chapter 10/11 Flashcards
what was the common zemstva ideology, what was their reputation created by and why did they resent tsardom
-liberal
-dealing with the Great Famine 1891-92 while the government was incompetent
-alexander III reducing powers
what did nicholas II infamously refer to as a “senseless dream”?
the 1895 Tver Zemstvo petitioning for an advisory body
what political formation was a warning sign of future rebellion?
-the union of liberation 1903
-desire for a peaceful evolution of russia under industrialisation
-want workers to be able to campaign for rights through government bodies
-disagrees with violent nature of marxism
who was assassinated in 1901 and for what reason
minister of education Bogolepov
done by students inspired by the peoples’ will
describe the SR party until 1906
-social revolutionary party formed 1902
-for those who wish to appeal to peasantry relating to land socialisation and decentralising gov
-loose organisation comprised of varying groups
-first congress in 1906
-marxism and populism combined
how did the SRs find support
-advertised that workers and peasants must work together as their problems are so similar - the ‘labouring poor’
-wanted to socialism the land not nationalise. set apart from total marxists
-stir up discontent in countryside
-disrupt gov through political assassination
who were the supporters of the SR party
-large peasant membership
-50% of supporters from urban working class
how many assassinations were the SR party responsible for 1901-1905
2000 political assassinations
very influential in revolution due to their seperate ‘combat organisation’
what current event in russia from the 1890s grew and influenced the spread of marxist ideas
-industrial development at a more rapid pace than ever before
when was the social democratic workers’ party formed
1898 - held first congress
marxist ideas - revolution must come from the working men themselves
wanted mass working-class memberships
why was there a split between the bolsheviks and mensheviks of the SDs
1903 split is official
lenin wanted a focus on professional revolutionaries to lead the working class
Martov wanted the working class to revolutionise themselves
list two major differences between the mensheviks and the bolsheviks
-bolsheviks want small scale operations between highly skilled members as to not draw police attention / mensheviks believe party should be open to all and work w TUs and worker groups
-bolsheviks believe revolution must be lead by skilled members guiding workers / mensheviks believe workers must start revolution themselves
when were trade unions legalised
1905
what is a sign the trade union movement was not successful
between 1906-1910, 500 were closed down and 600 were denied registration
only really kept skilled male jobs (metal trades)
mainly in st petersburg
signs that the trade union movement contributed to the tensions
-strikes, fines demonstrate anger and opposition
-shows failure to pacify working class
what was an issue that made it hard to create a singular opposition force
-many different nationalities created lack of a single, strong opposition after 1905 as all wanted different things
eg. poles want full independence
ukrainians were not yet at a stage of this
how were issues with opposition from political parties
-SR and SD party leaders were exiled 1906
-menshevik and bolshevik split
-SD and SR rivalry
-ideological differences
-lack of planning
what was the result of the disorganised opposition
-membership declines
-maintained underground organisations
how did the country initially view the decision to join WW1
-supporting
-much anti-german sentiments
which battle caused support for the war to decrease
Battle of Taennenburg
August 1914
300,000 dead or wounded
what was a clear issue that arose in the development of the war
Russia’s underdeveloped military techniques, equipment, training and transport
what was an example of zemsva support that demonstrated the military incompetence
‘Union of zemstva’
provided medical facilities that the state had neglected
what were the demands of the ‘progressive bloc’
August 1915 - deputies of the fourth duma
demand the tsar change ministers
constitutional monarchy
transfer responsibility to a civilian government
what did the tsar do in response which proved his traditionalism
in september 1915 he suspends sittings of the duma until January 1917
what major decision did the tsar make to boost popularity which backfired
sep 1915
decides to join front line fighting and command
had already lost support of russian general staff
not enough expertise to be effective
who had taken charge in the city while nicholas was gone
rasputin
what was rasputins reputation
-cheating with the tsar’s german wife alexandra
-an evil influence - related to witchcraft
-political schemer - influenced the change of 3/4 ministers
-‘filthy, vicious peasant’ and also a sexual deviant
what was the tsars reputation at this time
-married a german woman - unpopular due to WW1
-incompetent in military and gov matters
-under the hand of rasputin
-very negative
how many men were conscripted for the military between 1914 and 1917
15 million
mainly conscript peasants
unable to provide for all of them - two rifles between 3 soldiers
caused morale to drop and 1.5 million desertions in 1916
what was spending on the war in 1918
over 15 millon roubles
what were economic troubles caused by the war
-prices offered by gov for goods such as grain were low
-grain did not always reach town workers as everything went to soldiers
-unemployment rose
-300% rise in cost of living
-jan 1917 150000 workers striked in petrograd
what is a key disasturous demonstration that escalated tensions in petrograd
-bloody sunday January 1917
-150,000 workers peacefully protest and try to raise awareness in the tsar
-they love the tsar
-soldiers are told to open fire
-1000 wounded or killed
what happened on 24/02/1917
200,000 workers strike, overturn tsarist statues, wave red flags and sing la marseillaise to threaten revolution
the next day 250,000 strike and petrograd is at a near standstill
on the 26th a telegram is sent to the tsar of the situation and he ignores
what happened 27/02/1917
-military force ordered on demonstrators
-a mutiny from the soldiers as a sergeant kills a commanding officer
66,000 soldiers join the protestors and provide rifles
what happened 28/02/1917
the tsar is advised to return to petrograd and the leader of the duma tells him it is time to resign
what happened 02/03/1917
tsar accepts offer of his abdication being replaced by his son and younger brother
his brother refuses the role
what was a rebellion that solidified the revolution
kronstadt naval base - supported bolshevik power and any military overturnings are terrible signs for gov
what were the most important events in escalating tension and causing the abdication?
-bloody sunday 01/17
-27/02/1917 military mutiny
