Russia Theme- Opposition Flashcards
Alexander II- Political Opposition
Liberal reforms after Crimea- censorship relaxed, emancipation, etc.- led to discussions of democracy or representative constitutions
Assassination attempts, revolutionary Narodniks- ‘going to the people’ (failed), Land and Liberty formed
People’s Will- assassinated A2
Alexander II- Rural Opposition
Peasant revolts after emancipation- land army formed in Bezdna
647 riots in 4 months after emancipation, troops used to crush rioters
No united force, no ideology
Alexander II- Urban Opposition
Very limited industrial unrest- a result of very limited industrial population+ no trade unions or strikes allowed
Alexander II- Repression and Control
Third Section replaced with Okhrana- countered any political opposition
Censorship rules slightly relaxed, huge increase in book publication
Alexander III- Political Opposition
Students became gradually radicalised- assassination attempt by Lenin’s brother, 1887
Marxist influence- ‘Liberation of Labour’ set up
Revolutionary groups lacked general support or power- influence of Okhrana and censorship
Alexander III- Rural Opposition
Little unrest despite 1891 famine- Land Captains kept control
Alexander III- Urban Opposition
Rising population=growing threat
Workers lacked sufficient numbers or unity to pose significant threat- despite increasing strike action
Alexander III- Repression and Control
Okhrana used to spy on, arrest and imprison political opponents.
Publication limited- educational institutions seen as threats were shut down
Nicholas II- Political Opposition
Political parties emerged after October Manifesto and creation of Duma- Socialist Revolutionaries assassinated Grand Duke Sergei, Liberals demanding democratic reform- Progressive Bloc during WW1, critical of Czar, disagreements between Czar and Duma, Czar forced to abdicate
Radical groups internally divided and struggled to gain support and representation in Duma
Nicholas II- Rural Opposition
Peasant revolts in 1905-07, riots after food shortages due to WW1
Stolypin’s reforms helped quell peasant opposition (abolition of peasant passports, Land Captains, redemption payments, introduction of kulaks)
Nicholas II- Urban Opposition
Mass strikes and protests in cities after Bloody Sunday (1905 Revolution)- Czar forced into October Manifesto, workers’ councils formed, police used to crush opposition (Lena Goldfields)
Strikes increased during WW1- 1/2 million at Putilov Steelworks- urban pressure forced Czar into abdication
Industrial reforms improved- number of strikes dropped from 2.8m in 1905 to 47k in 1910, back up to 1.3m by 1914
Nicholas II- Repression and Control
Okhrana used to execute SRs and SDs before 1905, then just used to repress dissent
Censorship rules relaxed in October Manifesto- political parties and trade unions allowed
Provisional Government- Political Opposition
Lack of legitimacy- challenged by Bolsheviks, undermined by Petrograd Soviet- revolutionaries returned as censorship was banned, no soldiers willing to support PG, infighting with threat of Kornilov
Provisional Government- Rural Opposition
No authority- chaos in the countryside, peasants and ex-soldiers seized land and attacked noble estates
Provisional Government- Urban Opposition
Strikes in Petrograd increased- workers began to recognise Petrograd Soviet, Bolsheviks recruited workers- increase in revolutionary ideas
Provisional Government- Repression and Control
Okhrana disbanded- political dissent allowed- though Counter Espionage Bureau introduced to counter Bolsheviks
Complete freedom of press- led to quick spread of Bolshevik revolutionary ideas
Lenin- Political Opposition
Bolsheviks did not have a majority in Constituent Assembly- Lenin closed it down. SRs angry over terms of Brest-Litovsk, sparked Civil War- White Army of political opponents. Bolsheviks destroyed all external political opposition, and banned other parties+ Ban on Factions- no opposition within the party, though there was internal disagreement on Brest-Litovsk, War Communism and the NEP
Lenin- Rural Opposition
Decree On Land- won over peasants with gifted land. Introduction of NEP helped appease peasants.
Riots nonetheless due to opposition War Communism, Green Armies formed
Lenin- Urban Opposition
Urban workers largely supported and many joined Bolsheviks- promised worker control. Rewarded by War Communism and NEP.
Workers still continually repressed
Lenin- Repression and Control
Cheka introduced- persecuted kulaks and political opponents, enforced War Communism, grain requisitioning, deportation, etc. Later replaced with OGPU. Army used to enforce War Communism and win Civil War.
Press Freedom abolished- many books banned, Agitation and Propaganda department founded
Stalin- Political Opposition
Rise to power- Stalin used Zinoviev and Kamenev to oust Trotsky and gain power, won disagreements over continuation of NEP, level of democracy and international revolutionary spread. Those who opposed Collectivisation in 20s excluded from Politburo
Purges- political critics or opponents executed or imprisoned
1-1.5 ml executions
All political opposition eliminated by 1939
Stalin- Rural Opposition
Significant peasant unrest due to collectivisation and dekulakisation (thousands dead from each)- brutally repressed
Stalin- Urban Opposition
High pressure due to Five Year Plans- trade union officials ruthlessly eliminated if they were defiant
No strikes during WW2
Stalin- Repression and Control
All literary groups closed down- censorship increased- any challenge led to execution- also extended to arts and cinema.
Cult of Personality founded- propaganda rife.
NKVD- formed 1934, permanent terror, sent 40 million to gulags, used to administer Purges
