Nicholas II Flashcards
When did Nicholas II become tsar?
1894, Alexander III died aged 49 and 26 year old Nicholas II became tsar
Coronation not until 1896
What was Nicholas like?
Had little idea of how to rule but believed it his God-given duty to take over as tsar.
Married Dutch princess Alexandra and had 4 daughters and a son, Alexis who had haemophilia
What were Witte’s not-traditional views on modernisation in Russia?
Even though Russia were behind in industrialisation, could use this to their advantage by avoiding all problems faced by other industrialising countries
Never had full-backing of Royals as non-traditional
What were some reforms introduced by Witte?
He tied the rouble to the gold standard to hold its value
Continued with protective tariffs, heavy taxation and forced exports to generate capital
Much of his investment went into mining, metal trades, oil + banking, neglected agriculture
Heavy industry prioritised over lighter industry
Witte and the railways
Under Alex III began construction of Trans-Siberian railway which had 3.5 billion rubles invested into it
What happened at Nicholas’ coronation?
Banquet held after coronation where thousands attended and free food was being given out and there was a stampede to get the gifts in which nearly 1400 were trampled to death
Large amount of aid from govt. given to the families
What caused the Russo-Japanese War?
Started with Russia’s desire to ‘drive to the East’ with the building of the trans-Siberian railway
Line was added to Port Arthur which previously belonged to Japan so objected to this build and shelled Port Arthur, now owned by Russia in 1904
What was the response to the Japanese attack on Port Arthur?
Plehve (Minister of internal affairs) called for ‘short, swift, victorious war’ which would distract attention from political unrest at home
What happened during the war?
Not easy to wage war 6,000 miles from capital
March 1904, 90,000 Russians were killed
May 1904 24/27 Russian ships sunk
By Dec 1904 Plehve had been killed and Russia surrendered
Results of Russo-Japanese war
Defeats turned initial anti-Japanese patriotism into discontent and increased opposition to the govt.
Nicholas appointed Mirsky as new Minister of the Interior
Nicholas and representative democracy
Declared ‘I will never agree to a representative form of gov. because i consider it harmful to the people whom God has entrusted to me’
All he agreed to was the expansion of zemstva’s rights
Nicholas and Russification
Committed to Orthodoxy so continued Russification and support for the Black Hundreds (nationalist organisation) so was no more popular with ethnic minorities than his father
Nicholas’ reaction to the famine
When he was heir he was appointed to oversea famine relief and coordinated charitable efforts to help those suffering
Nicholas II and students
Outbursts of troubles in Russian unis and were met with increased use of Okhrana who ensured rebellious young ppl were expelled, exiled or drafted into army
e.g 1901 squadron of Cossacks charged into crowd of students in St. Petersburg killings 13 and in aftermath 1500 students were imprisoned
Who was Stolypin?
1906 was appointed Minister of Internal Affairs
What did Stolypin want for peasants?
Wanted peasants to become permanent owners of their own land and wanted each peasant’s land to be held in one place instead of in strips around a village
When and why did Stolypin’s agricultural reforms begin?
1903 when mir’s responsibility to pay taxes on behalf of peasants in village was removed but wasn’t until major unrest of 1905 that changes were put in place
Legislation for land reform under Stolypin, Sept 1906
More state and crown land is available for peasants to buy
Govt. subsidies to encourage migration and settlement’s in Siberia increased
Legislation for land reform under Stolypin, Oct 1906
Peasant’s are granted equal rights in their local administration
Legislation for land reform under Stolypin, Nov 1906
Peasants given right to leave commune
Collective ownership of land by family is abolished
Peasant can withdraw land from commune and can consolidate strips of land into one part
Peasant’s Land Bank is established to help fund land ownership
Legislation for land reform under Stolypin, Jan 1907
Redemption payments officially abolished as promised in 1905
Legislation for land reform under Stolypin, June 1907
All communes which had not redistributed land since 1861 are dissolved
What was the positive impact of Stolypin’s land reforms?
Hereditary ownership of land by peasants increased from 20% in 1905 to 50% by 1915
Grain production rose annually from 56 million tonnes in 1900 to 90 million by 1914,
By 1909 Russia was the leading cereal exporter
Stolypin and Siberia
Stolypin’s encouragement to emigrate took 3.5 million ppl living in the overly populated rural districts of Siberia away which helped Siberia develop into a major agricultural region, specialising in dairy and cereals
What were the limitations to Stolypin’s land reforms?
