Nicholas II Flashcards
What was the attitude/character of Nicholas II?
Brought up to want to ‘maintain the principle of autocracy. Wasn’t prepared - described as a weakling. Committed to Orthodoxy. Supported the Black Hundreds organisation
What happened during the coronation of Nicholas II (1896) ?
Crowds gathered to celebrate. There was a stampede to see the new Tsar and 1400 were crushed to death. Celebrations continued and they were buried in a mass grave - caused resentment.
How was Rasputin involved with the family?
Alexi had haemophilia and Rasputin seemed to help him. No-one knew about Alexi’s illness or why they were so close to Rasputin.
What political problems did Nicholas II face?
More people politically aware. Great famine showed Zemstva could cope but government couldn’t. Distrust of Tsar. Trouble at Universities - increased use of Okhrana
What economic problems did Nicholas II face?
1902 - 1907- widespread disturbances. Years of the Red Cockerel. Peasants set fire to barns etc. Pyotr Stolypin flogged peasants, shot and arrested them - aggravated the situation
What social problems did Nicholas II face?
Coronation - caused resentment. Political and economic situation aggravated social groups. Attempted to control illegal Unions
What happened during the Russo-Japanese war?
- Plehve encouraged Tsar to respond to Japanese assault
- Wanted a swift victory
- suffered a series of defeats - caused opposition
- Plehev assassinated - calls for a Nation Assembly
- Loss caused humiliation and discontent
When was Bloody Sunday?
January 1905
What was Bloody Sunday?
Peaceful marchers outside the winter Palace and who wished to present a petition leaving hundreds dead
What were the long term causes of the 1905 Revolution?
Alienated intelligentsia - wanted to participate in government. Revolutionaries - Marxism. Peasants - Great Famine. Workers - poor conditions. Tsarist regime - weak and repressive. Ethnic Minorities - russification
What were the catalysts for the 1905 Revolution?
Russo-Japanese war - humiliation and discontent. Defeats on land and sea. Tsar looked incompetent.
What was the spark for the 1905 Revolution?
Bloody Sunday
What were some of the events of the 1905 Revolution?
Workers and peasants striking. Mutiny on the battleship of Potemkin. Military dispatched to stop peasant unrest. Assassination of Grand Duke Sergei.
What was the result of the 1905 Revolution?
Russian Empire near total collapse. General strike held up the Empire.
When did the Tsar agree to sign the October Manifesto?
October 1905
What were the reforms promised in the October Manifesto?
Civic freedom. Establish a state Duma. State Duma to have the power to approve laws.
What did the Dumas consist of?
The lower and upper chambers. Prime Minister selected by the Tsar.
What were the Fundamental Laws?
The Tsar reasserted his power, claimed the right to:
- Veto legislation
- Rule by decree in emergency
- Appoint and dismiss ministers
- Dissolve Dumas
- Declare war and conclude peace
What was the First Duma like (May - July 1906)?
Radical-liberal : Mensheviks, Kadets, Trudoviks. Critical of the Tsar and his minsters.
What did the First Duma do?
‘Address to the throne’ - requested political amnesty, abolition of state council, abolition of death penalty. Passed vote of no confidence in the government. Were dissolved.
What was the Second Duma like (February - June 1907)?
Extreme left wing: Bolshevikes, Mensheviks, SRs. Much more oppositional
How did the Second Duma end?
Stolypin couldn’t find support for a reform program and so passed the legislation using the Tsars emergency powers. Spread a rumor about a plot to assassinate the Tsar and dissolved the Duma.
What was the Third Duma (November - June 1912) like?
More submissive 2000 out of 2500 government proposals agreed. Still confrontational - showed how unpopular the Tsar was.
What was the fourth Duma (November 1912 - 1917) like?
Relatively docile. Prime Minister ignored the Duma and its influence declined.
Who were the Social Democrats?
Divided into Bolsheviks and Mensheviks. Bolsheviks - discipline, centralisation, organisation, favoured a peasant-proletariat alliance. Mensheviks - Cooperation with bourgeoisie, use legal channels
Who were the Social Revolutionaries?
Favored redistribution of land, populist ideas and nationalisation. Left of party favored terrorism.
Who were the Trudoviks?
Non-revolutionary - moderate liberal views. Nationalisation of peasant land. Democratic representation. Minimum wage.
Who were the Union of Russian People?
Extreme right wing. Favoured monarchism, orthodoxy and antisemitism. Promoted violent attack. Black Hundreds.
Who were the Kadets?
Central liberal party favoured a constitutional monarchy. Full civil rights. Redistribution of large private estates.
