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A-Level Russia 1891-1924 Pearson Edexcel > Chapter 2: Nicholas II's Early Rule (1894-1905) > Flashcards

Chapter 2: Nicholas II's Early Rule (1894-1905) Flashcards

1894-1905

1
Q

What year did Nicholas II come to the throne?

A

1894

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2
Q

Was Nicholas a progressive Tsar?

A

No. He inherited repressive policies & his upbringing made his suspicious of change.

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3
Q

Who was Konstantin Pobedonostev?

A

Nicholas’ tutor. Didn’t like parlimentary democracy & supported only autocracy.

BIG influence on young Nicholas.

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4
Q

Russification

A

Severely enforced policy which restricted the influence of non-Russian National minorities by emphasising the superiority of all things Russian.

Aimed to impose Russian culture & ways on life on these people.

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5
Q

Some nationalities that suffered because of Russification?

A

Polish, Ukrainian, Baltic German.

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6
Q

how many measures were introduced against the Jews due to Russification?

And what did they do?

A

Over 600!

Heavy social, political, and economical restrictions.

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7
Q

What were ‘Black Hundreds’

A

A group of ultra-conservative Russian people who were known for their attacks on Jewish ppl.

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8
Q

Did the number of pogroms increase under Nicholas’ II reign?

And what does this show?

A

YES. Proof of Tsarist regime’s active encouragement of terrorising the Jewish population.

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9
Q

What did Nicholas’ tight controls do?

A

Increased opposition to Tsardom. A number of political parties came into being (from moderate reformers to violent revolutionaries).

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10
Q

Was Russification good?

A

NO. national minorities made up half the population & it alienated the 5 million Jewish people who fled in large numbers.

This was a critical stage for unity for Tsardom as well!

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11
Q

What did the remaining Jews form in 1897?

A

A revolutionary ‘bund’ (union)

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12
Q

What was the ‘Great Spurt’

A

The spread of industry & increase in production in 1890s Russia.

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13
Q

Which ministers aided the ‘‘Great Spurt’ ?

A

Sergei Witte
Peter Stolypin

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14
Q

Why did the Tsar want the ‘Great Spurt’ ?

A

Military goals. It did benefit financiers but the Tsar wanted better strength for the army.

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15
Q

Sergei Witte: minister of finance from 18 _ to 19 _

A

Sergei Witte: minister of finance from 1892 to 1903

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16
Q

What did Witte do to aid the Great Spurt?

A
  • Invited foreign experts & engineers into Russia to aid with planning
  • Negotiated large loans & investments from abroad.
  • Set up protective tarriffs.
  • Put Russia’s currency on the gold standard in 1897.

Eg from Belgium and France.

Largely successful but consumers had to pay higher prices.

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17
Q

What is State Capitalism?

A

The direction & control of the economy by the govt.

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18
Q

What did Witte think could modernise Russia?

A

State Capitalism- he was impressed with the system in the USA and Europe.

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19
Q

Was the Trans-Siberian railway successful?

A

Meant to encourage the migration of workers to needed areas.
Didn’t realy work & parts were still incomplete in 1914.
BUT was a symbol of Russian enterprise.
(Rather than economic work)

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20
Q

Did Russia have a growth in production in 1898 - 1913 ?

A

YES. Almost double that of Britain -
BUT
Russia had started from a much lower economic level, so was catching up to the European level.

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21
Q

3 Issues with Witte’s reforms:

A
  • Russia too dependent on foreign loans.
  • Neglected areas of ‘light engineering’ which would have helped to modernise manufacturing.
  • Didn’t pay attention to Russia’s agricultural needs.
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22
Q

Why did Witte leave the ministry in 1903?

A

The Tsar forced him to resign.

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23
Q

Was Witte good for Russia.

A

YES. He may have been disliked by the court and was never fully trusted, but he could have led Russia towards peaceful modernisation.

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24
Q

Why did the Great Spurt end by 1900?

A

International trade recession after international economic boom.

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25
Q

Why was there overcrowding in the cities in 1900?

A

Many people had migrated to the cities during the GS. This had not been supervised & the facilities for accomodating workers were very poor.

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26
Q

Why was there widespread unrest in the cities in the 1900s?

A

Economic recession –> Overcrowding & inadequate facilities + Mass unemployment.

