dissent and revolution Flashcards

1
Q

Who was the autocratic Emperor of Russia in 1917?

A

Tsar Nicholas II, a member of the Romanov dynasty that had ruled Russia since 1613.

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2
Q

At what age did Tsar Nicholas II inherit the throne?

A

He inherited the throne in 1894 at the age of 26.

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3
Q

What significant event happened to Tsar Nicholas II’s grandfather?

A

His reformist grandfather, Tsar Alexander II, was blown up by a revolutionary bomb.

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4
Q

How did Tsar Nicholas II’s father influence him?

A

His father, Alexander III, was determined to uphold tsarist power without concessions.

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5
Q

What type of environment was Tsar Nicholas II brought up in?

A

He was brought up in a sheltered environment.

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6
Q

Who tutored Tsar Nicholas II?

A

He was tutored by the arch-conservative Konstantin Pobedonostsev.

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7
Q

What ideology was instilled in Tsar Nicholas II from a young age?

A

The moral correctness of autocracy.

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8
Q

Who was Nikolai Aleksandrovich Romanov?

A

Nikolai Aleksandrovich Romanov was the Tsar of Russia who never wanted to be Tsar but felt a divine calling to uphold autocracy.

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9
Q

What event led to the revolution in Russia in 1905?

A

Defeat in a war against Japan from 1904 to 1905 led to strikes and a revolution after the Tsarist army shot at a crowd demanding reforms on Bloody Sunday in January 1905.

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10
Q

What was the State Duma?

A

The State Duma was a legislative body that Nicholas was forced to establish, but he restricted its powers.

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11
Q

What happened in February 1917?

A

Popular demonstrations forced Tsar Nicholas to abdicate due to his handling of the First World War.

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12
Q

What happened to Nicholas after his abdication?

A

Nicholas was executed by Bolsheviks in January 1918.

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13
Q

How did Nicholas’s personality affect his rule?

A

Nicholas’s shy and awkward personality made him ill-suited for the role of Tsar, leading to over-cautiousness and difficulty in making political decisions.

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14
Q

What was Nicholas’s view on advice and criticism?

A

Nicholas resented uncalled-for advice, viewing it as criticism, and he was extremely stubborn.

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15
Q

What was Nicholas’s approach to his ministers?

A

Nicholas kept his ministers weak to preserve his authority, pitting them against each other and dismissing them without personal confrontation.

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16
Q

How did Nicholas view his rule in relation to earlier Muscovite rulers?

A

Nicholas liked to think of himself as ruling in the tradition of earlier Muscovite rulers, believing in a strong bond with the masses.

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17
Q

What challenges weakened political authority in Russia by early 1917?

A

Nicholas’s reluctance to innovate, state finance problems, and disorganization in Tsarist government weakened political authority.

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18
Q

Who introduced her husband to Grigorii Rasputin?

A

Tsarina Alexandra introduced her husband, Tsar Nicholas II, to Grigorii Rasputin.

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19
Q

What condition did Aleksei suffer from?

A

Aleksei suffered from haemophilia, an inherited disease that prevented his blood from clotting.

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20
Q

What negative influence did Rasputin have on Tsar Nicholas II?

A

Rasputin interfered in government appointments and damaged Nicholas’ reputation due to his womanising and drunkenness.

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21
Q

What significant event occurred in 1913 for Tsar Nicholas II?

A

In 1913, Nicholas celebrated the tercentenary of Romanov rule with jubilee rituals across Russia.

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22
Q

What was Tsar Nicholas II’s perception of his people’s feelings towards him?

A

Nicholas believed that ‘my people love me’ despite the discontent around him.

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23
Q

What was Tsarina Alexandra’s background?

A

Tsarina Alexandra was of German descent and the granddaughter of Queen Victoria of England.

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24
Q

What was the impact of Rasputin on Alexandra and Nicholas’s political position?

A

Alexandra’s devotion to Rasputin and her lack of political understanding weakened Nicholas’s position.

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25
Q

What happened to Tsarina Alexandra and her family in 1918?

A

Tsarina Alexandra and her family were shot in March 1918.

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26
Q

How did the public react to the Romanov tercentenary celebrations in 1913?

A

Crowds cheered and waved banners, expressing their support for the Tsar during the celebrations.

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27
Q

What symbolic event occurred at Kazan Cathedral during the tercentenary?

A

A pair of doves flew from the rafters, which Nicholas interpreted as a sign of God’s blessing on his dynasty.

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28
Q

What did Nicholas do during the royal family’s tour of ‘old Muscovy’?

A

Nicholas led the way on a white horse, receiving adulation from confetti-throwing crowds.

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29
Q

What is pan-Slavism?

A

A belief that Slav races should be united and look to Russia as the supreme Slav country for leadership.

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30
Q

What are war credits?

A

The raising of taxes and loans to finance war.

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31
Q

What event in June 1914 led to Russia’s involvement in World War I?

A

The assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a young Slav in Sarajevo.

32
Q

Why did Russia identify with Serbia in 1914?

A

Because Serbia was a fellow Slav nation and Russia had ambitions to dominate the Balkan area.

33
Q

What was the Tsar’s response to support Serbia in July 1914?

A

The Tsar mobilised his armies in support of Serbia.

34
Q

Which countries declared war alongside Russia after Austria’s declaration?

