Russia and the Soviet Union Flashcards
Russia’s system of government (Pre 1917)
Monarchist autocracy
Autocracy
System of government where one person has supreme control over an entire nation
Ruling family
The Romanovs
Aristocracy
Highest class in society
Reasons for peasants discontent
Famine
Famine
Severe lack of food
Reasons for industrial workers discontent
Poor working conditions: long hours, low pay, hazardous conditions and poor hygiene
Reasons for discontent in the middle class/liberals
Lack of freedom, specifically the police state
Reasons for discontent for non Russians
Culture was threatened, specifically due to russification
Russification
Pressure from the central Russian authorities for non-Russian peoples to adopt Russian culture including but not limited to language
Radicals
Socialists who wanted to overthrow the government and install a communist regime
When was the Russo Japanese war
1904-05
Causes of the Russo Japanese war
Wanted a warm-water port, wanted control over Manchuria, Tsar Nicholas II wanted to distract the population from their troubles
Course of the Russo Japanese war
Mostly naval battles, Russia sent and lost its Baltic fleet – it was the first time an Asian power defeated a European power
Bloody Sunday
Unarmed, nonviolent protest in 1905 – Cossacks and soldiers fired into the crowd, killing 100
October Manifesto
Created in late 1905, gave freedoms to the middle class by setting up a parliament – effectively divided the 1905 revolution, ending it.
Duma
Russian for parliament
The First Duma
1906 – comprised of mostly the Kadet party who demanded land reform.
Predominant religion in Tsarist Russia
Eastern Orthodox Christianity.
The Second Duma
1907 – comprised mostly of the Kadet party and the Trudoviks (left wing radicals).
Third and fourth duma
1907-1917 – Stolypin changed the election rules ensuring that conservative tsarist supporters held a controlling majority.
Stolypin land reform
Allowed farmers to own their own land - by 1915 only 14 percent of peasants had adopted these reforms.
Lena Goldfield strike
1912 – 200-500 murdered.
Russia’s participation in WWI
1914-1917
Battle of Tannenberg
1914 – Russia lost 122,000 troops.
Total Russian losses by the end of 1915
2 million men and 3 provinces.
Economic effects of WWI on Russia
17b Roubles spent between 1914-1917. 15m men sent to fight. Vital economic centres captured by the Germans and Austrians. Government started printing money (suspension of specie payment).
Social effects of WWI on Russia
Starvation in urban centres. Savings wiped out by inflation. Loss of men in battle -> demographic problems. Unemployment resulting from loss of trade.
Political effects of WWI on Russia
Fourth Duma suspended. Civil unrest. Duma deputies called for deputies to replace the Tsar as head of state - known as the ‘progressive bloc’.
Effect of prohibition of alcohol
28% decline in tax revenues.
Inflation statistics
Salt up 483%, meat up 232% and butter up 124% (don’t need to remember exact stats, just round to the nearest 100).
Regent
Person appointed to rule while the ruler is away.
Regent from 1915-1917
Tsarina Alexandra.
Alexandra was unpopular because…
- She routinely exercised her autocratic powers (dismissed 4 PMs in 2 years). 2. She was German. 3. She was obsessed with Rasputin.
Medical condition of Nicholas II’s son, Alexis
Hemophilia - life threatening, bed ridden.
Rasputin was hated because…
- He had significant influence despite being a monk from Siberia. 2. Rasputin was a womaniser and was rumored to be having an affair with Alexandra.
When and how was Rasputin murdered?
1916 – “they put some poison into his wine… he drank it all and said he was fine… and so they shot him till he was dead”
Protest movement which started the February revolution (also state date).
23 February – International Women’s Day.
Critical moment in the February revolution resulting in the Tsar losing control over Petrograd (also state date).
26-28 February – Petrograd garrison mutinied (150,000 mutineers), Pavlosky regiment was the first to mutiny.
Tsar abdicates the throne
2 March 1917.
Sources of authority/power after the Tsar abdicated
- The Duma (Provisional Government - recognised internationally). 2. Petrograd Soviet (non-legitimate government).
Weaknesses of the provisional government
Forced to share power with the Soviets (specifically on military matters).
Mistakes of the provisional government
- Continuing the first world war. 2. Delaying elections and reforms. 3. Allowing more freedom (opened criticism of the government).
June Offensive
June 1917 – Led by Alexander Kerensky, complete capitulation, reflected badly on the provisional government.
Lenin’s contributions
- Speeches. 2. Catchy slogans e.g. “Peace, Land, Bread” and “All power to the soviets”. 3. April Theses (called for revolution). 4. Recruited armed workers militias (recruited 10,000 in July).
