Nicholas II

Question 1

What was the attitude/character of Nicholas II?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What happened during the coronation of Nicholas II (1896) ?

Answer 2

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.

Question 3

How was Rasputin involved with the family?

Answer 3

Alexi had haemophilia and Rasputin seemed to help him. No-one knew about Alexi’s illness or why they were so close to Rasputin.

Question 4

What political problems did Nicholas II face?

Answer 4

More people politically aware. Great famine showed Zemstva could cope but government couldn’t. Distrust of Tsar. Trouble at Universities - increased use of Okhrana

Question 5

What economic problems did Nicholas II face?

Answer 5

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

Question 6

What social problems did Nicholas II face?

Answer 6

Coronation - caused resentment. Political and economic situation aggravated social groups. Attempted to control illegal Unions

Question 7

What happened during the Russo-Japanese war?

Answer 7

1. Plehve encouraged Tsar to respond to Japanese assault
2. Wanted a swift victory
3. suffered a series of defeats - caused opposition
4. Plehev assassinated - calls for a Nation Assembly
5. Loss caused humiliation and discontent

Question 8

When was Bloody Sunday?

Answer 8

January 1905

Question 9

What was Bloody Sunday?

Answer 9

Peaceful marchers outside the winter Palace and who wished to present a petition leaving hundreds dead

Question 10

What were the long term causes of the 1905 Revolution?

Answer 10

Alienated intelligentsia - wanted to participate in government. Revolutionaries - Marxism. Peasants - Great Famine. Workers - poor conditions. Tsarist regime - weak and repressive. Ethnic Minorities - russification

Question 11

What were the catalysts for the 1905 Revolution?

Answer 11

Russo-Japanese war - humiliation and discontent. Defeats on land and sea. Tsar looked incompetent.

Question 12

What was the spark for the 1905 Revolution?

Answer 12

Bloody Sunday

Question 13

What were some of the events of the 1905 Revolution?

Answer 13

Workers and peasants striking. Mutiny on the battleship of Potemkin. Military dispatched to stop peasant unrest. Assassination of Grand Duke Sergei.

Question 14

What was the result of the 1905 Revolution?

Answer 14

Russian Empire near total collapse. General strike held up the Empire.

Question 15

When did the Tsar agree to sign the October Manifesto?

Answer 15

October 1905

Question 16

What were the reforms promised in the October Manifesto?

Answer 16

Civic freedom. Establish a state Duma. State Duma to have the power to approve laws.

Question 17

What did the Dumas consist of?

Answer 17

The lower and upper chambers. Prime Minister selected by the Tsar.

Question 18

What were the Fundamental Laws?

Answer 18

The Tsar reasserted his power, claimed the right to:

1. Veto legislation
2. Rule by decree in emergency
3. Appoint and dismiss ministers
4. Dissolve Dumas
5. Declare war and conclude peace

Question 19

What was the First Duma like (May - July 1906)?

Answer 19

Radical-liberal : Mensheviks, Kadets, Trudoviks. Critical of the Tsar and his minsters.

Question 20

What did the First Duma do?

Answer 20

‘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.

Question 21

What was the Second Duma like (February - June 1907)?

Answer 21

Extreme left wing: Bolshevikes, Mensheviks, SRs. Much more oppositional

Question 22

How did the Second Duma end?

Answer 22

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.

Question 23

What was the Third Duma (November - June 1912) like?

Answer 23

More submissive 2000 out of 2500 government proposals agreed. Still confrontational - showed how unpopular the Tsar was.

Question 24

What was the fourth Duma (November 1912 - 1917) like?

Answer 24

Relatively docile. Prime Minister ignored the Duma and its influence declined.

Question 25

Who were the Social Democrats?

Answer 25

Divided into Bolsheviks and Mensheviks. Bolsheviks - discipline, centralisation, organisation, favoured a peasant-proletariat alliance. Mensheviks - Cooperation with bourgeoisie, use legal channels

Question 26

Who were the Social Revolutionaries?

Answer 26

Favored redistribution of land, populist ideas and nationalisation. Left of party favored terrorism.

Question 27

Who were the Trudoviks?

Answer 27

Non-revolutionary - moderate liberal views. Nationalisation of peasant land. Democratic representation. Minimum wage.

Question 28

Who were the Union of Russian People?

Answer 28

Extreme right wing. Favoured monarchism, orthodoxy and antisemitism. Promoted violent attack. Black Hundreds.

Question 29

Who were the Kadets?

Answer 29

Central liberal party favoured a constitutional monarchy. Full civil rights. Redistribution of large private estates.