opposition to tsarism (u1)

Question 1

The Populists (Narodniks) ideology

Answer 1

They believed the peasants must take the lead in transforming Russia, beginning with the overthrow of the tsarist system itself.

Question 2

Populist leaders

Answer 2

• drawn, not from the peasants, but from
  the middle and upper classes.
• These leaders regarded it as their duty to educate
  the uninformed peasantry into an awareness of its revolutionary role.
• This involved ‘going to the people’, a policy under which the educated Populists went from the universities into the countryside to live for a period with the peasants in an attempt to turn them into revolutionaries

Question 2

Populist leaders

Answer 2

• drawn, not from the peasants, but from
  the middle and upper classes.
• These leaders regarded it as their duty to educate
  the uninformed peasantry into an awareness of its revolutionary role.
• This involved ‘going to the people’, a policy under which the educated Populists went from the universities into the countryside to live for a period with the peasants in an attempt to turn them into revolutionaries

Question 3

Populists- Terrorism

Answer 3

Populists turned to terrorism as the only way of achieving
their aims. In 1879, a group calling itself ‘The People’s Will’ was founded with the declared intention of murdering members of the ruling class.

• successfully planned the assassination of Alexander II, who was blown to pieces by a bomb.

Question 4

consequences of the assasination

Answer 4

weakened rather than strengthened
the Populist movement. The murder of a tsar who had initiated many reforms seemed to discredit the idea of reform itself and so justified the repression imposed in the wake of the assassination.

Question 5

Issue with the populists

Answer 5

Its concept of a peasant-based revolution was unrealistic; the Russian peasantry were simply not interested in political revolution.

Question 6

significance of the Populists

Answer 6

part it played in establishing a violent anti-tsarist tradition. All
the revolutionaries in Russia after 1870 were influenced, if not inspired, by the example of the Populist challenge to tsardom

Question 6

significance of the Populists

Answer 6

part it played in establishing a violent anti-tsarist tradition. All
the revolutionaries in Russia after 1870 were influenced, if not inspired, by the example of the Populist challenge to tsardom

Question 6

significance of the Populists

Answer 6

part it played in establishing a violent anti-tsarist tradition. All
the revolutionaries in Russia after 1870 were influenced, if not inspired, by the example of the Populist challenge to tsardom

Question 6

significance of the Populists

Answer 6

part it played in establishing a violent anti-tsarist tradition. All
the revolutionaries in Russia after 1870 were influenced, if not inspired, by the example of the Populist challenge to tsardom

Question 7

significance of the Populists

Answer 7

part it played in establishing a violent anti-tsarist tradition. All
the revolutionaries in Russia after 1870 were influenced, if not inspired, by the example of the Populist challenge to tsardom

Question 8

The Social Revolutionaries (SRs) key belief

Answer 8

Peasant Revolution: The SRs believed that the peasantry was the key revolutionary force in Russia, and sought to mobilize them to overthrow the Tsarist government and establish a socialist system. They advocated for land reform and the redistribution of land from the wealthy landowners to the peasants.

Question 9

Terrorism: SRS

Answer 9

The SRs were known for their use of political violence, including assassinations, bombings, and other forms of terrorism, to achieve their goals. They saw violence as a necessary means of overthrowing the oppressive Tsarist regime and inspiring the masses to rise up against their rulers.

Question 10

srs: socialism

Answer 10

The SRs believed in the principles of socialism, including the common ownership of the means of production, and the redistribution of wealth and power from the elite to the masses. They sought to create a more just and equitable society where all individuals had access to basic necessities and the opportunity to lead fulfilling lives

Question 11

local autonomy: srs

Answer 11

The SRs believed in the importance of local autonomy and self-rule, with communities and regions given greater control over their own affairs. They saw this as a way to empower the masses and create a more democratic and participatory society.

Question 12

local autonomy: srs

Answer 12

The SRs believed in the importance of local autonomy and self-rule, with communities and regions given greater control over their own affairs. They saw this as a way to empower the masses and create a more democratic and participatory society.

Question 13

overall SRS

Answer 13

Overall, the ideology of the SRs was rooted in the principles of socialism, with a focus on the revolutionary potential of the peasantry, the use of political violence to achieve their goals, and the importance of creating a more just and equitable society through the redistribution of wealth and power.

Question 14

Victor Chernov

Answer 14

played a key part in the formation of the Social Revolutionary Party in 1901 and became its leader. He was a member of the intelligentsia and sought to provide a firmer base for Populism than its previous passionate but vague ideas
had produced.

Question 15

PROBLEMS WITH THE SRS

Answer 15

-weakened by disagreements among themselves

Question 16

LEFT SRS

Answer 16

the faction who wanted to continue the policy of terrorism inherited from ‘The People’s Will’.

Question 17

RIGHT SRS

Answer 17

The Right SRs were the more moderate element, who, while
believing in revolution as their ultimate goal, were prepared to cooperate with other parties in working for an immediate improvement in the conditions of the
workers and peasants.

Question 18

ASSASINATIONS SRS

Answer 18

SRs were responsible for over 2000 political
assassinations, including Plehve, the interior minister, and the tsar’s uncle, the Grand Duke Sergei.

Question 19

CONSEQUENCES FOR THE SRS AFTER THE 1905 REVOLUTION

Answer 19

From 1906, the SRs experienced a growing support from the professional classes, from the trade unions and from the All-Russian Union of Peasants, which had been
set up in 1905. At its first congress in 1906, the SR Party committed itself torevolutionary socialism and gave a special pledge to the peasants that it would
end ‘the bourgeois principle of private ownership by returning the land to those
who worked it’.

Question 20

DISAGREEMENTS WITHIN SRS

Answer 20

The left wing protested that the party’s
programme ignored the industrial workers, while the right asserted thatcongress policy was unworkable in current Russian conditions. Chernov tried to hold the factions together, but from 1906 onwards the SRs were a collection of radical groups rather than a united party.

Question 21

The Social Democrats (SDs)

Question 22

George Plekhanov

Answer 22

first Marxist revolutionary of note in Russia He had
translated Marx’s writings into Russian and had worked to promote the idea of proletarian revolution