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3/4 Revolutions > Perspectives > Flashcards

Perspectives Flashcards

1
Q

Collected Laws of the Russian Empire

Powers of the Tsar

A

‘The Emperor (Tsar) of all the Russians is an autocratic and unlimited monarch; God himself ordains that all must bow to his supreme power…’

Tsar = complete control over Russia = govt. affairs / small body adviser

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2
Q

Alexander iii

Competency of Tsar Nicholas

A

‘He is still absolutely a child, he has infanitle judgements’

Nicholas = unassuming & X best temperament for leader
Uncompromising

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3
Q

Tsar Nicholas ii -> brother-in-law

His own competency

A

‘What am I to do? I am not prepared to be Tsar. I know nothing of the business of ruling’

Nicholas admits own inadequacy & incompetence/inexperiance -> not ideal

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4
Q

The State and Revolution (1917): Lenin

Marxism-Leninism

A

‘organisation of the vanguard of the oppressed as the ruling class for the purpose of crushing the oppressors… expansion of democracy… first time becomes democracy for the poor, democracy for the people and not democracy for the rich… suppression by force…’

Transition from bourgeois control to proletariat control
Representatives (soviets) of the working & peasant class
Improved conditions
Exclusion of bourgeois thru suppression or force

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5
Q

Tsar Nicholas II to Witte

Demands for reform from Middle Class

A

‘I shall never, under any circumstances, agree to the representative form of government because i consider it harmful to the people whom God has entrusted to my care’

Highlights Tsar’s reactionary belief’s & ignorance regarding tensions
Inflaming the situation by refusing any meaningful reforms -> making revolution seem like the only viable option

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6
Q

Tsar Nicholas II

View of the Japanese in the face of war

A

‘The Japanese are infidels. The might of Holy Russia will crush them’

Racial element = European superiority -> Russia can’t lose b/c they’re European
Russia = ‘Holy’ b/c belief of Religious superiority

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7
Q

Minister of the Interior Plehv

View of war with Russia

A

‘a little victorious war to stem the tide of revolution’

Acknowledging revolutionary sentiments w/I Russia -> belief that war fix internal problems
Intention = replace revolutionary sentiments w patriotism & unite Russia under guise of war = common enemy

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8
Q

Communist Party of the Soviet Union history

View on Bloody Sunday

A

‘On that day the workers received a bloody lesson. It was their faith in the tsar that was riddled with bullets that day.’

Tsar name changed from ‘Little Father’ to ‘Bloody Nicholas’ = image on brutality & uncaring nature
Ppl abandon faith in Tsar in favour of radical political groups & solutions
International image = tarnished -> seen as murdering innocent civillians

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9
Q

Witte

Attempting to convince the Tsar to implement reforms

A

‘The slogan of “freedom” must become the slogan of government activity. There is no other way of saving the state.’

Nicholas was reluctant to concede to reforms because it went against his promised autocratic rule
Witte suspected that unless reforms were put in place, a revolution may take place

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10
Q

Trotsky

Impacts of the October Manifesto on the Tsarist system

A

‘Although there were a few broken ribs, tsarism came out of the experiance of 1905 alive and strong.’

Opposition to the government was divided so the workers and liberals were no longer working together
The military had been bought to remain loyal and were happy to continue supporting the Tsar
Promise of reform satisfied liberals whose opposition was quelled in the short term

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11
Q

Witte

Condemning the Duma

A

‘I have a constitution in my head, but as to my heart, I spit on it’

He holds little value in the Duma
He was forced to make the concessions to save Russia from a revolution

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12
Q

Tsar Nicholas

Opinion on Witte’s reforms

A

‘Curse the Duma. It’s all Witte’s fault’ & ‘As long as I live, I will never trust that man again with the smallest things. I had quite enough of last year’s experiment. It is still like a nightmare to me.’

Nicholas doesn’t see the Duma as necessary and is frustrated with its existence
He implements the Fundamental Laws to ensure his autocratic rule can continue.
He appoints his own loyal ministers, which undermines the representative aspect of the Parliament.
He creates Article 87 as a safeguard so he can dissolve the Duma and resume power when he sees fit.

