Russia- past paper questions Flashcards
Why did Tsar face the revolution of 1905
•Long term problems
- 4/5 were peasants, not a lot of fertile land = hunger + poverty
• economic problems
- wanted to develop industry but was prevented by 1902 industrial slump
• Russo-Japanese war
- caused rise in prices amongst peasants, Japanese defeated them = protests against the Tsar
• Bloody Sunday
- 1905, father capon led a march to deliver a petition asking the Tsar for help, Tsars soldiers killed many protestors, this was the SPARK of the revolution
How did Tsarist rule change 1906-1914
Changed:
Freedom of press to a degree
Stolypin’s reforms allowed peasants to buy strips of land
Industrial production increased by 100% with record harvest in 1913
Regressed:
2 Dumas were radical but Tsar destroyed them within a few weeks
Peasants were encouraged to settle on fertile land near Trans-Siberian railways but when they arrived most of the land was taken
When workers protested troops came in and killed 170 workers + 370 were wounded
How important was WWI in the collapse of Tsarist regime in March 1917
WWI:
•September 1915: Tsar went to war front
• enthusiasm did not last
• most peasants had been conscripted=> shortage of food
• factories were shut => lack of coal => cold + hungry
• due to shortages prices went up but wages stayed the same and they were forced to work longer hours
Governance of Tsarina:
•greatly influenced by Rasputin
• did not listen to people(some thought she was a spy)
• refused to work with Duma
• dismissed ministers and replaced the. With friends of Rasputin => no one was organising food, fuel or other supplies => train loads of food were left rotting
•people were appalled that Rasputin had such a great influence
Working classes:
• peasants were conscripted- food shortages, nothing being done about it
• 7 March 1917, 40,000 protestors strikes for higher wages in Petrograd- soldiers refused to fire and joined the protest
• spark to Tsar abdicating 15 March 1917
Why were the Bolshevik’s able to seize power in November 1917
- They were strong in key political centres
- they had their own trained military force (Red Guards)
- ruthless and planned clear strategies
- claimed they were a socialist government which was trying to create the right conditions for communism in the long term
- continuing problems of war, famine + breakdown of law + order that wasn’t dealt by the PG
- ability and vision of Lenin- quick thinking + inspirational
Why was the revolution of 1905 unsuccessful
Tsar gave in:
• 26th October 1905, St Petersburg Soviet of Workers Deputies was formed- greatest threat to Tsar
• created October manifesto on 30th
- promised a parliament/ Duma elected by the people
- civil rights ( freedom of speech)
- right to form political parties
Tsar fought back:
• most people thought they had won a democratic government
• December, felt strong enough to take back control
• used force to crush Petersburg Soviets + armed political parties
• sent troops to take revenge on workers + peasants who had rioted
Why did the PG fail
Political problems:
• PS was beginning to form ( took control of the army)
• no elected government
• people wanted the Duma
• thought that the matter of the peasants owning their land should be left to the properly elected government
Military problems:
• continuous defeats in war
• increasing no. of soldiers deserting
• decided to continue war -Germans would make them pay otherwise
What were Lenin’s immediate actions that he took in 1917 to weaken the PG
- there should be no co-operation with the PG
- war should be ended immediately
- land should be given to peasants
- Soviets should take power
What actions did the Bolshevik’s take in their first 3 months of power
- maximum 8 hour working day and 48 hour week
- women declared equal to men
- church land was to be confiscated by the state
- all non-Bolshevik newspapers were banned
Why did Lenin introduce the NEP
War Communism:
• WC was introduced during civil war + it was the state taking control of the economy using communist ideology
• to put communist ideas to practice
• ensure victory in Civil War
Why he introduced NEP:
• peasants refused to grow more food as it would be requisitioned (famine in 1921- 7 million died)
• February 1921, Kronstadt revolt was the ‘flash that lit up reality’
• introduced in March 1921
• changes were; private trade + peasants were allowed to sell surplus grain
Why did the Communist win the Civil War
Red strengths:
• forces were United
• controlled main cities + communication system
• Trotsky was a brilliant leader
White weaknesses:
• could not agree what their aim was
• did not have support of peasants
• forces were a long way apart and could not stay in touch to co-ordinate attacks
Why was Stolypin important in the years after 1905 revolution
Carrot:
- Win the support of peasants by giving them land
- Allowed kulkas to prosper and it creates larger farms- production increased
Stick:
- 20,000 exiled and 1,000 hung
- Killed off opposition in countryside until after 1914
How successful was Lenin’s NEP
- Divisions in party- many Bolsheviks resigned, Stalin used split to take power
- Failures:
• massive ideological threat
• did not produce surplus food which they could sell abroad
3. Successes: • helped Bolsheviks to survive problems of 1921 • made peasants happy • stimulated production • produced more food
Why were the Bolsheviks suspicious of Trotsky’s qualities as Lenin’s successor
- Believed in world revolution:
• communism would not survive unless it spread to other countries
• Bolsheviks preferred Stalins ideas - Didn’t take opposition seriously:
• arrogant
• refused to get involved in making alliances or getting people on his side
What was more effective: cult of personality or terror
1. Cult of personality: • worshipped Stalin as a leader • pictures and statues everywhere • people at meetings had to clap when his name was mentioned • state told people what to think
- Terror:
• not prepared to accept challenges to his authority
• arrested, tried and sentenced to long periods of imprisonment
• NKVD would take people to prison and/or labour camps
Why was Stalin able to defeat Trotsky to become Lenin’s successor
- Unpopular:
• joined party 1917 having been a Menshevik
•Kamenev and Zinoviev disagreed with his political views
• undermined Stakin who built up his power base - Stalin was cunning:
• tricked Trotsky into not attending Lenin’s funeral
• Stalin’s ideas were more popular
