History AT1 essay Flashcards
thesis
In his attempt to maintain total autocratic power as an unfit ruler, Nicholas II made many serious blunders which sent Russia into turmoil, simultaneously causing the development of social and political opposition to the Romanov Dynasty in 1917 which came to a head when he was forced to abdicate
Body paragraph structure
Paragraph one: social (serfdom and 1905 revolution)
paragraph two: political (Russo-Japanese and WW1)
Emancipation Proclamation (1861)
gave Serfs their freedom from the lords, but the serfs had to pay for their land in redemption payments
results of the Emancipation proclamation
serfs were indebted into 1900, peasants revolted out of desperation, landless peasants moved to cities
city industrialization
Because of the Emancipation Act, landless peasants moved to the city for work. With a lack of housing and extremely long work hours, many workers slept next to their machines.
social opposition evidence: serfdom
Edward Crankshaw (historian): The Shadow of the Winter Palace- The Drift to Revolution 1825-1917 said that “the workers, the peasants in town, were on the move too…They went on strike again and again all over the land, and more and more frequently cry for better pay, better living conditions, reduced working hours.”
Bloody Sunday
On January 9th 1905, 100,000 women and children marched peacefully into the Tsar’s Winter Palace lead by Orthodox priest Father Georgi Gapon with a petition he aimed to deliver personally to the Tsar. The Tsar wasn’t in residence at the time so those in the ranks of soldiers panicked and fired into the crowd.
social opposition evidence: Bloody Sunday
Martin Sixsmith: Russia-a 1000 year chronicle of the Wild East: “the vast majority of Russians had regarded the Tsar as their friend and protector… the massacre of those who had come to seek his help was seen as a fatal betrayal.”
result of Bloody Sunday
For the first time, the Russian people disconnected from the Tsar emotionally and lost their trust and loyalty after such a bloody massacre, which couldn’t be restored. Nicholas II went from “the little father” to “Nicholas the bloody murderer”
October Manifesto (October 1905) and Fundamental Law
The October Manifesto was received with enthusiasm at first as it promised freedom from arbitrary arrest and imprisonment without trial, freedom of conscience, freedom of speech and freedom of association. Right before the Duma met with Tsar Nicholas II, he issued the Fundamental Law which would allow him to dismiss any Duma’s that he disapproved of.
effects of October Manifesto (October 1905) and Fundamental Law
The Russian people had an appetite for autonomy which the Tsar tightened so the Romanov’s became their oppressors, rather than worshipped superiors. It sent a very clear message through the constant dissolving of Duma’s and the implementation of the Fundamental Law that the Romanov’s weren’t interested in the needs of the people.
Russo-Japanese War
In February 1904, Russia found itself at war with Japan. Despite Japan’s modernisation drive and a successful war against China a decade earlier, it was assumed that the European giant would easily defeat the Asian nation. The Russians lost miserably.
effects of Russo-Japanese War loss
Public embarrassment and loss of pride in Russia, exposed the inability for autocracy to govern effectively, leading to the 1905 revolution
Russo-Japanese War political opposition evidence:
Vyacheslav von Plehve, former Minister of Internal Affairs and of the Russian Federation stated that “What we need is a splendid little war” to regain strength in Russia.
Social opposition evidence:
source B
