Bolshevik Revolution (Communist Russia) Flashcards
Why were there so many assassination attempts against Alexander II, the 1880’s czar of Russia?
Because access to military-grade weapons by the radical peasantry groups made it easy for them to make so many assassination attempts against the czar of Russia
Even though the Romanov family proceeded royal business as usual, how did Alexander II ‘s assassination lay the groundwork for the Bolshevik Revolution?
The consequences and hangings for the assassins responsible for Alexander II ‘s death influenced the Ulanov family, the family of Vladimir Lenin, the future leader of the Communist regime.
What circumstances in 19th century Russia provoked people to agitate against the political regime at the time?
- Russia was still an undeveloped country with a large population being peasants while there was still an elitist autocratic nobility class that ruled the nation.
- There was political oppression against any individuals that disagreed with the dictatorship of Russia
What were the influences that would develop Vladimir Lenin to be the aggressive leader that we know in history?
- The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx sparked the Marxist beliefs of Vladimir Lenin
- The idea of the “young revolutionary” stuck with Lenin as he grew his underground influence
- His discussion and collaboration with other Marxist agitators during his exile in Siberia
Under what pretenses did the Russian public lose hope/trust in Nikolai II , the czar of Russia after Alexander III (not Alexander II) ?
- The defeat of the Russo-Japenese War ruined national morale and made lower classes below the elitist class to question the political system they were confined in
- The peaceful protest by peasantry to the czar of Russia was met with open gun fire by royal soldiers and this day would be marked as “Bloody Sunday”
- The czar’s decision to go to a royal party after mass death on the day of his coronation was marked as insensitive to the Russian people.
Who was Rasputin and why was his entrance to the royal family so controversial?
- Rasputin was a mysterious figure who claimed to heal Alexei’s (heir of the Romanov empire) hemophilia and was given access to the court in order to “heal” his hemophilia.
- The reason why he was controversial to the royal family was that the family began to believe divisive scandals about Rasputin and questioned his relationship with advising the reign of the Russian empire (because there were rumors of him having an affair with Alexandria, Nikolai’s wife)
How did WW1 make Nikolai II’s reputation worse than it already was?
Nikolai’s assertion as military leader in World War 1 made him accountable/responsible for the great loss that Russia had against the German Empire. Nikolai II was the person to blame for the nation’s ruined morale
What relationship did Lenin have with Germany?
During the Belshovik Revolution, Germany transported Lenin from Siberia to St. Petersburg in Russia to lead the people’s revolution (in Germany’s eyes, to cause national chaos). After the revolution, Lenin signed a peace treaty with Germany to stay neutral out of WW1.
a) What were the two colliding forces that would attempt to assume power/reign over Russia during the Belshovik Revolution?
b) Which force would win?
- The remaining provisional government that leaned over towards the favor of the public out of desperation and survival
- The Soviet (soldiers) revolutionaries who mid-riot were directed under the leadership of Vladimir Lenin
B. The Soviet revolutionaries would be the victors over the power struggle between the reamining government
What social changes had been obvious after the rise of national morale for the Bolshevik Revolution?
The once weak peasantry had become militant outlaws excited in the participation of assassinating Romanov family officials and there was a majority of national morale for the Bolshevik Revolution and the rest of the Soviet Union