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27
Q

Figure: Growth of people in St Petersburg in 1881 & 1897

A

1881: 750,000
1897: 1,200,000

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28
Q

4 Main areas of Witte’s reforms:

A
  • Foreign Loans
  • Capital Investment
  • Industrialisation
  • Railways
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29
Q

2 Main groups opposed Tsardom in Nicholas’ reign:

A

Revolutionaries
Liberals

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30
Q

The Revolutionaries composed of 3 major groups:

A
  • Populists
  • Social Revolutionaries (SRs)
  • Social Democrats (SDs)
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31
Q

Another name for the Populists

A

Narodniks

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32
Q

The Populists (N- ) regarded the future of Russia being in the hands of the _

A

The Populists (Narodniks) regarded the future of Russia being in the hands of the Peasants

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33
Q

The Populist leaders drawn from the _

A

Middle & upper classes.

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34
Q

Populists thought their role was to _ the peasants.

A

Educate the peasants into an awareness of their revolutionary role.

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35
Q

Were the populists successful?

A

No. Peasants regrded them as thinkers who didn’t know about ‘real life’.

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36
Q

What was the populist group founded in 1879?

A

“The people’s will”

Over 400 strong!

Murdered Alexander II- ironic. Killed a reforming Tsar & justified repression afterwards.

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37
Q

What was lasting about Populism?

A

Established a violent anti-Tsarist tradition.
All revolutionaries after 1870 influenced by the Populists.

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38
Q

The SRs grew directly out of what movement?

A

The Populist Movement.

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39
Q

What did the SRs do to gain recruits?

A

Agtitate the workers in the cities –>
The concept of “the people”- all of society.

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40
Q

Who was Victor Chernov?

A

Leader of SRs in 1901

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41
Q

Was there infighting in the SRs?

A

YES- Trotsky:
“Left SRs and Right SRs” were two competing groups.

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42
Q

What were the ‘Left SRs’ ?

A

Wanted to continue terrorist policy of “The people’s will”

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43
Q

What were the ‘Right SRs’ ?

A

More moderate. prepared to cooperate with other parties for an immediate improvement in peasant conditions.

44
Q

Which side of the SRs dominated between 1901-1905?

+ figure?

A

LEFT
Over 2000 political assassinations including interior minister Plehve.
Great successes for them but didn’t bring together urban workers.

45
Q

The 1905 revolution meant that which side of the SRs gained control? And why?

A

RIGHT. The 1905 rev. brought more gains to the Liberals, so the right side took over.

46
Q

What did the SRs gain support from in 1906?

A

Professional classes,
All-Russian Union of Peasants (land policy),
Trade Unions.

47
Q

Were the SRs united in 1906?

A

NO. more a collection of radical groups.
BUT
Remained party with the largest popular following until 1917 (where they were outlawed by Bolsheviks)

48
Q

What was the aim of the SDs?

A

To achieve revolution in Russia following Marx’s ideas.

49
Q

What is “The Dialectic”

A

The violente struggle between opposites which takes place in nature & human society.
Marx referred to the class struggle as this.

50
Q

What were Marx’s ideas in Russia?

A

That the industrial era marked the final stage of the dialectical class struggle. The Proletariat would overthrow the Bourgeoisie.

51
Q

Why did Marx’s ideas attract revolutionaries?

A

The Great Spurt created the conditions in Russia for a successful revolution.

52
Q

Was Lenin the original leader of the SDs?

A

No. Members found the previous leader too theoretical.

53
Q

Who was the leader of the SDs in 1900?

A

Vladimiiiiirrrr LENIIIIIINNNNNN

54
Q

Lenin split the SDs: What did this cause?

A

The creation of the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks.

55
Q

5 areas of the Menshevik view:

A
  • Russia not yet ready for proletarian revolution.
  • Mass organisation, open membership to all revolutionaries.
  • Democratic discussions within- decisions voted upon by members.

<Alliance with all other revolutionary & bourgeois liberal parties.
<Support of trade unions: persuing better wages & conditions for workers (‘economism’)

56
Q

Menshevik view of Revolution:

A

Russia not yet ready for Proletarian revolution- bourgeois stage had to happen first.

57
Q

Menshevik view of the party

A

Mass organisation, open membership to all revolutionaries.

