7.1 Political authority and government under Nicholas II 1894-1904 Flashcards
What did Orlando Figes say about the authority of Nicholas II?
‘far too mild-mannered and shy to command any real authority’
BUT
he had a ‘strong sense of duty to uphold the principles of autocracy’
What did Orlando Figes say about the ‘undoing of the last Tsar’?
‘it was not a ‘weakness of will’ that was the undoing of the last Tsar on the contrary a willful determination to rule from the throne’
How did Alex III describe Nicholas II?
‘girlie’
What did Nicholas II say to his cousin about being Tsar?
‘I am not prepared to be a Tsar. I never wanted to become one’
Why were there some public demands for change under Nicholas II? (2)
- Failure to deal with the Great Famine 1891-21, Russia became more politisised as it Zemstvo’s and charities provided relief. There was mistrust in the government and growing belief in the power of ordinary people
- Reformist groups gained more influence and followers by 1900’s
What are three examples of public demands for change under Nicholas II?
- 1902-1907 widespread disturbance, arson in local villages nicknamed ‘years of the red cockerel’
- Unrest was worst in central provinces but spread (e.g. Georgia)
- Industrial strikes in towns; 17k in 1894 to 90k in 1904
What was the governments response to opposition under Nicholas II? x2
- Moscow chief of Okhrana Zubatov began to organize police-sponsored TU’s as an official way to hear and deal with complaints. Lasted until 1903 when Zubatov was exiled when one TU was involved in a strike in Odessa
- Stolypin dealt with the situation (ordered for flogging, arrest, shooting or exile of thousands) only aggravated it
What are three examples of how the government dealt with opposition?
- Disruption at Uni’s dealt with by Okhrana e.g. Cossacks charged into students in St Petersburg killing 13 and 1500 imprisoned
- 1901 strike in Obukhov factory led to violence from police
- Father Gapon created a TU that was approved by Tsar’s ministers and supported by Church which has 12 branches and 8k members
What was a continuation from Alexander III to Nicholas II ? x3
- The Orthodox church maintained a powerful influence as the Tsar was religious
- Russification continued supported by ‘black hundreds’ (nationalist groups devoted to the Tsar and Church)
- Nicholas same unpopularity as his father amongst minorities
What was Nicholas II’s opinion about weakness?
+ who had this been instilled by?
Nicholas II’s tutor Pobedonostsev, instilled a strong sense of duty to the Tsar where he grew to believe that any sign of weakness was a failure and was resolved to be ‘unflinchingly’ like his father
What happened at Nicholas II’s coronation?
+ When?
At Nicholas’s coronation in May 1896, in trying to see the Tsar 1400 people were trampled to death on the Khodynka Field. Though the Tsar went to the hospital this was an ‘ominous start’.
Why did the 1896 Russo-Japanese war occur? (2)
- Plehve encouraged the Tsar to retaliate to Japanese assault on Port Arthur on the east in January 1904 with a ‘short swift victorious war’ which would detract from unrest at home.
- Expansionist Japan had held a peninsula (in 1895) which in 1896 China had given a 25 year lease on to build a railway
What was the outcome of the 1896 Russo-Japanese War?
+ Why
+ 6000 miles away and under-estimated their opponents.
- Anti-Japanese sentiments were turned into government opposition
- Plehve was assassinated in July 1904 and crowds in Warsaw celebrated
- There were renewed cries for a representational National Assembly (Duma)
When did Mirsky invite Zemstvo representative’s to come to St. Petersburg?
+ What was his opinion of this?
++ What was the Tsar’s opinion of this?
November 1904
+ Reluctant
++ ‘I will never agree to the representative form of government’
What was a significant political event that occurred in November 1904?
Mirsky, replacement of Pehlev invited reluctantly Zemstvo representative’s to come to St. Petersburg
