People's Will Flashcards
Give an overview of the foundation of People’s Will
Background: response to state crackdown and incompatible peasantry
- Failure to convince peasants and spark mass movement (illiteracy, given away by peasants like Breshkovskii’s case, loyal to Tsar also like those Breshkovskii encountered)
- State cracks down on the hundreds who tried to instigate “peaceful” revolution in the country -> see as no other option (again, Breshkovskii arrested)
- Trials of 193 and 50-> side public w/ them, seen as unjust since speeches published in papers (Zasulich acquitted)
- Alex II executes 5 revolutionaries in 79 and sparks reaction
- 1876 consolidated party Land and Liberty now think longer term presence in village necessary (years) (doesn’t materialize)
slide into violence BECAUSE of Kazan, etc -> Zasulich
- HAD enshrined violence as self defence against state action BEFORE split
Split:
- Broader wave of anti-head of state violence in Europe (Victoria, Italy, Bismarck)
- 1876 demonstration outside Kazan Cathedreal -> state cracks down harshly on Land and Liberty
- Govt. is trying to SHUT DOWN STUDENTS
- NEW LEGISLATION: 4-6 year sentence in siberia for participating in attending such demonstrations
- Zasulich assassinates Trepov 1878 (attempts), acquitted because of public trial. State cracks down and bans jury trials for political crimes - will use state/military courts instead
(GENERAL SLIDE INTO REV VIOLENCE)
- 1879 General Conference -> Executive Committee of People’s Will splits off and advocates for violence
OVERALL: response to state violence, appears mass movement impossible
Explain significant state actions during this period that saw it try to enshrine the autocracy against subversive threats
Background:
- GREAT REFORMS never once threatened Autocracy
- Independent judiciary, but state breaks this immediately w/ Karakozov (same interrogations/pre trial, illegally closing trial, directly influencing public opinion by releasing Commission’s report BEFORE verdict w/ Polish links)
- Feared students -> white terror 66-68 post Karakozov (ban student groups of ALL kinds -> broadens definition of rev organization to get harsher verdicts, yellow tickets for nihilist women) and Nechaev
- Continue this here
- overall fearful of students and Poles being subversive
State crackdowns on students CREATE Peoples Will from Populism:
- Govt. is trying to SHUT DOWN STUDENTS -> crackdown and arrests at Kazan demonstration 1876
- NEW LEGISLATION: 4-6 year sentence in siberia for participating in attending such demonstrations
- on Land and Liberty
- THIS IS ALL REACTION TO TO THE PEOPLE AND WAVE OF ANTI-MONARCH VIOLENCE IN EUROPE AND DYNAMITE
Overreaching legally / media and law:
- Trials of 193, etc -> Zhelyabov and other speeches printed verbatim
- GOVT REALIZES -> NEED TO CLOSE TRIALS TO CONTAIN NARRATIVE. Issued tickets for audience -> land and liberty make fake tickets lol
Instead, public sympathetic because of horrid conditions from solitary (NOT SCARY -> LIKE BOBBY SANDS)
- Zasulich gets by on this -> sympathetic jury after lawyer cites vengeance motives 1878
- Ukaz issued stating BAN ON JURY TRIALS FOR REVS
TACTICS:
- cycling cars and routes for Alex (post Karakozov) -> ultimately leads to second attempt failing (wrong car, luggage)
- Also ultimately ignored by Alex II -> security let him stop the carriage after first explosion 1881, didn’t apply tourniquet to legs, took him to Winter Palace at own request instead of hospital
FLAWS:
NO IMPORT BAN ON DYNAMITE
Had been FOLLOWING him EVERYWHERE to map routines. Police didn’t vary routines unlike trains.
REACTION OF ALEX III:
- One lady was a noble , Alex II had to confirm her death sentence personally
- 12,000 soldiers line route to gallows -> massive force as a response. Public turns out despite Alex’s unpopularity
- return OF LIBERATOR TSAR PERSONA.
- Alex II was about to sign a document for CONSULTATIVE BODY PROTO PARLIAMENT -> ripped up by Alex III lmao.
- Foreign (British) press painted terror attacks as unavoidable response to tyrannical regime
- UNPOPULARITY ERASED after death
SECULAR AND STATE SPONSORED -> PUT ON DISPLAY 3 WEEKS LATER ONLY MUSEUM OF IMPERIAL CARRIAGES
Explain the organizational ideology behind the People’s Will. What/who were they influenced by.