By 1913, only 1.3/5 million applications for consolidation and hereditary tenure of farms had been dealt with
By 1914, only 10% of land had become private from communal and 90% were still in traditional strips
Fewer than 1% achieved kulak status, many were forced to leave farms
When was Bloody Sunday?
9th January 1905
What happened in Bloody Sunday?
150,000 peacefully demonstrated outside the Winter Palace in St Petersburg
Men, women and children wore best clothes, singing hymns and carrying religious icons and portraits of Tsar
Led by Father Gapon, Russian Orthodox priest
Were demonstrating for end to Russo-Japanese war, voting rights for more, 8 hour working day, end to forced overtime in factories
What was the response to Bloody Sunday?
Tsar wasn’t in palace at the time so Cossacks, fearing trouble, fired into the crowd killing 96 and injuring 331
Seriously damaged Tsar’s reputation losing his ‘Little Father’ reputation
Sympathy strikes soon broke out when it was heard that surviving demonstrators were expelled from St Petersburg
Immediate causes of 1905 revolution: Peasants
Faced with poor harvests and high taxes, peasants rose in revolt across Russia
First in Feb in Kursk
Immediate causes of 1905 revolution: Workers
Outbreak of strikes by industrial workers (proletariat)
Feb 1905 400,000 went on strike in response to Bloody Sunday, end of year 2.7 million workers had gone on strike
Organised general strike from Sept-Oct
Strikers set up soviets (workers councils) to direct the strike, was the greater strike ever carried out in Russia
Immediate causes of 1905 revolution: National minorities
Jan and Feb ‘05 resentment about Russification provoked rebellion in Ukraine, Poland, Finland etc.
Poland wanted self-governance and Jews wanted equality
Immediate causes of 1905 revolution: Armed forces
After Bloody Sunday mutinies occurred in some army and navy units, most famous in June when crew of battleship of Potemkin killed some of their officers, took control of ship and boarded Black Sea port Odessa
Immediate causes of 1905 revolution: St Petersburg Soviet
Was product of general strike in Oct, groups of workers from the capital elected representatives to the Soviet, had over 400 members representing 96 factories
One leader was Leon Trotsky
Came to and end in Dec 1905 when govt. troops arrested leaders
Armed uprising in the 1905 revolution
Strikes continued throughout the end of the year and many turned violent
5th December General Strike took place in Moscow and by 7th had become an armed uprising
During next 9 days thousands of armed workers fought against govt. troops and police
By 18th Dec with 100 dead and city in ruins, revolutionaries surrendered, tsar was still is power
Long term causes of 1905 revolution: Alienated intelligentsia
Middle class liberals wanted to participate in govt, wanted some form of national assembly Students protested against repressive govt. controls
Long term causes of 1905 revolution: Revolutionaries
Socialist revolutionaries wanted peasant revolution to create socialism based on peasant communes Social democrats (Marxists) wanted urban working classes to stage revolution to create socialist state then communism
Long term causes of 1905 revolution: Tsarist regime
Weak, indecisive tsar
Repressive govt.
No moves towards constitutional govt.
Denied basic freedoms
Long term causes of 1905 revolution: Witte’s economic policy
Under his industrialisation policy, urban workers and peasants squeezed very has by high indirect taxes and low wages
Economic slump after 1900 led to high unemployment
Famine led to starvation and violence
What was the catalyst and spark to the 1905 revolution?
Russo-Japanese was was the catalyst as it caused huge unemployment and social tension in towns
Bloody Sunday was the spark because troops fired on peaceful demonstrators
What events occurred during the 1905 revolution?
Strikes, demonstrations, hooliganism etc., police became ineffective
Those on left formed vigilante groups to protect themselves and those on right supported the tsar still and attacked those who they saw as unpatriotic
Political meetings were held in universities
Zemstva members + councils sent petitions to the tsar demanding political change
Why did the tsar survive the 1905 Revolution?: Loyalty of the army
Had maintained due to relatively quick end to war with Japan + the reasonable peace treaty
Tsar wouldn’t have survived without support of army
Why did the tsar survive the 1905 Revolution?: Govt. suppression of oppositon
Govt. used brutal measures to suppress oppositions inc. torture, imprisonment and death
This meant they kept control and instilled fear
Why did the tsar survive the 1905 Revolution?: Lack of unity and coordination
Many groups opposing the tsar: workers, peasants, liberal middle classes, students and wider public who all had different aims and didn’t come together to bring him down
Why did the tsar survive the 1905 Revolution?: Splits between liberals and socialists
Liberals wanted political reform + a movement towards constitutional democracy but socialists wanted a social revolution
Many liberals felt the October Manifesto had satisfied their needs so urged the tsar should be supported
Why did the tsar survive the 1905 Revolution?: Middle class fear of violence
Wanted revolution to stop and a return to autocracy and control as they feared the violence that could be inflicted on them
Why did the tsar survive the 1905 Revolution?: Securing vital loans
By 1905 the govt. were in deep financial trouble due to war and failing tax revenue but Witte secured large loans form French bankers, stabilising the economy, paying troops who were needed to put down uprisings and restore order
What was cause of the October Manifesto?