58
Q

Menshevik decision-making process

A

Democratic discussions within party. Decisions voted upon.

59
Q

Menshevik Strategy:

A
  • Alliance with all other revolutionary & bourgeois liberal parties.
  • Support of trade unions in pursuing better wages & conditions for workers (‘economism’)
60
Q

Bolshevik view of Revolution:

A

Bourgeois & proletarian stages could be combined into one revolution.

61
Q

Bolshevik view of The Party:

A

Exclusive organisation of professional revolutionaries

62
Q

Bolshevik Decision-making process

A

Authority exercised by central committee of party. ‘Democratic centralism’

63
Q

Bolshevik strategy

A
  • NO cooperation with other parties
  • ‘economism’ dismissed as biased towards bourgeoisie.
  • Aimed to turn workers into revolutionaries.
64
Q

Did Lenin play a big role before 1917?

A

NO. Exiled. Had role within the party but only played a minor role.

65
Q

Pre-1914: How many members made up the Bolsheviks?

A

5,000 - 10,000

66
Q

Were all the revolutionary groups organised and ‘freindly’?

A

No. Denied legal recongition, so had to resort to extreme acts.
They were suspicious and wary of each other.

67
Q

The three principal liberal parties:

A
  • Union of Liberation (UoL)
  • Octobrists
  • Kadets
68
Q

What did the Union of Liberation do?

A

Tried to bring the liberal groups together by highlighting shared goals.

69
Q

Significance of UoL

A
  • Helped prepare for 1905 revolution.
  • Indicated the range of anti-tsarist feeling that existed & advanced the arguments that progressive members of parliment suggested.
70
Q

What were the Octobrists?

A

Moderates who were loyal to the Tsar. Regarded the duma as a major constitutional advancement.

71
Q

Were the Octobrists liked by the revolutionaries?

A

No…
They were dismissed by revolutionaries who thought they were unwilling to challenge the system.

72
Q

Did the Octobrists want to challenge the Tsarist system?

A

To an extent…
In the Dumas Octobrists often voiced serious criticisms of the Tsarist govt.
They might have not wanted to overthrow the govt, but they were very willing to point out its failings.

73
Q

Which parties came into being in 1905?

A

Kadets
Octobrists

74
Q

What did the Kadets want?

A

Russia as a constutional monarchy.
= The powers of the Tsar restricted by a (voted) national assembly.

75
Q

Did the Kadets contain academics?

A

Yes, academics were prominent. Its leader (Paul Milyukov) was a professor of history.

76
Q

Which party was one of the most critical (of the Tsarist regime) in the Dumas?

A

Kadets.

77
Q

Kadet programme:

4 of 6

A
  • All- Russian Constituent Assembly.
  • Full equality & civil rights for citizens.
  • The ending of censorship.
  • Abolition of land mortgage repayments.
  • Recognition of trade unions.
  • Right to strike.
  • Introduction of free education.
78
Q

Why did Russia go to war with Japan?

3 Things 🦆🦆🦆

A
  • To persue an expressionist policy in the Far East (to make up for a loss in Europe).
  • To obtain an ice-free port.
  • To distract the nation from its domestic troubles.
79
Q

How long did it take for the Russian fleet to reach the Far East?

A

8 MONTHS.

80
Q

What was the treaty between the two countries called?

A

The Treaty of Portsmouth

81
Q

Why did the Treaty of Portsmouth come about?

A

The Russian fleet was defeated badly in the East as their navy was much better prepared.

82
Q

What was stated in the Treaty of Portsmouth?

A

Russia agreed to withdraw its forces from Manchuria & accepted Japanese control of Korea (& Port Arthur)

83
Q

Why did Russia lose the war?

3 Reasons 🦆🦆🦆

A
  • Commanders didn’t truly understand the enemy or the location.
  • Unimaginative stategy used by the Russian forces allowed the Japanese to outmanoeuvre.
  • Distance men & materials had to travel made adequate reinforcements and supplies impossible.
84
Q

Was the outcome of the war a matter for national pride?

A

NO. It exposed the incompetence of the government & agitated social unrest.

85
Q

In 1905 which main opposition classes opposed the Tsarist govt?

A
  • Industrial workers
  • Peasantry
  • Liberal middle class
86
Q

What did the 1905 revolution begin with?