OVERALL TWO GOALS:
- Kill Tsar to erase peasant/tsar bond
- Get political freedom to organize mass movement
Emerged from Land and Liberty -> therefore transition from peaceful revolutionary movement BACK to terrorism and violence (cell structure had remained tho)
TAKING LAW INTO OWN HANDS AND JUSTIFYING VIOLENCE
- MOSTLY STUDENTS RADICALIZED IN UNI
- “no sustained (peaceful) activity on behalf of people possible”
- Long term goal still a socialist Russia
- LIKE Karakozov and different from Paul -> want to break wheel by demonstrating Tsar is fallible
- DIFFERENT from Karakozov/Nechaev -> target people as INDIVIDUALS (Zasulich targeting Trepov for personal violation of state laws via flogging 1878)
OVERALL:
IN RESPONSE TO STATE CRACKDOWNS/AUTOCRACY:
- want to get POLITICAL FREEDOM (press, assembly) so they can peacefully propagandize the peasants with free press, etc and THEN start a revolution with them lmao
- Evidenced by 1876 demonstration outside Kazan Cathedreal
- NEW LEGISLATION: 4-6 year sentence in siberia for participating in attending such demonstrations
IN RESPONSE TO PEASANT / TSAR RELATIONSHIP:
- Need to ERODE this by demonstrating to peasants Tsar just another spoke in the wheel who will be replaced
- Had been outed by peasants, Breshkovskii encountered Tsarist peasants while working with TTP -> main obstacle to understanding socialist theory (why would Tsar do that?)
How did revolutionaries in the Revolutionary Situation of 1879-1881 use media/public opinion as a weapon? What technology allowed them to do this? (ez)
TECH: NEW WIDESPREAD MEDIA -> PRINTING PRESS
People’s Will
- Remember, goal is to agitate for wider revolution and get political reform so they can better propagate peasants
- Overall blames own violence on state crackdowns, peaceful measures impossible
Preceding Political Trials:
- of 193, 50
- Photography encaptulates emeciated forms of revs kept under harsh conditions in P/P -> shift in support
Perovskaia: issue postcards and gender to gain public support
- Open jury trials -> media laps this up -> Zhelyabov’s trial speech (not 193) / own defence allowed to be published VERBATIM in press -> explains ideology behind TTP and justification for movement - Worked with peasants and workers to talk about socialism peacefully, no crime here? (STATE RESPONSIBLE FOR VIOLENCE)
- Specifically becomes revolutionary AFTER being imprisoned for this
- Likens views of political party / cites the views as personal motivation for involvement
- “Peaceful solution is possible, but tsar prevents it”
- NEW PRINTING PRESSES TECH -> cheaper / widespread newspapers.
- Trial of 193, also of the 50 -> both of To the people
Zasulich: 1878
- Assassinated trepov (attempt) who was cruel governor of SPB
- Lawyer claims that this was vengeance for flogged prisoner, hypes up anti Trepov
- Flogging prisoner to death had VIOLATED STATES OWN LAWS -> need PUNISHMENT FOR INDIVIDUAL CRIME
- PUBLISHED in papers
- Public shifts in favour of Zasulich, jury acquits and she escapes despite Tsar ordering her arrest again immediately
By NATURE of crime itself:
- Also hoped to spread socialist/populist message international and abroad
- Bombs would allow SPECTACULAR EVENTS and ignite rev
- 1880 Grand Duke Constantin comparing them to French revs but worse because they “can’t see their face” (Winter Palace - > press paranoia following attack, group claims responsibility)
overall: show sophistication = attention = demands taken seriously
By CLAIMING responsibility and issuing demands via the press
- FIRST ATTEMPT 1779: bomb a dud at Alexandrovsk (others in LEC)
- AFTER SECOND ATTEMPT 1779: issue ultimateim to Alex saying he’d be safe if he granted a constituent assembly -> also use platform to appeal for public funds
Sentence Alex II to death -> ANNOUNCE TO MEDIA (sets precedent -> IRA claims responsibility) -> media release after attacks even after failures. Asserts legitimacy / fear.
