Russia 1914-1924 Flashcards
What’s the name given to a Country ruled by only one leader?
Autocracy
Who is the ruler of Russia in 1914?
Tsar Nicholas II
By 1914 how long had Tsar Nicholas II been on the throne for?
20 years
Under what circumstances did Tsar Nicholas believe that he had the right to rule Russia and what did this mean?
Divine right on behalf of God and therefore no one has the right to challenge him
How long had the Romanovs ruled Russia for?
300 years
Who is Nicholas married to?
Alexandra who was a German princess
Who are the children Nicholas and Alexandra had?
They had four daughters however they were desperate to have a son who would succeed the throne
What did their son Alexis have?
A blood disease known as haemophilia so he could easily bleed to death
Which church supported Nicholas’ claim that he was all-powerful due to God?
Russian Orthodox Church
When was the Duma elected?
1905
What was the problem with the Duma?
It had a little power and was heavily dominated by the educated upper and middle classes
What could Nicholas do to the Duma?
He could dismiss it whenever he wished he was not forced to take any notice of what it wanted
Who are Nicholas’s secret police?
Okhrana
Was the censorship? If so, what was censored?
Yes, newspapers and books
What happened in 1915?
Nicholas made himself commander-in-chief of Russian armies
When did Rasputin die?
1916
When did Lenin die?
1924
When did Nicholas abdicate?
1917
What happened after Nicholas abdicated?
Provisional government took over
When was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?
march 1918
When was the end of the Russian Civil War?
1921
When was the start of the Russian Civil War?
1918
What significant event happened to Nicholas and his family in 1918?
The execution of the royal family
What happened to Lenin in 1923?
Was significantly ill after a stroke
When did the Bolsheviks under Lenin seize control?
October November 1917
What was the Duma?
A representative assembly, or Parliament, first set up in 1905
When was Nicholas’ unpopularity?
1914 to 1917
What were the effects of the war?
Food shortages and high casualties
Where were the early defeats of the war in 1914?
Masurian Lakes and Tannenberg
What decision did Nicholas take in the war and when was this?
In 1915 he decided to take control of the arm isn’t as his poor decision-making meant that defeats continued
Who did Nicholas leave on charge while he was in the war?
The Tsarina
Why was the Tsarina unpopular?
Was German – rumours of her being a spy
Who was Rasputin?
He was a Russian peasant who was a monk believed to be able to cure Alexis of his haemophilia
Why was Rasputin disliked
People believe that Rasputin was having an affair with the Tsarina
What was wrong with Nicholas and his wife being in charge of Russia
They were completely out of touch with reality and people’s needs
When did the weather reach -35°C?
During the crisis of February March 1917
What did the crisis of February March 1917 end in?
February March Revolution
What were the rumours of during February March 1917?
Food rationing
What did the room is the food rationing lead to?
Women going on strike
Why did the strikes grow?
Due to food shortages and general discontent
What did the army units do during February - March 1917?
Some use of violence against strikers but then the army start to mutiny and refuse to stop the strikes in Petrograd
Who was the provisional government made up from?
The Duma
What did the provisional government do after the February March Revolution?
Took control and established the Petrograd Soviet
Why was Nicholas called to return back after February March 1917?
Just sort out the riots but is train is stopped by mutinying soldiers
What happened when the Tsar was told to abdicate?
He did and this is the revolution
When was the causes of the failure of the provisional government?
March to October 1917