Lead up to Russian Revolution Flashcards
How did Catherine the Great Rule?
Enlightened Absolutism
Who did Crimea belong to during the Crimean War (1853-1856)?
The Ottomans
Why did the war ostensibly start?
To “protect” Christians from persecution
When was serfdom abolished?
1861
Who abolished serfdom?
Tsar Alexander II
How was serfdom abolished?
Serf were allowed to buy their freedom from the nobility of many years
What was serfdom?
A feudal institution whereby serfs were locked to land belonging to a lord, similar to a slave.
What percentage of the population was peasantry?
~85%
What percent of the population was workers, artisans, merchants, etc.?
~10-15%
What percent of the population was the autocracy?
1.5%
Did the nobility have any power?
No. Only the Czar
What was the position of the slavophiles as opposed to the westernizers?
They believed that imitating western institutions has caused Russia nothing but problems. The should focus on building Russia’s institutions, develop the proletariat and the commune.
What was the People’s Will (populism) of 1873-74?
A campaign to get peasants to join communes. They failed, but some breakaway extremists come to be terrorists who assassinate Alexander II.
How did the Mensheviks want change to happen?
They wanted change by democratic means, to use unions and strikes to make change out in the open.
How did the Bolsheviks want change to happen?
Through professional revolutionaries like Lenin et. al. via covert, conspiratorial means.
Who was Julius Martov?
Leader of the Mensheviks
What did the Kadets wants?
A constitutional monarchy, some political participation
Who was Sergei Witte?
head of various ministries and Prime Minister 1905-6. Architect of Russian modernization, built railroads, all done by state because there was no middle class.
What was Bloody Sunday?
A Massacre on Jan 22 1905 in response to the formation of the first “Soviets” councils. Hundreds were killed and injured in the massacre by the Tsar’s soldiers
What were the inciting incidents of the 1905 revolution?
Loss in Russo-Japanese War, Economic downturn, a poor harvest, and Bloody Sunday
What did the Bloody Sunday Marchers want?
To petition the Tsar for improved working conditions in urban employment as well as the right to vote and the end to the Russo-Japanese War.
How did Bloody Sunday change people’s view towards the Tsar?
Where before he was seen as a champion and father to the people, he lost a lot of popularity and people became bitter towards his absolute rule.
How did the people respond to Bloody Sunday?
The 1905 Revolution that lasted from Jan 22 1905 to June 16 1907. It was a series of strikes, peasant unrest, and military mutinies.
How did the Tsar try to appease the revolutionaries in 1905?
The October Manifesto.
What did the October Manifesto do?
It ended the status of absolutism for the monarchy by creating a constitutional monarchy. The new constitution created the Duma - parliament - and gave civil liberties like freedom of speech, press, assembly, and the franchise to elect Duma members. It temporarily appeased revolutionaries and strikers that allowed the Tsar to regain control of the country.
Were the promises of the October Manifesto fulfilled?
Not as promised. Two houses of the Duma were created, and only one was elected. The Duma had no authority over the budget, the executive branch. The Tsar had veto power over legislation and could dismiss the Duma if he wanted.
What effect did the Russo-Japanese War have?
Russia lost hugely to an Asian power that was considered inferior. Russia’s prestige took a hit and the war was a huge cost on an already poor economy.
What did Peter Stolypin, Prime Minister 1906-11 do?
He tried to form a middle class in Russia through agrarian reforms whereby peasants could buy land. He was assassinated by left revolutionaries in 1911.
When did the Social Democrats split into the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks?
1903