IN REACTION TO STATE MEDIA REFORMS:
- After WInter Palace, State tries to appease public by “Supreme Commission for the Maintenance of State Order” expand rights enjoyed by press (trying to win it to state’s side) 1880
- Photography spread paranoia about the palace, embolden PW to commence another attempt immediately
- RESULT: PW able to expand press, recruit more within reach
- Evidenced by: Vera is now PW’s secratary for relations abroad
- Also Central Military Circle is established in naval bases in 1880
Have state run party paper as well
- Able ot operate in underground
The Executive Committee to the Emperor Alexander III”
- Issue ultimatum
- Seek moderate reforms -> representative body despite initially wanting abolition of autocracy -> WANT FREE ELECTIONS AND THEREFORE FREEDOM OF PRESS AND ASSEMBLY (POLITICAL FREEDOM)
- - it will abandon violent approach in light of these demands (way more liberal and IRA, say)
- Argues that they CAN’T NOT be violent because the govt is PREVENTING THEM FROM ENGAGING PEACEFULLY WITH THE MASSES
- Death of tsar inevitable because of 1880s and Alex II being shitty -> innocents hanged in crackdowns.
- Asserts rev movement increased despite suppression -> revs created by backlash of state -> explicitly cites Dolguscinzi and Ciaikovzi crackdowns of 1874?
- Despite peasant support in wake of Alex’s death -> assert that regicide is very popular (scare tactic)
OVERALL: weaves narrative that state is responsible for Tsar’s death (past crackdowns, future things to avoid) and trying to look innocent / not instigators in public’s eye while weilding scare tactics to get reforms.
- ONLY TWO OUTLETS
1. Revolution: can’t be stopped by state response
2. “spontaneous surrender of supreme authority to the people”: ALLOWING PEOPLE TO ASSIST IN WORK OF GOVERNMENT
Explain how women/gendered divisions of labour impacted People’s Will and their actions
OVERALL: women key to success and operation of PW
- Perform domestic tasks (cooking) upon which rev society runs -> still gendered divison of labour
- Perform “feminine” behind the scenes task essential for expansion -> Figner head of PW’s secratary for relations abroad -> expand into Navy and establish central military circle in 1880 as a result
- Assassinations made easier -> women clothing (Zasulich hiding a weapon under dress, improper to search a lady when going to Trepov)
- Also because she could make appointment as governess interview -> SEEN AS LESS THREATENING
- Personal charms -> Figner gets rev position of railway conductor for initial 1879 railway plot
- Make dynamite / educated in science and medicine (Figner, again)
- SYMPATHY AS MARTYRS -> selling postcards of Perovskaia for money and sympathy / support
FIGNER:
- WAS studying med school in Switzerland before getting involved -> great desire to HELP PEASANTS -> grows to see silence of society as justification for revolutionary action
- founding member at split
- First official meeting held in apartment (1879) w/ Alexander fake husband
- TOO GOOD LOOKING for field work (according to men)
Zasulich as a woman (ASSASSINATIONS):
- Socially unacceptable to search women - LOTS of fabric wearing at this time for fashion - Asked for interview as governess with governor - Men more suspected anyway
WOMEN AS MARTYRS:
- Sofia Perovskaia: father governor of SPB, elite. worked tutoring after leaving family, modest ascetic. Directs bombers.
- Women as martyrs WAY MORE EFFECTIVE -> FOREGROUND WOMEN USING POSTCARDS AND SUCH -> get sympathy/funds
LIBERATION OF WOMEN:
- 7/20 of leadership were women
- Never cofnessed to sexual relationship with man -> wanted independence and no cmmitments
- New sense of liberation when on her own -> BECAUSE OF REV LIFESTYLE
- No other Russian women enjoyed this freedom -> feminists wanted economic and political freedoms, but had no concrete individual liberties really
- FINANCIAL AND BODILY INDEPENDENCE FROM MARRIAGE -> no outlets for these in broader Russian society for women
- Possible because of communal living with men and women and the funds that poured in from donors
Gendered division of labour:
- Women took more admin roles (Secrataries, writers, etc -> only (?) men suicide bombers)
- Women and men fake marriages -> allow undercover success. Cheese shop Vera and Alexander
- Figner REJECTS the “public anonymity” that came w/ gendered roles -> VERA MIXES CHEMICALS FOR BOMBS (also leaves Odessa to participate in SPB plots following failed attempts of 79 despite being assigned by party to that post)
List some of the sophistication evolutions of Rev strategy here
TECHNOLOGY:
- dynamite, obviously
- used first by Irish Nationalists against Victoria, others
- Stuudyig sciences -> cobbling together -> SET UP OWN DYNAMITE FACTORY 1879
