Collapse of Tsars Flashcards
Social structure of tsarist Russia
Nobility - owned 25% of land
Middle - professional lifestyles were increasing
Urban workers - mostly ex-peasants, poor standard of living
Peasants - Kulaks were better off than majority of peasants - very poor lifestyle
Tsars 3 principles
Autocracy - the autocrat could rule the country however they wanted
Nationality - Tsar had an obligation to preserve Russian identity
Orthodoxy - Russian orthodox church split from the Pope and Rome
Nicholas II
Came to throne in 1894
Was not equipped to manage Russia through major social and economic change
Challenges posed by peasants and workers
Peasants - 80% of population who lived a very tough life
- felt betrayed by emancipation
- too much subsistence farming
- however agricultural output was rising
Workers - 3 million in 1900, resented their working conditions
- high literacy rate lead to more expression of views
- many strikes in late 1800s -
Political opposition against tsarism
SRs - placed their hope for revolution in peasants
- Victor Chernov accepted that a period of capitalism may be needed
SDs (Bolsheviks + Mensheviks)
Bolsheviks - Lenin believed a party should operate under centralised leadership
- thought party should be made of small no. of professionals
Mensheviks - believed more in democracy
- encouraged trade unions
1905 revolution
Causes - Bloody Sunday - volatile society - poor harvest in 1901 - failures in Russo-Japanese war in 1904-5 - growing opposition Why did the Tsar survive - loyalty of army - opposition not coordinated - middle class feared violence
Dumas
1st - 1906 Tsar dissolved Duma
2nd - 1907 dissolved but progress made
3rd - 1907-12 electoral system favoured upper classes
- was no biased to the Right but not subservient
4th - 1912-14 similar to 3rd
- progress in health and education
WW1
The war caused great distress in cities
Military failures led to discontent
the Tsar left the Tsarina with Rasputin
February revolution
The unrest was triggered by food shortages in the city, which were caused by WW1 On 8th March there were demonstrations, starting with int. women day Few days later police opened fire on demonstrators - led to mutiny of Petrograd garrison The soviet (socialists) looked likely to take control
Did the Tsar contribute to his downfall
Weak personality - not capable
Resisted political change - not allowing local govt.
Misjudgements - not aware of dangers of Feb revolution
NO:
WW1 played a role
Opposition groups - especially Bolsheviks
Socio economic strain
Political change
Industrialisation and Modernisation