Russia Summary Flashcards
Khodinka Field
Date: 14th May 1896
Summary: 1300 people are crushed in a crowd surge on the day of Tsar Nicholas II’s coronation.
Causes:
- military training ground; uneven
- over attendance
- panic over shortages of commemorative cups
Effects:
- seen as bad omen for Tsar
- attends French ball, rather than visiting wounded
Russo-Japanese War
Dates: 8th February 1904 - 5th September 1905
Summary: Russia suffers an embarrassing defeat against Japan.
Causes:
- seeking to expand territory in East
- lease of Liaodong Peninsula
- need warm water port
- failure of negotiations; racism
- surprise attack on Port Arthur
Effects:
- Treaty of Portsmouth; lose lease + remove military from Manchuria
- loss in national pride
- inflation
- increased strikes
- Potemkin
Fundamental Laws
Date: 23rd April 1906
Summary: Document released by the Tsar outlining how Russia’s new political system would be governed.
Causes:
- October Manifesto
- Nicholas’ desire to maintain autocratic power
Effects:
- Tsar regains control of foreign affairs & military
- role of Duma restricted
- article 87
- reformists dissapointed
Bloody Sunday
Date: 9th January 1905
Summary: 200 peaceful protestors from Putilov Steelworks are shot by tsarist officials in St Petersburg.
Causes:
- 4 workers dismissed
- Father Gapon petition
- poor working conditions
Effects:
- Tsar blamed
- widespread outrage
- 1905 revolution: schools closed, peasants defy landowners, liberals form unions, St Petersburg Soviet founded
October Manifesto
Date: 17th October 1905
Summary: Tsar Nicholas releases a document promising more civil freedoms and a state Duma.
Causes:
- 1905 revolution
- nationwide strike (14th October)
- lack of military to suppress protestors (due to RJ War)
- Sergei Witte advice
Effects:
- State Duma created
- Octoberists form
- discontent falls
- 1905 revolution ends
February Revolution
Date: 23rd February 1917
Summary: Thousands march on International Women’s Day in Petrograd, as the Petrograd garrison mutinies.
Causes:
- thaw in weather
- food & fuel shortages
- Putilov Factory goes on strike (18th February 1917)
Effects:
- Tsar abdicates
- Provisional Government established
- Dual Authority
Dumas
Dates: 1906 - 1917
Summary: Act as advisory body to the Tsar; frequently dissolved.
Causes:
- 1905 revolution
- reforms of October Manifesto
- restricted by Fundamental Laws
Effects:
- small reforms (e.g. ban on capital punishment)
- fuel discontent by criticising Tsar
- rising influence of Alexander Kerensky & co
- Progressive Bloc
- eventually form in Provisional Government
June Offensive
Dates: 18th June - 2nd July 1917
Summary: Alexander Kerensky launches an offensive to end World War One (it fails).
Causes:
- allied governments only funding Russia if it remains in WW1
- German invasion would threaten revolution
Effects:
- Russian army retreats in panic
- Germany advances 230 km
- low morale in army
- no public confidence in government
- Lenin’s denunciations of the war become more appealing
Potemkin Mutiny
Date: 14th June 1905
Summary: Sailors aboard the battleship Potemkin revolt against their officers.
Causes:
- losses in RJ War
- served maggots
Effects:
- shows weakness of Tsar’s command over military
World War One
Dates: 1st August 1914 (NS) - 3rd March 1918
Summary: Creates significant challenges for the Tsarist regime (most significant contribution to revolution).
Causes:
- MAIN
- Franz Ferdinand assassination
- mobilisation of Russia’s army
Effects:
- initial outpouring of nationalism
- massive military losses (blamed on Tsar)
- food & fuel shortages
- inflation
- Progressive Bloc criticisms
- Rasputin grows in influence
April Thesis
Dates: 4th April 1917
Summary: Lenin delivers a controversial speech to an assembly of Bolsheviks and Mensheviks, denouncing the Provisional Government and Russia’s involvement in WW1.
Causes:
- Stalin attempts to unite Bolsheviks and Mensheviks
- Soviet support for Provisional Government (Lenin not happy)
- Lenin returns from exile in Switzerland
Effects:
- party members think Lenin’s crazy
- some Bolsheviks leave party
- “Peace! Bread! Land!” slogan develops
- Bolsheviks become only party against Provisional Government (will give them advantage)
Dual Authority
Dates: February - October 1917
Summary: Following the February Revolution, two alternate centres of power - the Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet - rule Russia.
Causes:
- power vacuum following abdication of Tsar
- soldiers arrive at Tauride Palace (seat of the Duma) seeking guidance
- Soviet Order No. 1
- Soviets have no desire to lead
Effects:
- Provisional Government postpones key issues till Constituent Assembly (e.g. war & land reform)
- Soviet has popular support & control over military
- Provisional Government has authority without power
Kornilov Affair
Dates: 19th - 30th August 1917
Summary: Conservative General Kornilov replaces General Brusilov as Commander in Chief, but stages a coup against the Provisional Government when he is dismissed from the role.
Causes:
- Kornilov wishes to establish martial law (worries Kerensky)
- moves Cossack troops closer to Petrograd
- failed communication with Vladimir Lvov acting as mediator (Kornilov thinks Kerensky wants a military dictatorship; Kerensky thinks Kornilov is plotting to overthrow him)
Effects:
- Provisional Government forced to appeal to Soviet for help
- damage to Kerensky’s reputation
- Bolshevik leaders freed
- Bolsheviks gain majority in Petrograd and Moscow Soviets (Trotsky becomes chairman of Petrograd)
- elections to Constituent Assembly delayed
July Days
Dates: 3rd - 6th July 1917
Summary: An armed demonstration is held by workers and soldiers in Petrograd, urging the Soviet to take power.
Causes:
-anger over the June Offensive
- no Soviet guidance
- Soviet does not wish to lead
Effects:
- confusion among demonstrators
-Kerensky disperses crowd using machine guns (draws comparisons to Bloody Sunday)
- Bolsheviks accused of being German spies
- Bolshevik leaders driven into hiding or arrested
October Revolution
Dates: 25th - 26th October 1917
Summary: Bolshevik authorities storm the Winter Palace and seize power from the Provisional Government.
Causes:
- decline of PG authority after Kornilov Affiar
- Bolshevik meeting on 10th October
- believed proletariat was ready
- Kerensky orders Petrograd garrison to move out of city (garrison refuses)
- Second All-Russian Congress of the Soviets
Effects:
- Right SRs and Mensheviks walk out of congress in protest
- Kerensky & Provisional Government flee
- Sovnarkom formed
- Decrees on Peace and Land