A

‘Bloody Sunday’

87
Q

Events of Bloody Sunday:

A
  • A group of peaceful marchers led by a father Gapon set off to the Winter palace in St Petersburg
  • To present a loyal petition to the Tsar begging him to relieve their desperate conditions.
  • The march panicked the city police force.
  • The marchers were fired upon and charged by cavalry.
  • Up to 200 marchers were killed.
88
Q

Effect of Bloody Sunday on the Tsar:

A

Badly damaged the traditional image of the Tsar.

89
Q

What was the immediate reaction to the events on Bloody Sunday?

A

Widespread outbreak of disorder –>
- Strikes in all major towns.
- Terrorism against landlords & govt. officials spread to the countryside.

90
Q

What was a factor in motivating the peasants to commit disorder after Bloody Sunday?

A

The fear that the govt. was about to reposess the homes of families who hadn’t paid off their mortgages.

91
Q

What did Poland and Georgia do as a result of the govt’s difficulties in containing the unrest after Bloody Sunday?

A

Poland demanded autonomy
Georgia declared itself an independent state.

Autonomy = National self-government

92
Q

What was the ‘union of unions’ ?

A

A combination of the majority of liberal groups with the aim of organising a broad-based alliance that would include the peasants and factory workers.

93
Q

How did the Potemkin mutiny begin?

A

As a protest against the mouldy food and foul water.

94
Q

What happened on the Battleship Potemkin?

A

The crew killed their officers and took over the ship.
They sailed to Odessa where they were welcomed by strikers.
Troops dispersed the strikers- the civilian death toll was in the 1000s.
The crew left Odessa and moored the Potemkin in Romania.

95
Q

When did Witte return to the government and why?

A

June 1905- To negotiate peace terms with Japan.

He then became chairman of the council of ministers.

96
Q

The August Manifesto:

A

The Tsar allowed the creation of a state assembly at Witte’s advice
BUT
The powers of the Assembly were undefined & the Tsar did not want his power constricted in any way.

97
Q

Was the August Manifesto effective?

A

NO!
In September a series of strikes began in Moscow & St Petersburg. Workers were joined by students which brought universities to a standstill.

98
Q

What was Leon Trotsky in October 1905?

A

A Menshevik & chairman of the St Petersburg soviet.

99
Q

What was in the October Manifesto?

A

The acceptance of the creation of a Legislative Duma (A parliment with law-making powers).

100
Q

How were the Liberals appeased?

A

The October Manifesto, which included promises of freedom of speech & the legalising of trade unions.

101
Q

How were the Peasants pacified?

A

Their mortgage payments would be reduced and dropped entirely

102
Q

How were the workers pacified?

A

They weren’t.
The government took a course of repression- they destroyed the Soviets with loyal troops back from the East.

103
Q

Moscow uprising: what happened?

A
  • In December 1905, a group of Bolsheviks, Mensheviks, & SRs came together in the Moscow Soviet to orgainse a strike.
  • They siezed a number of key installations including railway stations and post offices.
  • Tsarist regiments were rushed to the area.
  • Heavy artillery was used to force the rebels into a smaller area.
  • The resisters surrendered 12days later.
  • It led to the deaths of over 1000 people.
104
Q

Did the revolutoinaries play a large part in the 1905 revolution?

A

NO- hardly any of them took part. Was the 1905 revolution really a “revolution” then?

105
Q

Was the Tsarist regime stronger or weaker after 1905?

A

Stronger:
- The munities in the armed forces did not spread.
- The peasants and liberals accepted the Tsar’s concessions readily. Shows that none of them were truly ready for a revolution.
- The Duma never became a limitation on the Tsar’s powers.

106
Q

What did the 1905 revolution show?

A
  • That if the army was loyal and the govt. kept its nerve, a serious challenge would be difficult.
  • It made the Liberals consider how much they wanted change in Russia- they were frightened of the workers.
  • Opposition lacked unity and direction.
  • First broad-based challenge to Tsardom
107
Q

What were the Fundamental Laws?

A

Reasserted the Tsar’s right to rule independently of the Duma when it was not in session. Also gave him the right to dissolve the Duma at any point.

(Absolute Power 🦆)

A-Level Russia 1891-1924 Pearson Edexcel (5 decks)

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