Nicholas II Opposition 1894-1917 (Unit 3, Topic 4) Flashcards
How was Russification under Nicholas II?
The Russian Orthodox Church continued to alienate the ethnic minorities. Nicholas II continued to use Alexander III’s heavy handed-policy of Russification. Poland suffered the most with large garrisons being implemented to prevent large uprisings like in 1863. The tsar and church encouraged the organizations of Anti-Semitic Black Hundreds which emerged from the 1900’s. This continued Russification pushed the minority towards opposition groups.
What was Antisemitism against the Jews like under Nicholas II?
The Jews especially were not russified but instead they were simply persecuted. Similar to Alexander III, efforts continued to prevent Jews from acquiring land or accessing higher education. By the end of the 1900’s there were 1400 regulations set against the Jews with programs continuing, the Okhrana and state police also seemed to endorse the violence. Many high proportions of Jews were drawn to radical socialist groups some Jews like Trotsky took up revolutionary causes.
What was the Social Democratic Labour Party?
Created in 1898 it was a party revolution of workers who considered themselves to be under a class struggle. It was the 1st congress of Marxist groups with 9 delegates in the group. Overall it was a revolutionary group run by Plekhanov. It was infiltrated by the Okhrana
What was the Beseda Symposium?
Created in 1899, they were an all zemstva organization set up in Moscow, they were almost immediately banned by Nicholas II even though they were deemed a peaceful organization. They were radical liberals and would meet in secret to discuss liberal reforms
What was the Iskra?
Created by Lenin in 1900, it was a published paper called the Spark. It aimed to spread Lenin Marxism across Russia
Who was the Social Revolutionary Party under Nicholas II?
In 1901, the party was mainly the ‘laboring poor’ of workers and peasant agrarian socialists (some Marxism) . Led by influential theorist Chernov all they wanted was to redistribute land and decentralize the government. They had a Universal Suffrage were the people had a say
What was the Union of Liberation and 50 Union Banquets?
The Union of Liberation was an organization in 1903 by liberals who wanted a constitutional monarchy they would later organize the banquets who gained some momentum but weren’t very influential
How did the Mensheviks Develop?
After the Social Democratic Party split in 1903 Martov takes control of one half of the party now known as the Mensheviks, anyone was allowed and they wanted free discussions, democratic government and a workers revolution. Martov had the support of Trotsky and Plekhanov and was prepared to cooperate with the liberals
How did the Bolsheviks Develop?
After the Social Democratic Party split on 1903, the more Marxist members followed Lenin into his new party the Bolsheviks, a small party of dedicated revolutionaries that wanted to lead the workers to a revolution. However they were still too small and weak enough to do anything detrimental
Why was the Russo-Japanese War Started?
The Chinese Empire was in decline and Russia wanted to expand into China which was an excuse for expanding the Trans-Siberian Railway . Russia had been annexing and populating China since 1858. The Japanese were also interested in Chinese territory, which thy acquired during the Sino-Japanese War in 1894-95. Russia and Japan continued to compete, as relations deteriorated Japan attacked Port Arthur in Feb 1905.
How did the Russo-Japanese War Worsen?
The war was a disaster for Russia with early defeats:
-July 1904, Pleyhe (Interior Minister) assassinated by SR’s
-Oct 1904, Baltic fleet were sent to relieve Port Arthur
-Dec 1904, Japan took Port Arthur destroying the Russian fleet
-7 months later the Baltic fleet arrives only to be destroyed in one afternoon of fighting the Japanese, The Battle of Tsushima
-Aug 1905, the Treaty of Portsmouth gave Japan more control and territory in the Far East including warm water Port Arthur
What was the 1905 Revolution?
Russia had been fighting to hold Port Arthur for almost a year in Dec 1904 it was lost. In January a strike was called in the Putilov Ironworks, St Petersburg spreading to tens of thousands of workers. It was organised by the previously government approved Assembly of St. Petersburg Factory Workers.
-9th Jan, Father Gapon and the clergy led 150,000 workers to the Winter Palace to petition the tsar for food, work and a Constituent Assembly.
They were met by armed guards who open fire at Narva Arch and the Palace Square, officially 130 killed, 300 wounded but likely higher
What Happened as a Consequence of Bloody Sunday?
Between January and February there was mass unrest with Nicholas II losing the faith of the people. Father Gapon denounced Nicholas as a traitor to the people.
-Unrest spread across the Empire in 1905 with strikes occurring in industrial areas (400,000 on strike by end of Jan)
-Peasant disturbances increased with most in Black Earth Region
-Nationalists rebelled against the Russification
-Jews joined disturbances wanting equal rights
-Patriotic right wing groups, in favor of the tsar, attacked these rebellions
How did the Tsar deal with the 1905 Revolution?
Troops were sent to restore order (300,000 were needed in Poland). The army became overstretched and mutinies within ranks began
4th Feb- Grand Duke Sergei was assassinated by the SR’s
Nicholas II now agreed to meet delegates from the factories but simply forgave them for their actions before sending them home.
How did Revolution Spiral after the 1905 Revolution?
April- The first Soviet set up in Moscow by an elected committee of workers with more soviets set up across industrial workers
May- The Union of Liberation joined with a number of other professional organisations to form the Union of Unions. They called for Liberal Reform and the establishment of a Constituent Assembly elected by a universal Suffrage