Ethan Foster
On the spectrum.
July Days
Occurred in early July – an uprising led by anarchists, ended because the Petrograd Soviet did not support it.
Anarchists
Individuals who desire a stateless society.
The Kornilov Affair
Late August - Early September 1917 – Kornilov (commander in chief) attempted dissolve the Petrograd Soviet – Red Army defended Petrograd successfully, Kornilov dismissed.
Impact of the Kornilov Affair
- Increase in support for the Bolsheviks (24,000 > 340,000 in 9 months). 2. Decrease in support for the provisional government (seen as weak and reliant). 3. Increase in military power of the Bolsheviks (40,000 Red Guards kept weapons).
Bolshevik Revolution
24-25 October 1917 – Bolsheviks storm the winter palace and seize control from the provisional government.
The Constituent Assembly Elections
Late 1917 – Bolsheviks did well in the industrial centres and among soldiers but only gained 24% of the vote. The SRs won 53% of the vote. The Bolsheviks declared election fraud and dissolved the constituent assembly - banning other parties.
Decree on Peace
All nations involved in WWI should seek peace, armistice for Russian troops.
Decree on Land
Land stolen from wealthy landowners and redistributed. Church land nationalised.
Decree on Workers Rights
- 8 hour days. 2. Workers committees ran their own factories. 3. Unemployment insurance.
Decree on Nationalities
All peoples of the old Russian empire could have their own empire. However, governments remained under Bolshevik control.
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
March 1918 – Russia lost: 3/4 of coal and iron sources, 1/2 of industry, 1/4 of the their rail networks, 1/4 farmland, 1/4 population and 300m gold roubles.
Consequences of Brest-Litovsk
- Loss of reputation for the Bolsheviks. 2. Stoked anti-Bolshevik sentiment. 3. Worsened food shortage (loss of farmland). 4. 1m people left Petrograd. 5. Number of people working shrunk by 60%.
Causes of the Russian Civil War
Groups of people who were opposed to Bolshevik rule including: monarchists, ethnic minorities, upper and middle class people in danger of losing land and titles and supporters of the constituent assembly.
The Red Army
Controlled by the Bolsheviks, 5.4m men.
The White Armies
- Siberian army led by Admiral Kolchak (ex-Tsarist). 2. Estonian army. 3. Southern army. 4. Southern central army.
Green Army
Comprised of peasant who only sought to defend their land from both the Red and White Army(s).
War communism
1918-1921 – Characterised by: peasants were not able to sell crops (shot on suspicion of hoarding grain), food rationing implemented and a central planning organisation known as the ‘supreme economic council’ was set up to conduct the planned economy. Control of the economy included: nationalisation of all factories, strict discipline, strikes were banned and labour conscription introduced for 16-50.
State of the Russian economy in 1918
60% of 1913 production levels, lost 40% of industrial areas (due to the war), food shortages led to migration away from cities.
Supply of grain increased by how much from 1919-1920
1 million to 6 million tons.
Reasons for war communism
Needed control over industry to supply the red army. Needed control over food supply in order to feed the population.
Effect of war communism on peasants
Farm production fell to 37% of 1913 levels. Peasants began killing their livestock rather than allow them to be requisitioned. Revolts and uprising occurred.
Kulaks
Rich peasants.
Effect of war communism on workers
Mass exodus (50% left Moscow, 75% left Petrograd), black market emerged in which 70% of all food was purchased.
State of the Russian economy in 1921
Famine was affecting 20m people, 5m people died between 1920-21. 75% of workers in Petrograd on strike.
Impact of war communism
Petrograd death rate increased by 400%. `
The Red Terror
1918-1920 – occurred after the assassination attempt on Lenin, 300,000 people (including the Tsar) were killed by the CHEKA.
Features of the NEP
Free market reintroduced (peasants could sell produce), grain requisitioning was ended, state kept control of big industry (less than 20 worker businesses were privatised), foreign experts brought in to improve economic performance.
Effect of the NEP on the economy.
Agricultural output increased rapidly (20%), industrial output increased significantly (130%). Taxes began being paid in cash (rather than in grain) - new currency the chervonet introduced.
The Scissors crisis
1923 – grain production increased rapidly but since industrial production was slower to develop there was still a shortage of consumer durables.
Opposition to the NEP
Ran contrary to communist values, looked like a return to capitalism, favoured the peasants (rather than the workers), led to the development of Kulak’s (rich peasants).
Lenin’s achievements
The treaty of Brest-Litovsk, single party rule, War communism, NEP, October (Bolshevik) revolution, Marxism-Leninism.
