons for the February 1917 Russian Revolution?

Answer 27

Tsar failed to deal with social and economic problems consistently.
WW1 highlighted the weaknesses and made them worse. Army suffered horrendous defeats. Tsar made poor decision such as becoming Commander-in-Cheif, leaving the Tsarina in charge in Petrograd.

Question 28

What were the Triggers of the 1917 Revolution?

Answer 28

Strike remembering Bloody Sunday in Petrograd (Feb 1917)- 140’000. More strikes started due to poor working conditions and food shortages. Rationing of bread in feb. by 25 feb 200’000 people protesting in Petrograd. Workers established soviets to put message across.

Question 29

What was the Petrograd Soviet?

Answer 29

Established on 1st March 1917. Issued the ‘Order No.1’ demanding all officers are elected by there soldiers.

Question 30

Response of the Government to the unrest in 1917?

Answer 30

Police arrested the leaders of the workers to try and regain control. All newspapers were closed down and public transport was stopped. Some troops loyal to the Tsar opened fire on the protestors.

Question 31

Response of the Army to the unrest in 1917?

Answer 31

25th Feb- Cossack troops and elite Pavlovsky Life Guards refused to fire upon demonstrators. The Tsar was losing support, especially the army, who he relied on so much. On 26 Feb troops from the Petrograd Garrison mutinied and joined the protestors.

Question 32

The Dumas response to the 1917 unrest?

Answer 32

On 26th feb the Duma was suspended by the Tsar, however they created a twelve man committee to take over the running of Russia, undermining the Tsars authority. This showed he was losing political influence.

Question 33

Abdication of the Tsar? 28th feb 1917

Answer 33

The Tsar boarded his train for Petrograd but was stopped by railway strikers. Duma representatives met the Tsar and requested his abdication. The Tsar agreed on 2 March.

Question 34

How did the Duma prevent the Tsar from re-establishing control of Petrograd in February 1917?

Answer 34

The Tsar’s only possible way of maintaining power at this point was to send in the army to Petrograd, however the Duma prevented this. Key member of the Duma convinced important generals that they controlled activities in Petrograd and any military intervention would spark a Civil War. This was false though due to the creation of the Petrograd Soviet.

Question 35

What were the immediate consequences of the Tsar’s abdication?

Answer 35

Abdication increased the short term political chaos on Russia.
Peasants began to seize land in force.
Russia was still in the war against Germany.
The Duma Committee became the Provisional Government in March 1917, however they lacked support o govern effectively.