In October, Trotsky lead a workers and Mensheviks group and published its own newspaper to keep strikers informed of developments and Nicholas’ advisers warned him of the need to act so gave in on 30th October and presented them with the October Manifesto, also general strike and the fact that With warned Nick of a revolution
What was included in the October Manifesto?
It promised civil liberties such as freedom of speech, conscience, press and assembly for all
It promised a State Duma elected by universal suffrage, to pass laws
Who accepted the October Manifesto?
Most Liberals (Kadets), Progressives and Octobrists accepted the Manifesto
Who rejected the October Manifesto?
Socialist Revolutionaries + Social Democrats
Many workers were unconvinced so continued to support SDs and SRs
What ended the 1905 revolution?
After the armed uprising in Moscow in Dec, it was soon crushed and was a key turning point as it split the revolutionary movement, liberals felt their aims were achieved in OM so withdrew form further action Middle class scared of further violence so govt. now felt confident to regain control
What did Peter Struve, a liberal say about the OM?
‘Thank God for the Tsar who saved us from the people’
Regaining control in the countryside
Took longer to gain control, peasant unrest reached a peak in Nov, deterioration in peasant condition played a role but they were angry they hadn’t received land as part of OM, form much of ‘06 the countryside was in revolt
Stolypin’s necktie
Troops were sent to re-establish order in the countryside
Between Oct 1905 and April 1906 up to 15,000 were executed and 45,000 executed
Peasants were hanged in their thousands, noose known as ‘Stolypin’s necktie’
‘Stolypin’s carriages’ name used for railways cars that transported peasants to exile
What were the fundamental laws?
4 days before first Duma met, this was issued by tsar which claimed he had the right to:
exercise ‘supreme autocratic power’
initiate legislation and approve laws
appoint and dismiss ministers
summon and dissolve the duma
rule by decree in an emergency or when then Duma wasn’t in session
When was the First Duma?
May-June 1906
What happened with the First Duma
Dominated by Kadets and radicals with many peasant representatives
Strongly critical of tsar and ministers, led to Witte’s resignation
Demanded radical constitutional change
Passed ‘not of no confidence’ in govt. and was dissolved
When was the Second Duma?
February-June 1907
What happened with the Second Duma?
Stolypin, the new PM engineered elections to increase no. of Octobrists
Bolsheviks and SRs participated increasing no. of radical deputies
Opposed most tsarist proposals inc. agrarian reform
Dissolved and leading radicals were exiled
When was the Third Duma?
November 1907 - June 1912
What happened with the Third Duma?
Stolypin introduced emergency law to reduce representation of peasants and workers
So Octobrists and Conservatives dominated and Duma more compliant
Still some disputes with tsar and was suspended twice
When was the Fourth Duma?
November 1912 - February 1917
What happened with the Fourth Duma?
Right and left wing deputies couldn’t cooperate and Duma was increasingly ignores
Voted for war credits in 1914 bu suspended in 1915 after demanding more power
Why did Russia become dependent on foreign investment?
Due to rapid industrialisation inc. railways
Foreign investment increased nearly tenfold from 1880 to 1900
Urban conditions
Some slept next to machines in factories, ppl rented shared rooms with many
40% of rented houses in St. Petersburg had no running water and sewage was collected in handcarts
Industrial depression
1900-1908
Limited regulation in workplace, allowing employers to exploit workers, women were the lowest paid
Unions and strikes were officially banned before 1905 but some took place illegally and were usually violent suppressed
What changes were made to improve conditions of workers?
