Role of the Tsar in the February Revolution Flashcards
What was Tsar Nicholas II’s main issue as a ruler?
He was unable to rule effectively and made poor decisions that worsened relations with the government and increased hardship for civilians and soldiers alike.
What did Nicholas II refuse to accept?
Any reduction in the absolute power he held.
How did Nicholas II’s policies affect ethnic minorities?
They alienated ethnic minorities.
What was the Progressive Bloc?
A group established by Octoberists and Kadets wanting more control over the war.
What action did Nicholas II take in response to the Progressive Bloc?
He closed the Duma in 1915, alienating many liberals.
What position did Nicholas II declare for himself during World War I?
Commander in Chief of the army.
Why was Nicholas II’s absence from Petrograd significant?
It left a weakened government.
Who was in control of the Russian government while Nicholas II was at the front?
Tsarina Alexandra.
What was the public perception of Tsarina Alexandra?
She was not hugely popular, reserved, and awkward in public.
What suspicion surrounded Tsarina Alexandra due to her background?
She was a German princess, raising questions about her loyalties.
How did Alexandra influence government appointments?
She appointed less threatening and sometimes incompetent ministers.
What was the consequence of Alexandra’s influence on government appointments?
Government members tended to be weak and ineffective.
How did wartime conditions exacerbate the issues in the Russian government?
Weak government leadership led to disaster for the monarchy and Russia.
Who was Grigori Rasputin?
A monk from Siberia known for his rumored healing abilities and controversial behavior.
What was Rasputin’s connection to the Tsarevich Alexei?
Alexandra called on him to heal Alexei’s hemophilia.
How did Rasputin’s influence affect Tsarina Alexandra’s decisions?
He advised her on appointments and interfered in important decisions.
What did Rasputin symbolize to the Russian people?
Everything that was wrong with imperial government.
What happened to Rasputin in late 1916?
He was murdered by royalists.
What impact did the repressive tactics of Stolypin and the Okhrana have on revolutionary groups by 1914?
The membership and influence of revolutionary groups had been severely reduced.
What continued despite the repression of revolutionary groups?
They survived underground and continued to attract support.
What significant event did revolutionaries achieve in 1911?
They managed to assassinate Stolypin.
What was Pravda?
The Bolshevik newspaper that was highly popular among workers.
What was Lenin’s view on revolution?
He believed it should be organized, not based on unorganized protest.
