Chapter 1 - Russia before the revolution

Question 1

What proportion of the population were peasants?

Answer 1

80%

Question 2

What frustrated the liberals?

Answer 2

The autocratic system that shut down any opportuntites to share power

Question 3

Define autocracy

Answer 3

A rule by one person with no limits to their power

Question 4

What did Nicholas’ failings as a leader do?

Answer 4

Seriously weakened his political authority by 1917

Question 5

Reasons for Nicholas’ weakened authority

Answer 5

1. His personality
2. Alexandra and Rasputin
3. His handling of the State Duma
4. His handling of Russia’s problems

Question 6

How did Nicholas’ personality weaken his authority?

Answer 6

1. He believed completely in his divine right to rule
2. He was stubborn and saw advice as criscism
3. He undermined his ministers to stop anyone challenging his authority

Question 7

How did Alexandra and Rasputin weaken Nicholas’ authority?

Answer 7

1. Alexandra encouraged Nicholas to listen to Rasputin’s advice so Rasputin became more powerful than many ministers, which undermined the Tsar’s power at court
2. Rasputin had a reputation for sexual promiscuity. Rumours about Rasputin and Alexandra were especially damaging

Question 8

Who was Rasputin?

Answer 8

A self-styled ‘holy man’, trusted by the royal couple after he was able to help their son Alexei who suffered from haemophilia

Question 9

How did Nicholas’ handling of Russia’s problems weaken his authority?

Answer 9

Belief in the divine right of kings and a strong Russian Orthodox faith meant that Nicholas didn’t actively try to solve Russia’s problems, believing instead that they were in God’s hands

Question 10

When was Nicholas forced to allow a State Duma to form?

Answer 10

1906

Question 11

What did the Duma do?

Answer 11

Hold meetings to debate politics and legislation

Question 12

How did Nicholas’ relationship with the Duma weaken his authority?

Answer 12

He refused to share any real power with them frustrating those who were hoping for a more democratic political system
Meant he remained solely responsible for Russia’s problems

Question 13

Who were the three main Tsarist opposition groups

Answer 13

1. the Liberals
2. the SRs
3. the SDs

Question 14

Who were the Liberals?

Answer 14

• a loose collection of groups that favoured reform and a constitutional monarchy
• included the Kadets, the Octobrists and the Progressives

Question 15

Who were the Social Revolutionaries?

Answer 15

• the Socialist Revolutionary Party was founded in 1901
• mainly represented peasant interests (including land reform)
• suffered from extreme divisions: some extreme SRs believed in political assassination but the moderate wing gained influence after 1905

Question 16

Who were the Social Democrats?

Answer 16

• the All-Russian Social Democrat Labour Party was founded in 1898
• represented the proletariat
• split into Bolsheviks and Mensheviks in 1903

Question 17

Why did the SDs split

Answer 17

They argued about how to apply Marxism to the Russian situation

Question 18

What were two of the most important impacts of WWI?

Answer 18

• Food shortages in towns and cities
• A soaring cost of living

Question 19

Reasons for food shortages

Answer 19

1. Millions of men conscripted into army = labour shortages in farm and factories = reduced food supplies
2. Peasants hoarded grain rather than selling it
3. Food supplies prioritised for the army = towns undersupplied
4. Railways system used to transport military supplies, supplying towns a lower priority

Question 20

Reasons for soaring cost of living

Answer 20

1. Govt raised taxes and took on huge loans to pay for the war
2. Raised prices due to shortages of food and manufactured products = inflation
3. Increased unemployment as non-military factories forced to close because of lack of supplies

Question 21

Who was most of the discontent expressed towards?

Answer 21

Those in positions of power: employers, landlords, army officers

Question 22

How was most of the discontent expressed?

Answer 22

In strikes, unrest in the countryside and desertations of the armed forces

Question 23

Battle of Tannenberg

Answer 23

August 1914
approx 300,000 killed or wounded
1,000s taken prisoner

Question 24

What was a major weakness of the Russian army, contributing to numerous defeats?

Answer 24

A lack of weapons, ammunition, equipment and clothes for the troops

Question 25

How did the zemstvas respond to the war effort?

Answer 25

The liberal zemstva saw government failures as a call to action
- the All Russian Union of Zemstva and Cities was set up in June 1915 to provide the medical facilities which the state seemed to neglect
- Factory owners and businessmen set up a Congress of Representatives of Industry and Business to help coordinate production for the war effort

Question 26

What did Prince Lvov chair?

Answer 26

the All Russian Union of Zemstva and Cities

Question 27

How did Nicholas react to the zemstvas?

Answer 27

He refused to let it take any part in his government’s management of the war

Question 28

The Progressive Bloc

Answer 28

made up of more than half of the Duma deputies
demanded that responsibility for the war effort be handed over to a civilian government
Nicholas refused them (further increased liberal discontent)

Question 29

What did Nicholas do that made him more responsible for the war?

Answer 29

Took on the role of Commander in Chief of Russia’s armed forces in Sept 1915
Lacked the necessary military experience
Made him directly responsible for all the failures of the war effort

Question 30

How did Alexandra and Rasputin worsen discontent?

Answer 30

Nicholas effectively left Alexandra to govern Petrograd and she relied on Rasputin
Her reliance on a peasant appalled the aristocracy

Question 31

What happened to Rasputin?

Answer 31

Prince Yusupov (one of the Tsar’s relations) assassinated him in Dec 1916

Question 32

When was the Progressive Bloc formed?

Answer 32

August 1915