3. Russia Causes NEW Flashcards
Institutional Weaknesses
-industry!!!
–no industrial rev
-tsar Nich II
–too young to lead
–little to no experience
-geography
–very big empire
–differences in ethnic minorities
Tensions in Tsarist Russia
-tsar nich II
-no political parties mentioned
Economic and Social Inequalities
economic
-foreign trade down
-industry vs agriculture (strong agriculture)
social
-workplace conditions
–witte’s industrial reforms
Russo-Japanese War
-1904-1905: Russia’s army and nacy defeated by imperial Japan
-poor performance lowered morale
-“The Japanese are infidels. The might of Holy Russia will crush them.” (Tsar Nicholas II)
1904-1905
Bloody Sunday
-A massacre of protesting industrial workers
-Tsarist soldiers fired on a procession of peaceful protestors, shattering the country’s faith in Nicholas II
-“There is no God any longer. There is no Tsar.” (Father Georgi Gapon)
9th Janurary 1905
October Manifesto
-Proclomation by Nicholas II, promised to give up some power and introduce democratic reforms
-included:
–universal franchise
–a duma
–freedom of speech
17th October 1905
Duma overview
1st: SDs and SRs are not overly radical, dissolved by the Tsar (mid 1906)
2nd: Much more of a voice, reforms can become very anti-tsarist, dissolved by the Tsar (Early-mid 1907)
3rd: Rise of Octoberists and Kadets (right wing, tsar starts to take control), survived full term (1907-1912)
4th: Overshadowed by WWI, dissolved by Provisional Government (1912-1917)
Fundamental Laws
-constitution of imperial Russia
-reclaimed some of the powerr given up in the October Manifesto
-Tsar was ‘supreme autocrat’ and would dismiss the Tsar
-“We have been given a constitution, but absolutism remains.” (Leon Trotsky)
April 1906
Limitations of the Duma
-
-fundamental laws gave State Duma no power
-could be cancelled at any time by the Tsar
-“[The Dumas] quickly turned acrimonious, condemning the first experiment in popular government to failure.” -Abraham Asche
World War One
-colossal war, Russia suffering repeated defeats from Germany
-main cause of the Feb 1917 revolution
–both tsarist and provisional gvts unable to support the army or manage the costs
-“War is the midwife of every society pregnant with a new one.” -Friederich Engels
1914-1918
The February Revolution
-began as a public strike about food and fuel shortages in Petrograd
–failure of railways bcs of war
-Duma ordered to dissolve, order refused, Tsar abdicates whn his troops turn on him
-“This is a hooligan movement, young people run and shout that there is no brad, simply to create excitement, along with workers who prevent others from working.” -Tsarina Alexandra
23rd Feb - 2nd March 1917
Effectiveness of the Provisional Governments
-was made to manage transition from tsarism to democracy
-had no mandate or power and little popular support
-challenged by the Petrograd Soviet
-decided to maintain war effort, unpopular decision
-“The provisional government does not possess any real power.” -Alexander Guchkov
Dual Authority
-Provisional Government (from 4th Duma)
–authority (official government)
–no power
-Petrograd Soviet
–power (controlled the army)
–no authority
March - October 1917
Lenin’s Return and his April Thesis
April Thesis:
1) WWI was an “imperialist war” benefitting the bourgoisie
2) The provisional government benefitted the bourgoisie and not the people
3) Called for the creation of a Soviet government
-“Our tactics: absolute distrust, no support for the Provisional Government.” -Vladimir Lenin
April 1917
July Days
-spontaneous uprising of workers and soldiers against the provisional governmnet
-growing opposition to Russia’s involvement in the war
-Lenin and Soviet leaders refused tto take control
-Bolsheviks took the blame
-“The flight of the shepherd [Lenin] could not but deliver a heavy blow to the sheep.” - Richard Pipes
July 1917
Kornilov Affair
A failed military coup d’etat launched by
General Lavr Kornilov in August 1917.
The incident humiliated Prime Minister Alexander Kerensky, who was unable to resolve the crisis, and repaired the Bolsheviks’ reputation after their Red Guards helped defend Petrograd.
-“It’s time to hang the German supporters and spies, with Lenin at their head, and to disperse the Soviets!” -General Lavr Kornilov
August 1917
The October Revolution
-popularity of the Provisional Government was declining as class tensions, economic hardship and the breakdown of law and order had set Petrograd on edge
-Bolshevik influence was rising due to their radical, anti-war and anti-class stance had won them the majority in the Petrograd Soviet
-Lenin wanted to take power immediately, Trotsky wanted to wait
-25th: Bolsheviks captured Petrograd and the Winter Palace, arresting the Provisional Govnerment (triggered by Kerensky’s attempt to silence propogander on the 24th)
-“History will never forgive us if we do not take power now.” - Vladimir Lenin
October 1917
Workers’ and peasants’ uprisings/protests
-Bloody Sunday (9th of Janruary 1905)
–workers
-Feb Revolution (23rd Feb - 2nd March 1917)
–workers and peasants
Soldier and Sailor Mutinies
Did not want to be invovled in WWI5 rrr
Socialist Revolutionaries
By 1917, the SRs were the largest and most popular of Russia’s political parties. Their leaders included Viktor Chernov (official leader) and Alexander Kerensky.
The SRs believed that both the peasants and the workers were genuine revolutionary classes. This is because capitalist industrialisation was an inescapable fact by the turn of the century.
Officially formed in 1902
Marxism vs Leninism
Marxism: bourgeoisie overthrow the monarchy and establish a capitalist governmnet, then the proletariat overthrow the bourgoisie (communist uprising)
Leninism: the Russian proletariat (workers) were not naturally revolutionary, and had to be led by the Bolsheviks. He also suggested that peasants were ‘allies’ of workers.
Bolsheviks and Mensheviks
Bolsheviks:
-Lenin and his supporters became known as the Bolshevik ideology
-The Bolshevik’s followed Leninism
Mensheviks:
-More democratic and more open membership criteria
-More ‘orthodox’ marxists
-Believed that the capitalist democracy and the bourgeois revolution must come before the proletarian revolution
Octobrists
A conservative reformist group who believed the Tsar needed to appease the people of Russia, but should still maintain his power.
Initially firm supporters of the Tsar, they were horrified by incompetence of the government during WW1. Joined the Progressive Bloc in 1915 to demand a ‘government of public confidence’.
Kadets
A liberal reformist group who believed Russia needed to become a parliamentary democracy.
Made calls for limits on Tsar’s powers in 1906.
Formed the Progressive Bloc in opposition to Tsar during WW1 and called for a ‘government of public confidence’. Led the Provisional Government after the Tsar’s abdication.
