Russia Key Issue 1

Question 1

What was the tsars empire like?

Answer 1

• 1200 people crushed to death in his coronation
• very popular
• only 40% of people were Russian
• poles, finns, Jews hated the tsar

Question 2

Industrialisation part 1

Answer 2

Sergei witte helped industry

Coal and oil tripled, Iron quadrupled, population doubled in city.

A new class of capitalists and proletariats emerged.

Workers exploited by capitalists

Question 3

Who were peasants?

Answer 3

• 80% of society
• life expectancy 40 yrs
• controlled by Mir and Zemstva. Kulaks
• hard labour, disliked how they owned little land.
• loyal to the tsar because of religion.

Question 4

Aristocracy?

Answer 4

1.5% of society but they owned 25% of land

Key part of government

Elegant lifestyle, support tsar

Biggest fear is peasants rebel and take land

Question 5

What was Nicolas’ autocracy like?

Answer 5

• believed in divine right of kings
• obsessed with Romanov history
• avoided important jobs and confrontation
• did one to one meetings with ministers, very chaotic

Threatened: sacked witte in 1906, almost sacked stolypin before he was murdered 1911

Question 6

Strength of Tsars rule?

Answer 6

Okhrana used fear tactics

Zemstva appointed by tsar

Supported by church and aristocracy who had money and influence

Question 7

Opposition to the Tsar?

Answer 7

• SR’s, very radical and popular
• middle class reformers in the Duma wanted democracy
• bolsheviks and Mensheviks led by Lenin. Illegal party, very disciplined

Question 8

1905 revolution and October manifesto

Answer 8

Father Gapon led peaceful protesters demanding reforms

They were shot and killed. Known as Bloody Sunday

This triggered waves of rebellions. Tsar issued October manifesto promising a Duma. This divided opponents, rebellion crushed

Question 9

Facts about duma

Answer 9

• Tsar took no notice of them
• first and second Duma lasted less than one year
• in 1907 voting rules change by Tsar
• even they lasted until 1911

Question 10

Stolypins reforms

Answer 10

Used a carrot and stick approach

Used force and violence

Allowed kulaks to buy land, so they prospered and created more efficient farms

Failed to improve working conditions

Grain went from 49m to 90m tonnes in 1913

Question 11

WW1

Answer 11

9/13 m casualties in army. Aristocrat offices mistreated peasants

Tsar took command in Sep 1915.

Extra 3.5 but no increase in wages

widows did not receive pensions,famine was common

five rouble wage only bought 3/4 bag potatoes. It used to buy 5

Question 12

Rasputin?

Answer 12

Could cure haemophilia using hypnosis

Aristocracy Felt alienated because Rasputin had too much influence

Very serious affair allegations with Tsarina

He was assassinated

Question 13

when was Tsar forced to abdicate?

Answer 13

1917