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13
Q

Trotsky

In response to the limitations put on the Duma

A

‘A constitution is given, but the autocracy remains. Everything is given, and nothing is given.’

While the Duma itself was a significant reform, the limitations put in place rended it useless.
All laws needed Tsar’s approval.
Tsar could appoint his own ministers.

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14
Q

Tsar Nicholas

His purpose for the Duma

A

‘I created the Duma not to be directed by it, but to be advised.’

Nicholas wanted to maintain his autocratic rule
He implemented numerous limitations on the Duma so it would involve him in all decisions.

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15
Q

Stolypin

The Third Duma composition

A

‘responsible and statesmanlike people’

Electoral system only allowed conservatives & supporters of the Tsar to be elected into the Duma
Octobrist majority (154 seats) = supporters of Tsar

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16
Q

Stalin

Lena Goldfield Massacre

A

‘The Lena shots broke the ice of silence, the river of popular resentment is flowing again.’

Striking miners were shot by the government = reminiscient of Bloody Sunday -> has negative connotations.
Prompted increase in strike action over the next two years.

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17
Q

Octobrist Leader Guchkov

The reactionary government response to the strikes

A

‘a peaceful, painless transition from the old condemned system to a new order’ has failed.

Duma = supposed to peacefully implement reform but govt. reactionary response undermined peaceful relations.

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18
Q

Stolypin

Land reforms - creating the Kulaks

A

‘First of all, we have to create a citizen,** a small landowner**, and then the peasant problem will be solved.’

Peasants = lazy -> need a focus to motivate them

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19
Q

Stolypin

Reaction & Reform

A

‘Suppression first and then, and only then, reform’

Declared Martial Law when he became PM = executions & decrease freedoms
Land reforms = creation of Kulaks -> subservient peasant class to govt.

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20
Q

Pyotr Durnovo

Russia’s preparedness for war in 1914

A

‘(Russia’s preparations are) quite inadequate considering the unprecedented scale on which a future war will inevitably be fought… The network of strategic railways is inadequate. The railways… (are) sufficient, perhaps, for normal traffic, but not commensurate with the colossal demands… of a European war… the technical backwardness of our industries does not create favourable conditions for our adoption of the new inventions… there must **inevitably break out in the defeated country a social revolution **which, by the very nature of things, will spread.’

Railway was barely enough for normal traffic = food shortages X b/c of production but distribution
Industries X keep up with need during war = 42000 rifles/month but need 100000/month
Defeated country won’t survive social uproar = result in revolution

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21
Q

General Alexei Polivanov

Great Retreat of 1915

A

‘The army is no longer retreating but simply fleeing… Headquarters has completely lost its head. Contradictory orders, absence of a plan, ferverish changes of commanding officers and general confusion upset even the most courageous men.’

High ranking generals & commanders etc. in place based on seniority & loyalty to Tsar X competence -> unskilled & clueless commanders
Low morale -> desertions w/i army

22
Q

General Brusilov

State of army after 1 year of war

A

‘In a year of war the regular army had completely vanished. It was an army of ignoramouses.’

Majority of army = conscripted peasants -> X well-trained
By mid 1915 4 million dead, wounded or captured

23
Q

Officer’s complaint

Regarding use of peasants in army

A

‘This is not war, sir, it is slaughter. The Germans use up shells; we use up human lives.’

Consistently high death toll across battles
4 million dead, wounded or captured by mid 1915

24
Q

General Brusilov

Russian soldiers

A

‘Disgustingly untrained’ & ‘more like an ill-trained militia.’

Peasants received 6 weeks of training -> may not have held a gun before

25
Q

Trotsky

Revolutionary public mood during war

A

‘Nobody had fear of spending too much. Society (social elites) held out its hand and pockets… A continual shower of gold fell from above…** all came running to grab and gobble.’**

Inlfation -> real wage decrease by 65% / food shortages meant long lines w X guarantee
Wealthy stayed wealthy while poor got poorer = ^ social disparity

26
Q

Tsarina

Miliukov’s petition to the Tsar

A

‘rebel ministers (were) fiends worse than the duma (who deserved) a smacking.’

Tsar sacked all of the ministers who supported the petition

27
Q

Miliukov

The rejection of his petition to the Tsar

A

‘They brushed aside the hand that was offered them.’

