L06 Bolshevik Revolution Flashcards
What questions define Russian identity in the 19th century?
Is Russia European, Asian, or distinctly Russian?
What has been a constant feature of Russian political and social life since the mid-15th century?
The expansion of the empire.
Why is security a dimension of Russian expansion?
Russia is a large contiguous land mass surrounded by various neighbors, some of whom are more aggressive.
What economic implications does Russian expansion have?
It leaves Russia with an abundance of natural resources and raw materials.
What is the “nationalities question” in the context of the Russian Empire?
How to manage identity in a large, multinational, multiethnic, and multireligious empire.
What was the tsars’ answer to the nationalities question in the mid-19th century?
To suppress other identities and emphasize “Russian-ness.”
How did the ideology of the Tsarist state influence Russia?
It was firmly autocratic, impacting political and economic development.
What were the “Great Reforms” of Alexander II aimed at?
Modernizing Russia while preserving its status.
What significant events marked periods of great reform followed by stagnation in Russia?
The Napoleonic Wars (1805-1815), Decembrist Revolt (1825), and the Crimean War (1854-1856).
Who was George Plekhanov, and what was his significance?
A Marxist thinker who aimed to apply Marxism to Russia with little adaptation, suggesting a prominent role for the state.
What prompted Alexander II’s reforms?
The fear of peasant rebellion and increased public support for emancipation.
What was the impact of the Emancipation of the Serfs in 1861?
Freed 50 million serfs, theoretically creating a mobile labor force for industrialization.
What was a significant issue with the Emancipation of the Serfs?
Serfs were not entirely freed, and land redistribution stalled.
What were zemstvoes, created in 1864?
Institutions focused on local/communal issues that allowed the emerging middle and professional classes to express themselves.
Who was the last tsar of Russia and when did he reign?
Tsar Nicholas II, who reigned from 1894 to 1917.
What was Nicholas II’s belief about his role as tsar?
He believed that the tsar served as the father of all the people.
How was Tsar Nicholas II temperamentally suited for his role?
He was not temperamentally suited to be tsar, particularly within the Russian system.
Who influenced Nicholas II’s stance on governance?
His wife, German-born Alexandra, who converted to Orthodox faith, pushed him to take a more proactive stance, believing the people “crave the sting of the whip.”
What was the Khodynka Tragedy?
A disaster that occurred on May 30, 1896, during the coronation celebrations, where a stampede killed nearly 1,400 people due to rumors of insufficient gifts.
What social issues arose in Russia during Nicholas II’s reign?
Rapid industrialization and urbanization led to dislocation and increased demonstrations along class, ethnic, and religious lines.
What was the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05) and its impact?
A military conflict that resulted in military, economic, and political failures for Russia, leading to increased political demonstrations, including strikes by industrial workers in St. Petersburg.
What occurred during the Bloody Sunday Massacre on January 22, 1905?
Father Georgi Gapon led a peaceful protest to the tsar’s Winter Palace to present a petition signed by 150,000 workers demanding reforms, but soldiers were ordered to disperse the crowd.
What demands were included in the petition presented during the Bloody Sunday protest?
Demands included freedom of the press, a progressive income tax, equality before the law, and land reform.
How did the protestors view Tsar Nicholas II during the Bloody Sunday protest?
They still revered him as the “little father,” carrying religious icons and portraits of the tsar and tsarina.
What were the contributing factors to the fall of the Romanov dynasty?
The fall was due to the impact of World War I and growing public perceptions of the Romanovs’ corruption.
Who was Grigori Rasputin and why was he significant to the Romanov family?
Rasputin was a faith healer who gained influence over Nicholas II and Alexandra due to his ability to predict and alleviate the hemophilia episodes of their son, Alexei.
What role did Rasputin play in the Russian court?
He became an important adviser to the Romanovs on various policies, gaining significant influence in political matters.
Who handled the day-to-day administration of the regime while Nicholas II was at the front?
Alexandra, Nicholas’s wife, took on this responsibility.
What issues were compounded by the First World War during the Romanov reign?
Domestic economic and political problems worsened due to the war.
What were some of the public perceptions about Alexandra and Rasputin?
Whisper campaigns targeted Alexandra’s German heritage and alleged improprieties with Rasputin, symbolizing the perceived corruption of the Romanovs
What does the botched murder of Rasputin in December 1916 signify about the Romanovs?
It suggests that the Romanov family was increasingly disorganized and unable to manage even a covert operation effectively.
How did Rasputin’s behavior change over time while he was part of the Romanov court?
He became more ostentatious and publicly boasted about his influence in St. Petersburg.
What was the perception of Rasputin’s influence over Nicholas II?
Many rumors suggested that Rasputin was the true power behind the tsar, manipulating both Nicholas and Alexandra.
Who was involved in the murder of Rasputin and what was the outcome?
Prince Felix Usupov, a member of the Romanov family, was involved in the murder and later published a memoir detailing the event.
Which urban centers were key in the demonstrations against Nicholas II’s autocracy?
Petrograd and Moscow.
What characterized the collapse of the tsarist regime in March 1917?
It was more of a whimper than a bang, marked by massive demonstrations rather than a violent uprising.
What event sparked the March 8 demonstration in Petrograd?
Women workers protested for bread.
What significant action did the Petrograd garrison take on March 12?
They refused to break up the protestors.
How did the demonstrations in Petrograd escalate?
They were joined by factory workers, leading to protests numbering in the hundreds of thousands.
When did Nicholas II abdicate the throne?
March 15, 1917.
