Fall of Romanov Dynasty

Question 1

What caused Nicholas II to become Tsar and in what year?

Answer 1

Death (kidney failure) of father, Tsar Alexander III, in 1894

Question 2

When was Nicholas II born?

Answer 2

1868

Question 3

When did Nicholas II marry and to who?

Answer 3

1894, to German Princess Alix (Alexandra) of Hesse-Darmstadt.

Nicholas becomes Tsar

Question 4

Who were Nicholas II & Alexandra’s children and years of birth?

Answer 4

5 children: Olga (1895), Tatiana (1897), Marie (1899), Anastasia (1901) and Alexis (1904, son).

4 daughters, 1 son as heir (haemophilia)

Question 5

What is haemophilia?

Answer 5

An inherited bleeding disorder where the blood fails to clot.

In the 1900s, there was no cure, so even a small cut could result in death. Therefore a potential weakness/target to opposition forces if known

Question 6

What was the ‘October Manifesto’?

Answer 6

A document issued by Nicholas II at the height of the 1905 Revolution and after a year of riots/distrubances, promising political reforms and relaxations (specifically promising a constitution)

Question 7

When was the First Russian Duma and what happened?

Answer 7

In 1906, the First Russian Duma (parliament) meets, but dissolves after ten weeks as it questions the Tsar’s authority

Question 8

What temporarily united Russia behind Nicholas II?

Answer 8

The break out of WW1 in 1914

Question 9

What began the downfall of Nicholas II in 1915?

Answer 9

His role as army commander-in-chief, involving himself with Russia’s military failures in the war.

This includes military defeats, lack of ammunition, and poor medical facilities which were now blamed on him

Question 10

When was Rasputin murdered and why?

Answer 10

1916, due to his influence over Alexandra which attracted criticism, therefore threatening the Russian Empire

Question 11

When and why did Russia become a republic?

Answer 11

1917, Nicholas II abdicates in the face of the revolution.

This led to the establishment of the ‘Russian Provisional Government’ formed by the Duma (parliament) after the collapse of the Romanov dynasty

Question 12

When, where and why were Nicholas II, Alexandra and their children executed?

Answer 12

1918 in Ekaterinburg.

The local Bolshevik command, with Lenin’s approval, decided to execute in fear that the ‘White Army’ would free the Tsar

Question 13

Bolshevik

Answer 13

Member of the majority faction of the Russian Social Democratic Party, which seized power in the October Revolution of 1917.

Bascially, a person with politically subversive or radical views (a revolutionary)

Question 14

White Army

Answer 14

The White Army represented a large group of loosely allied forces, including monarchists, capitalists and supporters of democratic socialism. CONFIRM

Question 15

Define abdicate

Answer 15

Relinquish the throne

Question 16

Define autocracy

Answer 16

State governed by someone with absolute power

Question 17

Define bourgeoisie

Answer 17

Middle class; materialist views (capitalist)

Question 18

Define cossack

Answer 18

Elite Russian/Ukrainian soldier who was loyal to the Tsar

Question 19

Define Duma

Answer 19

Russian parliament

Question 20

Define dynasty

Answer 20

Family of rulers

Question 21

Define fundamental laws

Answer 21

Established the power of the Tsar in relation to the Duma

Question 22

Define industrialisation

Answer 22

Developing a state’s heavy industry (energy, communications, steel production, military industrial complex)

Question 23

What was the ideology of Marxism?

Answer 23

Ideology associated with communism (Karl Marx)

In a Marxist society, no social classes are in conflict, and there is no government anymore

Question 24

Who were the Okhrana?

Answer 24

Secret police

Question 25

Define provisional government

Answer 25

The government that ruled Russia between the March and October Revolutions

Question 26

Define Tsar

Answer 26

Emperor in Russia before 1917

Question 27

Conditions in Russia before 1917

Answer 27

Before 1917, Russian empire was politically, economically and socially 'backwards'. There was little industry and the vast majority of the population were peasant farmers. Peasants and workers suffered horrendous living and working conditions which therefore posed a threat to the Tsarist regime. Discontent increased in the years before 1905 to form riots, illegal strikes and protests.

Question 28

Positive/negative features of Nicholas II

Answer 28

Positive: loylty to and love for Russia, strong sense of duty, stitled affection for the peasantry Negative: blindly conservative, elitist, racist, indecisive, understood minimal constitutional, social and economical problems and was therefore an incompetent military ruler, lack of commanding personality