Miliukov proposed getting competent ministers into the government to protect the monarchy from revolution but was rejected because seen as hostile

28
Q

Miliukov

The rejection of his petition by the Tsar

A

‘When the Duma keeps everlasting insisting that the rear must be organised for a successful struggle, the Government persists in claiming that organising the country means organising a revolution, and deliberately prefers chaos and disorganisation. What is it, stupidity or treason?’

29
Q

Rodzianko

Urging the Tsar to not become Commander-in-Chief

A

‘Your majesty, you decide to remove the supreme Commander-in-Chief, whom the Russian people still trust absolutely. The people must interpret your move as one inspired by the Germans around you, who are identified in the minds of the people with our enemies and with treason to the Russian cause. Your decision will appear to the people to be a confession of the hopelessness of the situation and of the chaos that has invaded the administration.’

Nicholas was advised against action but the Tsarina (German) was supportive.
Ppl thought there was corruption -> treason w/i govt. = X helped w German heritage.
Incompetence w/i ministry -> disorganisation

30
Q

French Emabassador

Regarding the Russian Government during the War

A

‘I am obliged to report that, at the present moment, the Russian Empire is run by lunatics.’

Commonplace replacement of ministers w incompetence
Corruption & bribery ^ b/c of Rasputin

31
Q

Grand Duke Nikolai

Regarding the Russian Government during the War

A

‘It is now in chaos.’

Commonplace replacement of ministers w incompetence
Corruption & bribery ^ b/c of Rasputin

32
Q

Purishvekich

Thoughts on Rasputin during the war

A

‘The tsar’s ministers… have been turned into… marionettes whose threads have been taken firmly in hand by Rasputin and the Empress Alexandra… the evil genius of Russia… who has remained a German on the Russian throne and alien to the country and its people.’

Tsarina took unconditional advice from Rasputin who took bribes -> “ministerial leapfrog”
Rasputin = sexual depravity & vulgar = ignored by royal family

33
Q

Petrograd Chief of Police

The start of the waves of strikes before the February Revolution

A

‘We are on the eve of big events, compared with which 1905 was child’s play.’

3 waves of strikes each getting worse each time

34
Q

Nicholas

Regarding his abdication

A

‘If it is necessary that I should abdicate for the good of Russia, then I am ready for it.’

PG & Generals advise Nicholas to abdicate b/c it’s too late to change

35
Q

Kerensky

Regarding the Dual Authority between the Provisional Government and the Soviet

A

‘The Soviet had power without authority; the Provisional Government authority without power.’

PG was the recognised government but the Soviet was elected and had control of the streets.

36
Q

Guchkov

Regarding the Dual Authority between the Provisional Government and the Soviet

A

‘The Provisional Government does not possess any real power; and its directives are carried out only to the extent that it is permitted by the Soviet of Worker’s and Soldier’s Deputies, which enjoys all the essential elements of real power, since the troops, the railroads, the post and telegraphs are all in its hands. One can say flatly that the Provisional Government exists only so long as it is permitted by the Soviets.’

37
Q

Lenin

Criticism of Lenin’s April Theses

A

‘You are afraid to go back to your old memories? But the time has come to change out linen, we’ve got to take off the old dirty shirt and put on a new one! … it’s time to get down to business.’

Lenin is calling out people who have changed their minds to fit the situation rather than take advantage of the situation to make their ideas come true

38
Q

Provisional Government

War Aims

A

‘objective of free Russia** is not dominating of other nations**, nor the seizure of their property, nor the forcible seizure of foreign territories, but the ratifcation of a stable peace on the basis of national-self determination.’
‘The Russian people will not allow its native land to emerge from the great war humbled and sapped of it life strength.’

Not want to conquer other territories = X ‘imperialist war’
Will continue to fight until regained lost territories

39
Q

Miliukov

Miliukov’s note to Allies about PG decl. of War Aims

A

‘to bring the world war to a decisive victory’ and that the ‘leading democracies will find a way to establish those guarantees and sanctions which are required.’

40
Q

Kerensky

Moscoe State Conference

A

‘I’m sick. I’m a corpse. That conference killed me.’