Night-time work for women and children, employment of kids under 12 and female labour in mines was banned
Working hours reduced to 11.5 hours
Trade Unions were made legal
Industrial militancy
Real wages (what workers could buy with wages) declined from 1910-1913 due to inflation so no. of strikes 1912 miners at Lena goldfields in Siberia went on strike demanding better pay and living conditions, 500 were killed when army intervened
Living and working conditions in the countryside
grain output per acre was a third of that of Britain or Germany but were driven hard to produce surplus for export and pay high taxes
Population growth made things worse
Gap between kulak’s and poorest peasants widened
Nobility and middle classes
Although 1/3 of noble’s land was given to peasants, majority of noble’s retainer their landed wealth and tsar relied on them to fill top govt. positions
As industrialisation gained pace, so did businessmen and professionals
Many served on the Zemstva
Cultural changes 1894-1917
Orthodox had less of a hold over growing working class as many saw socialism more appealing
By 1914, 45% of children were in primary school
By 1914, Russian culture had widened and embraced more than the elite
Many still remained highly loyal to tsar and Orthodox church and millions came out on the streets to celebrate Romanov’s 300 year anniversary
Witte’s strengths
Railway trackage virtually doubled
Coal output tripled, cotton production increased by 2/3
By 1900 Moscow fastest growing city east of NYC
Strong rouble- gold standard
Continued high tariffs on foreign imports
Witte’s weaknesses
V. high interest rates to fund foreign high
By 1900, 20% of budget used to pay off foreign debt
Neglected agriculture
Prioritised industrial development over welfare
Relied too heavily on foreign loans
Railways
State bought out smaller railways, 66% state owned
Helped to open up Russia’s interior, allowing for extensive exploitation of Russia’s raw materials
Transport costs fell, so did cost of goods
By 1913, Russia had 2nd largest railway network in the world
Heavy industry
Witte saw it important, would set pattern for industrial dev.
Russian oil production tripled from 153 million puds to almost 570 million
By 1914 Russia was the worlds 5th largest industrial power
Who were the Bolsheviks?
More hardline wing of SDs, believed in fats change, disked idea of working together with other parties
Led by Lenin, kept lower profile than Mensheviks until 1917
Want communism and a classless society
Who were the Mensheviks?
Less hardline wing of SDs, believed in gradual transition towards socialist state, positive about working with other parties
Led by Martov, split in civil war
Believe in evolution not revolution
Who were the Kadets?
A.k.a Constitutional Democratic Party, moderate liberal party, more radical than Octobrists
Wanted universal suffrage and formed largest factions in 1st and 2nd Dumas
Believed in modernisation and constitutional monarchy
Who were the Octobrists?
Centrist party of Duma after 1905 revolution, also wanted constitutional monarchy, worked with tsar to write OM
Supported most of Stolypin’s reforms unlike Kadets
Mostly ceased to exist after Feb revolution
Who were the Socialist Revolutionaries?
Est. 1901, combined Marxism with Populist belief in land redistribution, carried out 2000 political assassinations from 1901-1905 inc Stolypin
Who were the Tsarists?
Supported tsar’s regime inc. landed aristocracy and some senior military figures
When was Stolypin assassinated?
September 1911
What was the result of Stolypin’s assassination?
The constitutional experiment (Dumas) came to a halt as the new ministers Nick appointed were conservative and unimaginative and power of PM was reduced
Departmental policies returned back to their old ways
Who should take responsibility for the decline of the Dumas?
Nick should to an extent as he was never really willing to cooperate with them in the first place and would look for any excuse to close them down
He never fully backed Stolypin
However, Kadets demand were very radical and wouldn’t compromise creating tensions with the tsar
Could Stolypin have saved the tsar?
If he had succeeded in his land reforms it would’ve changed Russia’s destiny but would have taken years
Was virtually only PM to see Duma as partner in building a strong Russia, didn’t see it as limiting autocracy but rather giving it a broader, social base
How did Stolypin undermine his relationship?
‘Stolypin’s coup’ radically changed the electoral system when the Second Duma proved unworkable
He deprived peasants and workers of votes and created a more conservative electorate
Used Article 87 to pass measures when Duma wasn’t sitting, in 1911 he persuaded the tsar to suspend the Duma to allow him to force introduce zemstva into western provinces
This alienated Duma and the majority of Octobrists who previously supported him
What were the political developments by 1914
Agricultural situation was improving, Dumas were weak and future bright for traditional governing class
Revolutionary groups lacked unity ad Pan-Slavism gave new focus for Russian imperial ambitions
None of the 1905 issues had been resolved
Union of Russian People, only tsar supporting party
Rasputin
Peasant-born fortune-teller and faith healer and moved to St. Petersburg in 1903 claiming he had spiritual powers
When Alexandra saw him lessen the pain of her son Alexi with haemophelia she saw him as a ‘man of God’ sent to answer her prayers
