land and liberty (Black partition and peoples will)

Question 1

what was Land and Liberty formed with?

Answer 1

• a strong central organisation and a commitment to secrecy and discipline
• cells formed in villages and towns aiming to support demonstrations and actions against autocracy
• some of these were v violent, killing informers or despotic officials and arranging escapes for imprisoned members of their group

Question 2

what was it that provoked a split in Land and Liberty in 1879?

Answer 2

• after the Vera Zasulich case, political trials were moved to military courts (much more repressive and less likely to provide fair trials)
• led some members of group to believe that revolutionary activities should focus on violent methods rather than relying on legal system or peaceful protests

Question 3

what was Black partition and who was it led by?

Answer 3

• George Plekhanov with Vera Zasulich and others who wanted to promote revolution by peaceful agitation

Question 4

what was the People’s Will?

Answer 4

• determined to use terrorist violence to achieve their revolutionary aims - destruction of the state and land redistribution
• became focused on killing A2 as a way to initiate revolution
• 26th August 1879 condemned him to death for ‘crimes against the people’
• over the next 2 yrs they made several unsuccessful assasination attempts until March 1881 when luck favoured them