Introduction Flashcards
What was the population growth of the Caspian Sea region between 1867 and 1917?
From 7 to 28 million
The population grew significantly during this period.
What changes occurred in the countryside regarding peasants during this time?
Peasants were given more opportunities to buy land and develop larger farms
This was part of a broader agricultural reform.
By what percentage did peasant ownership of land increase?
50 percent
This reflects significant changes in land tenure.
How many peasants were noted to have come from overpopulated rural districts?
3.5 million
This movement contributed to urban agricultural growth.
What was the main agricultural system that persisted in Russia?
Inefficient strip-farming
This method hindered productivity.
True or False: Workers in Russia experienced significant political advancements during this period.
False
Economic changes were not matched by political advancements.
What was the social structure of Russia like prior to 1861?
Serfdom was the defining structure
Peasants were at the bottom of the social hierarchy.
When did serfs finally acquire their freedom in Russia?
1861
This marked a significant change in social status.
What was the size of the Russian Empire?
Roughly 8 million square miles
This is about twice the size of Europe.
What percentage of the population in Russia was ethnically Russian by 1917?
Less than half
This highlights the diversity within the empire.
What geographical challenges affected Russia’s economic development?
Large swathes of inhospitable land, tundra, forests, and barren areas
These factors limited agricultural and economic growth.
Who was the head of the Russian government in 1917?
The Tsar
He ruled without a parliament.
Fill in the blank: The Tsar was the _______ of all land in Russia.
owner
This reflects the autocratic nature of his rule.
What was the state of public health in Russia during this period?
Poor
Public health improvements were inadequate.
What were the living conditions of workers in Russia like?
Often unsafe, with shared barracks and lodgings
This contributed to social unrest.
What was Russia’s rank in industrial power by 1917?
Fifth largest industrial power
After Britain, USA, Germany, and France.
How many factories and workers were there in Russia by 1917?
Approximately 25,000 factories employing around 3 million workers.
By how much did the urban population of the Russian Empire grow between 1867 and 1917?
Quadrupled from 7 to 28 million.
What was the population of St Petersburg by 1916?
2.4 million.
What improvements were made in communications in Russia before 1914?
Improvements in roads and railways.
What opportunity was given to peasants after 1905?
More opportunities to leave the mirs (communes).
What percentage of hereditary peasant ownership had increased by 1915?
Increased from 20% in 1905 to nearly 50%.
How many peasants were encouraged to move to Siberia?
3.5 million peasants.
What was the percentage of peasant holdings that had moved beyond traditional strip-farming by 1914?
Around 10%.
What social class grew due to industrial and agricultural changes?
A frustrated middle class and an urban working class.
True or False: Trade unions were completely banned in Russia before World War I.
False.
What incident occurred during the Lena River strike in 1912?
Government troops fired on striking workers, killing 200.
How many strikes occurred in Russia in 1913?
Over 2000 strikes.
What class of peasants emerged as a result of agricultural reforms?
Kulaks.
What major issue did the peasantry face until 1916?
No form of income tax; burden of taxation fell on them.
Which countries did not have a parliament until 1905?
Russia (except Turkey and Montenegro).
What type of government did Russia have in 1917?
An autocracy headed by a tsar.
What is the definition of ‘autocracy’?
Rule by one person with no limits to his power.
What does ‘divine right’ refer to?
A monarch appointed by God, answerable to God alone.
What is the Eastern Orthodox Church’s spiritual capital?
Moscow.
What is bureaucracy?
The state’s administrative officials
Bureaucracy refers to the complex structure of government agencies and officials responsible for implementing policies and regulations.
What does the term ‘Okhrana’ refer to?
The secret police force of the Russian Empire
The name comes from the initial letters of its full title - the Department for Protecting Public Security and Order.
What event sparked the 1905 revolution in Russia?
Russia’s catastrophic defeat in the war with Japan
The defeat highlighted the weaknesses of the Tsarist regime and led to widespread unrest.
What was ‘Bloody Sunday’?
The massacre of workers peacefully marching to the Tsar’s Winter Palace in January 1905
This event marked a significant turning point in public sentiment against the Tsar.
Define ‘zemstva’.
Elected councils responsible for the local administration of provincial districts
Zemstva were established to give localities some control over their affairs.
What is socialism?
A political and economic theory believing that the means of production should be controlled by the community
This theory advocates for collective ownership and egalitarian distribution of resources.
What is a constitutional monarchy?
A form of democratic government where a monarch acts within the boundaries of a constitution
In this system, real power is held by a representative assembly.
What was the Tsar’s response to the pressure from opposition groups after the 1905 revolution?
The October Manifesto promised an elected representative assembly or State Duma
This concession aimed to appease moderate factions like the Kadets and Octobrists.
What were the Fundamental Laws issued by the Tsar in 1906?
They reaffirmed the Tsar’s autocracy and limited the Duma’s powers
The laws made it clear that the Duma had no control over state ministers or the budget.
Who were the Liberals during the 1905 revolution?
Groups that favored moderate reform and constitutional monarchy
Included the Constitutional Democrats (Kadets), the Octobrists, and the Progressives.
What was the Social Revolutionary Party (SRs)?
A party formed in 1901 aiming to improve the position of the peasantry
It faced internal divisions and included both moderate and extreme elements.
What was the main ideology of the All-Russian Social Democrat Labour Party (SDs)?
Based on the theories of Karl Marx and focused on the industrial working class
The party sought to represent the proletariat and aimed for a socialist revolution.
Fill in the blank: Marx believed that history was driven by _______.