3 days of conference and no progress made only revealed lack of trust between parties.

41
Q

Kornilov

Kornilov’s Coup

A

‘It’s time to** hang the German supporters and spies**, with Lenin at their head and to disperse the Soviet so that it would never reassemble.’

Demonstrates hate for Bolsheviks = branded as traitors & spies
Demonstrated hate/contempt for Soviet = X trust

42
Q

Trotsky

Forming the Red Guards

A

‘The army that rose against Kornilov was the army-to-be of the October Revolution.’

Red guards = loyal to Bolsheviks
Red guards involved in October Revolution = proving Trotsky right

43
Q

Lenin

Bolsheviks rise in influence after the Kornilov Affair

A

‘The Bolsheviks,** having obtained a majority in the soviets of workers’ and soldiers’ deputies in both capitals,** can and must take state power into their own hands. They can because the active majority of revolutionary elements in the two chief cities is large enough to carry the people with it, to overcome the opposition’s resistance, to smash it, to gain power and retain power.’

Lenin wants to use majority in Soviets to extend their influence

44
Q

Trotsky

At the opening of preparliament

A

‘All power to the soviets! All land to the people! Long live an immediate, just, democratic peace!’

Delivered after continuation of war announced = reflect people’s protests’ demands = v. popular & undermines PG authority

45
Q

Trotsky

Regarding the PG

A

‘You might say in general about this government, that up to the days of October in hard moments* it was always undergoing a crisis,* and in the intervals between crisis it was merely existing. Continually ‘discussing its condition’,* it found no time for business*.’

April theses / July Days / August / October = perpetual state of crisis
Pushing back of Constitunt Assembly = crushing hope
Refusing to act on big issues like war, land & ecnomic reform -> frustration

46
Q

Petrograd Soviet

Responding to Kerensky’s order for Petrograd troops to go to the front

A

‘facilitate the revolutionary defense of Petrograd… from the attacks being openly prepared by military and civil Kornilovites’.’

Directly accusing PG of attacking Soviet & counter-revolutionary intention

47
Q

Lenin

Prior to armed insurrection during the October Revolution

A

‘The Provisional Government has been deposed. Government authority has passed into the hands of the organ of the Petrograd Soviet, the Milrevkom, which stands at the head of the Petrograd proletariat and garrison.’

Premature speech about taking power from PG
Representing the workers and the soldiers

48
Q

Trotsky

Response to Martov’s criticisms of the Bolshevik coup

A
  • “A rising of the masses requires no justification. What has happened is an insurrection, and not a conspiracy. We hardened the revolutionary energy of the Petersburg workers and soldiers…The masses followed our banner and our insurrection was victorious. And now we are told: Renounce your victory, make concession, compromise. With whom I ask? … No, here no compromise is possible. To those who have left and those who tell us to do this we must say: You are miserable bankrupts, your role is played out; go back to where you ought to go: into the dustbin of history!’

this was a the congress ov soviets (25th october)
Martov was the leading Menshevik
Martov had repeatedly called for a coalition + asked for compromises

49
Q

Martov

final words leaving the Congress of Soviets

A

Martov responded to Trotsky with ‘then we will go’ and stormed out

this meant that the bolsheviks now had controll of the Soviet congress (only members of the left SR party and Bolsheviks remained)
this eleviated any challenges the Bolsheviks could have had
Service argues that the walkout seemed to be more of a disapproval of moderate socialists than a true challenge

50
Q

following fall of winter palace

Lenins manifesto title

A

‘To all Workers, Soldiers and Peasants’

it was a declaration that soviet has taken power
people cheered b/c optimistic that it would help their problems

51
Q

lenin

Manifesto following October revolution

A

* ‘Supported by an overwhelming majority of the workers, soldiers, and peasants, and basing itself in the victorious insurrection of the workers and the garrison of Petrograd, the Congress hereby resolves to take governmental power into its own hands’.

8:40pm (26th October) Lenin makes an appearance promising to deal with the issues of ‘Peace’ and ‘Land’. These are met with thunderous applause.
of 30-40 thousans supporters, 10-15 thousand attacked the Winter Palace (5% of workers in Petrograd) -hardly a popular movement

3/4 Revolutions (11 decks)

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