Key events and figure

Question 1

Sergei Witte

Answer 1

He promoted the building of Trans-Siberian railway and encouraged Russias industrial development. He was forced to resign in 1903 but returned and became Chief Minister in 1905 then forced to resign in 1906.

Question 2

Piotr Stolypin

Answer 2

He became the tsar’s Chief Minister in 1906. Attempted to introduce needed reforms in areas of land ownership and sought to modernise the economy. He also followed a policy of brutal suppression of opponents to the tsarist regime. Assassinated in 1911.

Question 3

Tsarina Alexandra

Answer 3

She became obsessively religious and came more under influence of her mystic advisor Rasputin. She was a devoted loyal wife and was able to fully dominate her weak husband Nicholas. Her religious fervour and total commitment to autocracy often led Nicholas to make disastrous decisions

Question 4

Grigori Rasputin

Answer 4

He was a siberian ‘holy man’ managed to integrate himself with the royal family due to his alleged ability to treat tsarevichs haemophilia. He weilded enormous influence in court and government circles

Question 5

Mikhail Rodzianko

Answer 5

He was the moderatley conservative president of the last two imperial Dumas. From 1877 until 1882 he served in Her Majesty’s Regiment of the Cavalry of the Guard. He became one of the founders of the Octobrists

Question 6

Alexander Kerensky

Answer 6

He was a lawyer and member of Socialist Revolution Party. After February 1917 Revolution he became a key figure in Provisional Government becoming Prime Minister in July. His government was eventually overthrown by Bolsheviks in October 1917.

Question 7

Georgy Lvov

Answer 7

Russian aristocrat and statesmen, and led the Provisional Government after the February Revolution led to the abolition of the Russian monarchy

Question 8

Vladimir Lenin

Answer 8

He was the leader of the Bolshevik Party formed in 1903. His goal was revolution and the subsequent creation of a marxist society and spread of Marxism world wide. The Bolsheviks seized power in a coup in October 1917. Lenin ruled Russia until his death in 1924.

Question 9

Leon Trotsky

Answer 9

He joined the Bolsheviks mid 1917 and was the mind behind the idea of the October Revolution. He led the Red Army to victory in the civil war.

Question 10

Joseph Stalin

Answer 10

Was the leader of the Soviet Union from late 1920s until his death in 1953. As General secretary from 1922 he outmanouvered Trotsky in the struggle for power after Lenins death. Under Stalin, the Soviet Union became the worlds number 2 superpower. He led his country to victory against Germany during WW2.

Question 11

General Kornilov

Answer 11

He was an appointed commander-in-chief of Russian forces in August 1917 by Alexander Kerensky. Dissatisfied with Kerenskys conduct of the war, Kornilov attemted a military coup in August/September 1917. He was killed fighting Red forces during the civil war in April 1918

Question 12

Pavel Milyukov

Answer 12

historian and liberal politician. Milyukov was the founder, leader, and the most prominent member of the Constitutional Democratic party. Milyukov is best known for his April 1917 telegram to the Allies, promising to keep Russia in the war until its completion.

Question 13

Cossack Mitilia

Answer 13

Groups of people dwelling in the northern hinterlands of the black and capain seas. They had a tradition of independence and finally received privileges from the Russian government in return for military services. Russia used the Cossacks first as defenders of the Russian frontier and later as advance guards for the territorial extension of the Russian empire

Question 14

The Duma

Answer 14

It was a Representative national assembly. Established after the announcement of the October manifesto by Tsar Nicholas II’s government in 1905. Before the February 1917 revolution there was four dumas however the tsar and his ministers did their best to limit the power and influence of the duma. The provisional government created in February 1917 arose from the duma

Question 15

The Petrograd Soviet

Answer 15

The Petrograd soviet of workers and soldiers deputies was established in Petrograd in February 1917 as the peak body of the various workers and soldier’s committees

Question 16

The Provisional Government

Answer 16

Established from the dissolved Duma as a temporary replacement after the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II

Question 17

The Lena Massacre

Answer 17

• Lena River goldfields were funded by wealthy Russian & English investors
• Miners endured long hours, unsafe conditions, company fines & overpriced supplies
• In 1912 around 6,000 miners went on strike. Their demands were rejected
• This triggered more unrest and led to the killing of around 250 miners
• This reignited anti-tsarist tensions and led to a wave of strikes, particularly in St Petersburg

Question 18

The Battle of Tannenberg

Answer 18

Fought between Russia and Germany between 23 and 30 August 1914. The battle resulted in the complete destruction of the Russian Second Army and the suicide of its commanding general, Alexander Samsonov.

Question 19

The Milyukov Note

Answer 19

a telegram sent to the Allies by Pavel Milyukov after the tsars abdication stating that the Provision Governmnet would continue to fight in the war. Milyukov’s note united disparate groups of Russians against the Provisional Government, and against Russian involvement in World War I. The note was leaked, causing large public demonstrations in Petrograd, resulting in Milyukov and Guckkov to resign