Chapter 7 Flashcards
What can be said about Nicholas II’s personality
Nicholas had excellent manners, could speak several languages and a good memory, but politics bored him
How did Nicholas II’s upbringing affect his autocratic rule
- Brought up by Konstantin Pobendonostev
- Raised to believe any weakness or concessions were a sign of faliure or cowardice on his part
Nicholas II’s Russification policies from 1894-1904
- Continued Alexander III’s harsh policies
- Supported right-wing nationalistic gangs like the Black Hundreds
- Increasing anti-semitism
What key event before Nicholas II’s accension made society as a whole more politicised
The Great Famine 1891-92
Evidence to show that unrest was brutally supressed by Nicholas II’s from 1894-04
- In 1901, a squadron of mounted cossacks charged into a crowd of students in St Petersburg
- Killed 13, and imprisoned 1,500
Evidence to show rural unrest before Stolypin’s reforms
- From 1902-07
- Peasants set fire to landowners barns, destroyed grain and physically attacked landowners
- Worse in central provinces
How did Stolypin deal with rural unrest
- Ferociously
- Floggings, executions and exiling peasants in their thousands
- Only aggrivated the situation further
Consequence of Stolypin dealing with peasant unrest
Ferocity of his actions further only aggrivated the situation further
Evidence for urban unrest 1894-1904
Industrial strikes rose from 17,000 in 1894 to 90,000 in 1904
What was the significance of the Russo-Japanese War 1904-05
- Humiliating defeat for Russia
- Strong correlation between losses in the war, and discontent in 1905
What was the first event of the 1905 revolution
On 3rd January, strikes began at Putilov Iron Works in St Petersburg, with 150,000 involved
What occured on 9th January 1905 (Bloody Sunday)
- Gapon led a peaceful march to the Winter Palace demonstrating the worker’s loyalty but also requesting constitutional reform
- 12,000 troops used to break-up demonstration
- At Narva Gates, workers were charged with cavalry leaving 40 dead, and hundreds wounded
Evidence to show military discontent in 1894-1904
- In June 1904
- Mutiny on Battleship Pomekin over mouldy meat rations
- 2000 killed and 3000 injured
What event sparked the October Manifesto
- General strike in Moscow brought country to standstill
- The tsar’s uncle threatened to shoot himself unless reform was instituted
When October Manifesto signed, and what involve
- October 17th 1905
- Promised contitutional reform through the introduction of the State Duma
Public reaction to October Manifesto
General strike called off, and street celebrations
What group of society was negatively affected by the October Manifesto
Jews - suffered terrible pogroms in final months of 1905
With the October Manifesto easing urban unrest, how did Nicholas II ease rurual unrest in 1905
Redeption payments halved on 3rd November 1905
How were the Duma’s flawed from the outset
- Voting favoured peasantry and nobility who were assumed to support Nicholas II
- Nicholas could veto decisions
When were the Fundamental Laws introduced
5 days before the first Duma met
What did the Funamental Laws decree
Nicholas could dissolve the Duma at will, and rule by decree
How critical was the first Duma and why
- Less critical than 2nd as boycotted by Bolsheviks and SR’s
- Dissolved after 10 weeks
How critical was second Duma and why
All political parties participated and so was very critical
What was Nicholas II’s response to the second Duma
- Reduced weight of peasants + workers vote
- Increased weight of nobilities vote
- End of hope of Constitutional Reform for SR’s and SD’s
How critical was the third duma and why
Very submissive - agreed to 2200 of the 2500 government proposals
How critical was the fourth duma and why
Largely ignored, and influence declined leading up to the war
How did Stolypin deal with poltical rural unrest
- In 1906, Stolypin estabslihed court martials to deal with crimes of political intent
- Accused weren’t allowed a defense
- 3000 executed from 1906-09
How had issues with government changed from 1904-14
None of the issues sparking the 1905 revolution had been resolved
Summary about Nicholas II’s rule leading to autocratic instability
While the Russian people became more urbanised, educated and politicised, Nicholas II tried to maintain the seventeenth century autocracy of the dynasty’s founder