[economic conditions]
List the six stages of Marxist stage theory.
- Stage 1: Primitive communism
- Stage 2: Slavery
- Stage 3: Feudalism
- Stage 4: Capitalism
- Stage 5: Socialism
- Stage 6: Communism
Each stage represents a different mode of production and class struggle.
Who was Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov (Lenin)?
A leader of the Bolshevik faction and key figure in the Russian Revolution
Lenin was influenced by Marxism and worked to develop a revolutionary party structure.
What was the purpose of Lenin’s work ‘What is to be done?’?
To argue for a re-direction of the workers’ movement towards revolution
Lenin emphasized the need for a strong party to lead the working class.
True or False: The Social Democrats (SDs) were united in their approach and strategies.
False
The SDs faced challenges due to internal divisions and differing strategies among factions.
Who was Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov?
A Russian revolutionary leader known as Lenin, who played a key role in the Bolshevik movement.
Lenin’s activities brought him to the attention of the secret police, leading to his exile and later significant influence in the Russian Revolution.
What were the main factions in the Russian Social Democratic Party after the 1903 split?
Bolsheviks and Mensheviks
The split was primarily between Lenin’s faction, seeking a strong, disciplined organization, and Martov’s faction, which favored a broader party with mass working-class membership.
What is the Marxist stage theory?
A theory that history is composed of a series of class struggles through distinct stages:
* Stage 1: Hunter-gatherers
* Stage 2: Imperialism
* Stage 3: Feudalism
* Stage 4: Capitalism
* Stage 5: Socialism
* Stage 6: Communism
Each stage represents a shift in economic conditions and social structures.
What characterizes Stage 1 of Marx’s stage theory?
No classes or private property
This stage refers to the time of hunter-gatherers, where communal living was prevalent.
What occurs in Stage 4 of Marx’s stage theory?
Capitalism, where merchants and the bourgeoisie exploit the proletariat.
This stage marks the point where the capitalist class gains political control.
What is the goal of Stage 5 in Marx’s stage theory?
Workers take control in a dictatorship of the proletariat, sharing resources according to need.
This stage aims to establish a more equitable distribution of goods and services.
What is the ultimate goal of Stage 6 in Marx’s stage theory?
Communism, where all join together for the common good and money and states are no longer needed.
In this stage, competition and wars would cease.
What significant work did Karl Marx co-author in 1848?
The Communist Manifesto
This document outlined the principles of communism and called for the working class to rise against capitalist structures.
What was the title of Lenin’s 1902 pamphlet advocating for revolutionary action?
‘What is to be done?’
In this pamphlet, Lenin argued that the Party needed to redirect workers from trade unionism to revolution.
True or False: Julius Martov favored working through trade unions and cooperatives.
True
Martov believed in gradual change through established structures rather than violent revolution.
What was the significance of the newspaper Iskra?
It was a revolutionary newspaper founded by Lenin to promote the Bolshevik agenda.
Iskra, meaning ‘Spark’, played a crucial role in disseminating revolutionary ideas.
Fill in the blank: Karl Marx published the first volume of _______ in 1867.
Das Kapital
This work critiques political economy and capitalism.
What was the relationship between Marx and Engels?
They collaborated on The Communist Manifesto and were close associates.
Engels supported Marx’s theories and contributed significantly to socialist thought.
What happened to the Mensheviks after the October Revolution in 1917?
They were banned in 1918 and excluded from the Bolshevik government.
This marked a significant consolidation of power by the Bolsheviks.
What was the significant event that occurred on Bloody Sunday in January 1905?
A massacre that led to revolutionary upheavals
This event marked a critical turning point in Russian history, igniting widespread discontent and calls for reform.
What did the Tsar’s October Manifesto authorize in October 1905?
Elections to a State Duma
The State Duma was intended to be a legislative assembly, although its powers were limited.
What did the Fundamental Laws reaffirm in 1906?
The autocracy
These laws clarified the Tsar’s powers and limited the influence of the Duma.
What type of reform was attempted between 1906 and 1911?
Agrarian reform
This reform aimed to address the grievances of peasants but faced numerous challenges.
What event in 1912 led to renewed industrial unrest?
Lena Gold Fields Massacre
This incident highlighted the growing tensions between workers and the government.
What major global conflict began in 1914?
First World War
The war created significant strain on Russian society and its economy.
What was a constant struggle in Russia leading up to 1917?
Struggle between progress and political control
This struggle involved balancing modernization with the need to maintain autocratic control.
What was the effect of rapid urbanization on workers in early 20th century Russia?
Escalation of workers’ discontent
Rapid urbanization led to poor living and working conditions, increasing calls for reform.
What happened to radical leaders after 1917?
They were forced into exile
Despite this, there was still significant unrest among peasants and workers.
What significant change occurred in Russia’s calendar system in February 1918?
Adoption of the Gregorian calendar
This change aligned Russia with the rest of Europe in terms of date recognition.
Fill in the blank: In 1918, Russia was _____ days behind Europe.
13
This discrepancy was due to the use of the Julian calendar prior to the switch.
True or False: The radical groups in Russia were effectively suppressed by the moderate liberals before 1917.
False
Radical movements gained momentum due to widespread dissatisfaction with the autocracy.
What were the two revolutions in Russia characterized by?
Demands for modernization and political control
The revolutions reflected the conflict between the needs of a modernizing society and the desires for political freedom.
What did the greater concessions from successive governments lead to?
Louder voices demanding more
This created a cycle of demands that the government struggled to satisfy.