A

Britain and France.

35
Q

What was the initial public sentiment in Russia regarding the war?

A

The decision to go to war was popular initially and supported by anti-German sentiment.

36
Q

What happened to the State Duma during the war?

A

The State Duma dissolved itself, declaring it did not want to burden the country with unnecessary politics in wartime.

37
Q

What was the new name of St. Petersburg during the war?

A

Petrograd.

38
Q

What was the outcome of the Battle of Tannenburg in August 1914?

A

The Russian army suffered a disastrous defeat, with 300,000 dead or wounded.

39
Q

What were the conditions faced by Russian soldiers during the early years of the war?

A

Soldiers fought without suitable weaponry, warm clothing, and proper footwear.

40
Q

What was the situation with Russian infantry rifles in 1914?

A

There were only two rifles for every three soldiers.

41
Q

What was the artillery situation for Russian forces in 1915?

A

It was not unusual for Russian artillery to be limited to two to three shells per day.

42
Q

What was the Brusilov offensive?

A

A Russian attempt to push westwards from the Ukraine and break through the Austro-Hungarian lines in June 1916.

43
Q

What led to a fall in morale among Russian troops by the end of 1916?

A

Loss of experienced officers, heavy casualties, and a deteriorating economic and political situation within Russia.

44
Q

How many desertions occurred by the end of 1916?

A

1.5 million desertions.

45
Q

What were the years between 1914 marked by?

A

The years between 1914 were marked by disputes over the war effort.

46
Q

What did the Tsarist government set up during the war?

A

The Tsarist government set up military zones within the country.

47
Q

What was the response of the liberal zemstva to the government’s actions?

A

The liberal zemstva opposed the government’s insensitivity and believed civilians should play a major role in the war effort.

48
Q

What organization did the zemstva establish to provide medical facilities?

A

The zemstva established a Union of Zemstva to provide medical facilities.

49
Q

What was the Congress of Representatives of Industry and Business?

A

It was set up by factory owners and businessmen to help coordinate production.

50
Q

What was Zemgor?

A

Zemgor was the All Russian Union of Zemstva and Cities formed in June 1915.

51
Q

Who chaired Zemgor?

A

Zemgor was chaired by Prince Lvov.

52
Q

How did Nicholas II respond to Zemgor?

A

Nicholas II shunned Zemgor, which became a focus for liberal discontent.

53
Q

What did the ‘Progressive bloc’ demand in August 1915?

A

The ‘Progressive bloc’ demanded that the Tsar change his ministers and establish a government of public confidence.

54
Q

What was the political reform opportunity presented to Nicholas II?

A

He had the chance to transfer responsibility for the war effort to a civilian government.

55
Q

Who was Prince Lvov?

A

Prince Lvov was a wealthy aristocrat, lawyer, and leader of Zemgor in 1915.

56
Q

What decision did the Tsar make in September 1915?

A

The Tsar decided to take the role of Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army and Navy.

57
Q

What was the impact of Nicholas II’s decision to become Commander-in-Chief?

A

It did not help his cause and made him appear more responsible for military disasters.

58
Q

How did Nicholas II’s military experience affect the war effort?

A

He lacked military experience, which contributed to the varying disasters faced by his troops.

59
Q

What was Rasputin’s role during this period?

A

Rasputin meddled in political appointments and policy decisions.

60
Q

Who was Mikhail Rodzianko?

A

Mikhail Rodzianko (1859-1924) was a wealthy landowner and chairman of the Fourth Duma.

61
Q

What political party did Mikhail Rodzianko join?

A

He joined the Octobrist party.

62
Q

What role did Rodzianko play in World War I?

A

He supported Russia’s entry into the First World War and tried to serve the Tsar loyally.

63
Q

What committee did Rodzianko head in 1917?

A

He was chosen as the head of the Duma’s Provisional Committee.

64
Q

What significant event did Rodzianko’s committee set up?

A

The Provisional Government in 1917.

65
Q

What happened to Rodzianko in November 1917?

A

He went into exile.

66
Q

What rumors surrounded Rasputin?

A

Rumors abounded that Rasputin was having an affair with Alexandra.

67
Q

What was Rasputin accused of in relation to the Russian government?

A

He was accused of sabotaging the Russian government.

68
Q

How many ministers were changed between 1915-16?

A

There were six Prime Ministers, three Ministers of Defence, and one Interior Minister.

69
Q

What did Mikhail Rodzianko warn Nicholas II about?

A

He warned Nicholas in vain of Rasputin’s unpopularity and the damage he was doing to the Tsarist cause.

70
Q

Who murdered Rasputin and when?

A

Prince Yusupov murdered Rasputin in December 1916.

71
Q

What did Nicholas II’s letters to Alexandra reveal?

A

They showed more anxiety about the children’s measles than about the public’s hunger.

72
Q

What economic challenges did Russia face during the war?

A

The government increased taxes and raised huge loans, leading to massive inflation.

73
Q

What was the impact of the war on food supplies?

A

Food supplies to towns fell due to a shortage of workers and hoarding by peasants.

74
Q

What happened to the railway system during the war?

A

The railway system virtually collapsed under the strain of war.

75
Q

What was a significant factor in the 1905 Revolution?

A

The discontent caused by long queues to buy bread in Petrograd.