Collapse of Tsars

Question 1

Social structure of tsarist Russia

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Tsars 3 principles

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Nicholas II

Answer 3

Came to throne in 1894

Was not equipped to manage Russia through major social and economic change

Question 4

Challenges posed by peasants and workers

Answer 4

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 -

Question 5

Political opposition against tsarism

Answer 5

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

Question 6

1905 revolution

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Dumas

Answer 7

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

Question 8

WW1

Answer 8

The war caused great distress in cities
Military failures led to discontent
the Tsar left the Tsarina with Rasputin

Question 9

February revolution

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Did the Tsar contribute to his downfall

Answer 10

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