Background Flashcards
What fraction of the Earth’s land mass is represented by Russia?
⅙ of the Earth’s land mass
What was the name of the Russian secret police?
Okhrana
Who held absolute power in Russia?
Tsar
Since what year had the Romanov family ruled Russia?
1613
What percentage of the Russian population were serfs or peasants?
80%
In what year did Tsar Nicholas II ascend to the throne?
1894
Who was Tsarina Alexandra?
A German Princess
What medical condition did Alexei, the only son of Tsar Nicholas II, have?
Hemophilia
What type of government did Russia have under Tsar Nicholas II?
Autocracy
What was the Duma?
Russian Parliament
When was the Duma started?
1906
What significant event occurred in 1863 regarding serfs?
Emancipation of the Serfs
Who were the main powers in Russia?
Tsar and church
Which two wars did Russia lose leading up to the 1905 revolution?
Turkish war and 1905 Russo-Japanese war
What document allowed the Tsar to veto Duma’s decisions?
1906 Fundamental Laws
What percentage of the Russian Empire’s population was ethnically Russian?
40%
How many languages were spoken in the Russian Empire?
Over 100 languages
What was the population of Russia at the time?
175 million
What were the soldier fatalities in WW1?
1,811,000 to 2,254,369
What were the civilian casualties in WW1?
500,000
What was the total number of casualties in WW1 for Russia?
2,311,000 to 2,754,369
How many total casualties did Russia have in WW1?
9.1 million
For how long was Russia actively involved in WW1?
First 2½ years
What position did Tsar Nicholas II take during WW1?
General
What caused strikes among soldiers and workers in Russia during WW1?
Low wages and dangerous conditions
What was a major issue faced by both soldiers and peasants during WW1?
Massive food shortages
What economic issue was prevalent in Russia during WW1?
Inflation
What was a notable battle during WW1 involving Russian forces?
Battle of Tannenburg
What was another significant battle in WW1 for Russia?
Battle of the Masurian Lakes
How many soldiers deserted the Russian army during WW1?
Over 1 million
What is a revolution?
A forcible overthrow of a government or social order, in favour of a new system
What were some contributing factors to the Russian Revolution?
Mass inflation and food shortage, terrible leadership, and an outdated governing system
What impact did WW1 have on Russia’s leadership and morale?
Loss of life and morale in WW1
Who were the two main factions in Russian politics during the early 20th century?
Tsarists on the right and Social Democrats/Social Revolutionaries on the left
What was the main belief of the Social Revolutionaries?
Overthrow via democracy and being more popular
What happened to the Social Democrats in 1906?
They were banned and had a meeting in London, leading to a party split between Bolshevik and Menshevik
What did the Fundamental Laws of 1906 do?
Greatly limited the power and influence of the Duma
What was the duration of the Duma established in 1906?
Lasted a year
What were the limitations imposed in 1907?
Put limits on social revolutionaries and banned social democrats
What characterized the period from 1907 to 1912 in the Duma?
Filled with Tsar supporters, specifically the Oktoberists, with little push back
What was the political situation in the Duma from 1912 to 1914?
Similar to the third Duma with little purpose
What was a key feature of the 1906 Fundamental Laws?
Some representation of the people for the first time in the Duma but only for a minority of the population
How often did the Tsar shut down the Dumas?
Regularly due to too many ‘liberal’ reforms
What economic activity increased significantly by 1916?
Strikes, with 1542 strikes involving 1.17 million people
What was the number of strikes in Russia in 1914?
70 strikes involving 35,000 people
How many economic and political strikes were recorded?
364 economic strikes and 350 political strikes
What notable protest occurred in 1917?
International Women’s Day protest
What were the casualties at the Battle of Tannenburg?
50,000 Russians died or were injured
How many Russians were taken prisoner at the Battle of Tannenburg?
100,000 taken prisoners
On which fronts was the Russian army fighting during World War I?
Germany and Austria-Hungary
How many Russians were captured at the Battle of Lodz?
150,000 captured
What was the total number of Russians wounded, killed, or taken prisoner by the end of 1914?
1.8 million
What sentiment grew among the Russian populace regarding the war?
People from all sections of society questioned the need for war
How many times did the navy mutiny?
Twice
What was the response of some troops when ordered to fire at protesters?
Some refused
What happened to the Tsar during this period?
He abdicated and the provisional government took over
What did Lenin famously state regarding the war?
“Peace at any price”
What event in 1905 involved the military firing on a crowd?
Bloody Sunday
This event significantly impacted public perception of the Tsar.
What significant day in 1917 saw military refusal to act?
International Women’s Day
This event was pivotal in the lead-up to the Russian Revolution.
What was the original name of St Petersburg?
Petrograd
The name change occurred during World War I due to anti-German sentiment.
How did Tsar Nicholas II’s nature contribute to his downfall?
Reactive rather than proactive
His inability to take initiative led to missed opportunities for reform.
What belief did Tsar Nicholas II hold regarding his rule?
Divine right
This belief influenced his reluctance to consider reforms.
What key traits characterized Tsar Nicholas II’s leadership?
Stubborn, weak, indecisive, lack of interest
These traits hindered effective governance.
What was Nicholas II’s primary method of dealing with problems?
Repression
He relied heavily on the army, which resented being used as a police force.
How did Nicholas II view reforms?
Never willingly supported reforms
He aimed to protect the power of the court and landowning classes.
What was Nicholas II’s stance on trade unions?
Rejected trade unions
He did not support bodies representing workers.
What was the October Manifesto?
A document that promised reforms
It was forced out of Nicholas II, but he never fully committed to it.
What was one consequence of Bloody Sunday in 1905?
Massive loss of respect for the Tsar
This event marked a turning point in public opinion.
Who did Nicholas II leave in charge of the government during his absence?
Tsarina and Rasputin
Their influence was controversial and damaged the royal family’s reputation.
What was the Progressive Bloc?
A coalition of liberal groups
Nicholas II rejected their proposals in 1916, showing his unwillingness to cooperate.
In what year did Nicholas II fail to recognize the seriousness of the political situation?
1904
His inaction during this time contributed to the eventual revolution.
What did the Fundamental Laws indicate about Nicholas II’s governance?
Unwillingness to share power
These laws were a response to the 1905 Revolution but reinforced autocracy.
Fill in the blank: Nicholas II took personal responsibility for the war by going to the _______.
Front
What was a major criticism of Nicholas II’s appointments after Stolypin’s death?
Nonentities and incompetents
These appointments weakened the government’s effectiveness.
True or False: Nicholas II was keen on allowing local self-government through Zemstva.
False
He was not supportive of Zemstva or local self-governance.
