Russia 1984-1945 Flashcards
When did Tsar Nicholas come to the throne?
In 1894 aged 28, he was said to be unprepared
When were the Tsar and his family murdered?
July 18th 1918 by firing squad. Killed by Bolsheviks because they still had followers (Whites’) that were closing in to free them
Marxists
Led by Karl Marx. Believed in the struggle between different classes. They wanted to end the Tsarist system and the also wanted a Revolution
Social Democrats
They believed changed in Russia would happen through efforts of industrial workers, not peasants.
Bolsheviks
Led by Vladimir Lenin. They aimed to take power. They became the communist party of the Soviet Union. They believed that a revolution should be led by proletariat only, they only wanted a small number of support
Mensheviks
Led by Irakli Tsereteli. They aimed to work with others to gain power and influence for the working people
Mensheviks
Led by Irakli Tsereteli. They aimed to work with others to gain power and influence for the working people. They wanted a wide range of support
The Kadets
Were a growing middle class. They wanted to reform (not abolish) Tsarism, they also wanted a parliamentary system, like Britain. They wanted equality for all Russians end censorship, abolish redemption payments, a trade union and free education
The role Of Lenin
Organised party
Published Pravda
Avoided Capture
Had popular slogans to raise moral
Public awareness speeches
Role Of Trosky
Joined Bolsheviks after ‘July Days’
Masterminded the events of the group
Great military leader
Organised the Red Guard
What Happened when the Bolsheviks took power?
All non-Bolshevik newspapers were banned (censorship)
All factories were put under control of Worker committees
Lenin ends the war, Trotsky signed Treaty of Brest-Litvosk with Germany March 1918
Established the Cheka December 1917
New Gov, 8th November 1917
The Whites’ (Pro Tsarists) were Bolshevik opposition
When did The Bolsheviks take power?
October 1917
Whites’ Weaknesses
No single aim (Different Leaders wanted different things)
No single leader
Generals were brutal and harsh
White Terror
Appeared to be puppets of foreign powers
Red strengths
Controlled railways, good for supplies
High moral
Trotsky was an excellent leader, motivator and organiser
Clever use of propaganda
War Communism
How did the War effect Russia?
By the end of 1914, over 1 million Russians died on the front lines
Hugely lacked supplies like weapons and clothing
Tsar took command of army and left Tsarina with Rasputin
Large cities has shortages of food, coal, water and materials
Brusilov offensive (largest Russian Assault failed)
Inflation during war
Rose by 400%, but wages didn’t rise
Provisional Government
Led By Alexander Kerensky, made up of 12 men
40,000 workers went on strike
International women’s day strikes, demanding food, fuel and new Gov
Tsar’s army opened fire on protestors
Tsar abdicated throne and fled
Tsar and his family were executed
A soviet
A union between the soldiers and workers. Petrograd soviet had 2500 members
Dual Power
Division of authority between the provisional Gov and the Petrograd soviet
Kornilov Report
Aug/Sep 1917, General Kornilov was angry by PG weakness and threatened to take power himself.
Red Guard defended Petrograd against Kornilov
Railway workers pulled up tracks so Kornilov never arrived, Bolsheviks looked like heroes
Non-Communist economic policies
stopped the practice of requisitioning food
any extra food was allowed to be kept or sold for profit
new rouble was introduced to end inflation
small factories were privatised
communist economic policies
peasants now had to supply amount of what they grew to the Gov
Programme of electrification continues and extended to rural areas
important industries, such a coal and steel remained nationalised
Bolshevik Strengths
Lenin was a good leader, spent years preparing for Bolshevik revolution
Criticised ww1
Lenin’s slogans and use of propaganda
Red Guards help put down Kornilov
Lenin had lots of support
timings were right
Provisional Government weaknesses
Failed to solve food shortages
unwilling to hand land over to peasants
continues fighting in ww1
did not make decisions quickly
lost support of the army
Petrograd soviet proved too strong
Long Term Causes of the 1905 revolution
peasants were dissatisfied with living conditions and how land was divided
poor working conditions, wanted higher wages and shorter hours
Gov’s violent and oppressive policies led to persecution of the people
Tsar had little understanding of the conditions
poor harvests led to starvation and attacks on land owners
peasants made redemption payments for freedom in 1861
Short Term Causes of the 1905 revolution
Economic slump led to high unemployment rates
Russia were embarrassed to lose to second rate power
Russian fleet destroyed by Japanese in under an hour
Bourgeoisie angry the Tsar wouldn’t share his power
nationwide food shortages
High taxation has disastrous effects on the people
What happened on 22nd Jan 1905?
Father Gapon led 3000 people to Winter Palace to protest poor living conditions and wanted to deliver a petition asking for a reform. The tsar used 10000 Cossack soldiers to protect the gate, when the protesters advanced, the soldiers opened fire
over 1000 died
When was the October manifesto?
30th October 1905
What did the October manifesto promise?
Freedom of speech
Establish a Duma
No new laws with consent from Duma
October manifesto broken promises
Voting system was unfair, rich had more influence than poor
Duma had little influence over Tsar and new laws
First two Duma’s were dismissed for demanding reforms
further changed introduced to exclude socialists
2 problems faced by the Tsar in 1905
30th October - October Manifesto
22nd January - Bloody Sunday