- Also Figner, others interested in natural sciences -> mixing chemicals themsleves for bombs REFLECTS EDUCATION OF WOMEN
TACTICS/REV CELL STRUCTURE
Observed and followed Alex II in SPB throughout this period -> discerened Sunday routes were never varied unlike train
- Cheese Shop -> taking advantage of gender to get two people (Figner, others) to act as husband and wife throughout
- Employing gendered roles like Figner’s to convince officials to let railway worker rev in 1879 rail plot
- Also buying business and masquerading -> HOWEVER -> only not caught miraculously
- A/B plans -> willing to resort to suicide bombings
- Also compromised because of third department infiltrations by Exec committee
- Therefore knew 385 police informant names
DUMBASS:
- didnt have a plan after being caught -> entire SPB circle mopped up in 3 days following April 4
Give an overview of People’s Will post split
Post Split:
- First meeting in Vera Figner’s / Alexander’s fake marriage apartment -> headquarters
- Generally move to W/c area after this
- 7/20 leadership are women
Sophistication:
- Travelling undercover -> Odessa, etc, as perfect hiding places (transient worker pops)
- Take on roles as disguises -> train engineer -> buy house next to tracks to plant dynamite. Figner’s status as woman / charm influenced this
- Immediately set up printing press and dynamite factories under funds from high society (TRIALS/MEDIA/PARENTS)
- Also compromised because of third department infiltrations by Exec committee. Therefore knew 385 police informant names
1879 First plot: Doesn’t go off, keep trying
Second: Blow up his luggage car -> ISSUE STATEMENT CLAMING SOPHISTICATION -> MEDIA TO ADVANTAGE
1880 Winter Palace: kill civilians, -> widespread coverage by photography spreads fear -> riding high -> enact new plan immediately
1881 Cheese shop incident -> rent along route (know Sunday routes, gamble) Back up plans for throwing dynamite
Assassination:
- Goes off well, issue demands for moderate reforms
- Entire organization mopped up by Alex III in 3 days in SPB, 3 months in total
- One lady was a noble , Alex II had to confirm her death sentence personally
- 12,000 soldiers line route to gallows -> massive force as a response. Public turns out despite Alex’s unpopularity
Explain the personal ideology behind members of PW, how did they justify violence?
PERSONAL IDEOLOGY:
- Extreme interpretation of Chernyshevsky -> ascetics devoted to the cause
- BUILDS off of asceticism in Populism (religion, hard works to blend in w/ peasants -> examples from populism)
- Severed all personal ties / loves -> full time rev work (Figner never romantically interested in men)
- Many educated in sciences, able to use dynamite and make bombs -> Kibalchich
- Development of suicide bombs and close distances -> death as FINAL PENANCE for martyrdom
ALSO want personal glory -> Figner refusing to take backseat role in Odessa once plot relocated to SPB in order to lead Cheeseshop plot and others.
OVERALL: SEEN AS INDIVIDUAL MODERN ACTORS ON HISTORY -> trying to SPARK revolution instead of following Marxist / Chernyshevsky blueprint that revolution would follow on time
JUSTIFICATION FOR VIOLENCE:
BECAUSE of state actions:
- The Executive Committee to the Emperor Alexander III -> GOVT actually “band” or “Cell” that violates laws / will of people (Zasulich, general contempt for reforms) -> PW therefore justified in violence because they are the PEOPLE’s WILL
- Also claim state crackdowns FORCED revs away from populism and peace
- Also evidenced by Zhelyabov defence speech -> peaceful students turned to violence after crackdowns
OVERALL: need to attain socialism like Aleks -> no peaceful propagation possible ->terror
Explain how the STATE tried to employ media to its advantage in this period
STATE:
- employs dark tourism -> global communications and media -> memoirs and travelougues of visiting American and British diplomates
- Expected to write about travels since industry only just emerging
- widely read
- mangled carriage from 1881 on display at Royal Carriage Museum -> DETACTCHED from scene of crime / removing possibility of worship
Tries to CONTROL media:
OVERALL: want OPEN trials like Petrashevsky (don’t fuck w/state) ad then CLOSED because of reality
- 1880: LIBERAL PRESS REFORMS BACKFIRE -> intensified propaganda and expanded membership
- Evidenced by: Vera is now PW’s secratary for relations abroad
- Was TRYING to win press over to their side
Trials of 193, etc
- GOVT REALIZES -> NEED TO CLOSE TRIALS TO CONTAIN NARRATIVE. Issued tickets for audience -> land and liberty make fake tickets lol
- State initially thinks it will be great platform to diffuse ideas -> scary terrorists
- Instead, public sympathetic because of horrid conditions from solitary (NOT SCARY -> LIKE BOBBY SANDS)
