Russia Vocab Flashcards
the last czar of Russia who was forced to abdicate in 1917 by the February Russian Revolution
Nicholas II
absolute in power or authority
autocratic
The secret police in Tsarist Russia. They spied on the people and arrested, tortured and imprisoned those who criticized the government. The courts had little control over them.
Okhrana
the process of forcing Russian culture on all ethnic groups in the Russian empire
Russification
from 1892-1903; economic modernizer responsible for high tariffs, improved banking system; encouraged western investors to build factories in Russia. Also responsible for the Trans-Siberian railroad and helped write the October Manifesto
Sergei Witte
Marxist who supported Lenin and wanted a centralized Revolution led by educated professional revolutionaries on behalf of the workers to create free & equal communist society
Bolsheviks
Marxist Social Democrats who used democratic decision making and were considered less radical than the Bolsheviks because they were more willing to temporarily compromise with the bourgeoisie to bring down the Tsar
Mensheviks
Want land reform, focus on peasants rising up to overthrow Czar. Marxist-influenced socialists that trended towards anarchism, terrorism and political assassinations
Socialist Revolutionaries
Industrialization program in Japan that made it ahead of Russia by 1904-5
Meiji Restoration
Leader of the factory workers who assembled before the czar’s palace to petition on January 1905 (Bloody Sunday).
Father Gapon
1905, peaceful protest to Czar Nicholas II at his palace, led by Father Gapon, fired on by palace guards, 100s died
Bloody Sunday
council of workers and soldiers set up in major cities in 1905 and again in 1917 to represent their people
Soviet
Issued in Russia as a compromise to stop the 1905 Revolution. Granted free speech, assembly, press and a popular parliament- Duma.
October Manifesto
The elected parliament. Though through establishing this is seemed like the Czar was giving his people power, in reality he could easily get rid of this if they made any laws or such that he didn’t like.
Duma
Issued by the Russian Government in 1906 to limit the October Manifesto. The Duma was still and the Upper House could pass laws but the Tsar had veto power and the power to dismiss the Duma
Fundamental laws
When the Russian navy ship Potemkin joined the 1905 revolt
Potemkin Mutiny
Bolshevik newspaper
Pravda
Issued by liberal middle class Kadets from self-imposed exile in Finland - should refuse to pay taxes until Czar respects Duma - but didn’t get working class support, Kadets arrested & imprisoned
Vyborg Manifesto
Russian prime minister under Czar Nicholas II. Instituted land reform policies, and repression of dissent.
Stolypin
hangman’s noose
Stolypin’s necktie
A worker association that bargains with employers over wages, benefits, and working conditions
Union
172 striking miners killed by military in 1912
Lena Goldfields Massacre
people who believe in Karl Marx’s ideas - industrial capitalism exploited the working class and the working class needed to rise up and overthrow the rulers to create an equal society
Marxists
European country trying to expand to include all ethnic Serbs, backed by ally Russia. Helped cause WWI
Serbia
A war that involves the complete mobilization of resources and people, affecting the lives of all citizens in the warring countries, even those remote from the battlefields - won not by conquering but by outlasting the other side’s supplies
total war
War based on wearing the other side down by outlasting their ability to produce supplies
War of Attrition
a general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money.
Inflation
St. Petersburg (renamed to sound less German during WWI)
Petrograd
the government set limits on the amount of goods civilians could have, often during war
Rations
Local assemblies in Russia started after serfs were emancipated that increased schools and medical access but also increased taxes - generally liberal or even conservative
Zemstvos
Self-proclaimed holy man who claimed to heal the sick and have prophecy. He had much influence over Tsarina Alexandra and she often went to him for advise on political issues - helped cause people to lose faith in Tsar
Rasputin
Unplanned uprisings accompanied by violent street demonstrations begun in March 1917 (old calendar February) in Petrograd, Russia, that led to the abdication of the tsar and the establishment of a provisional government.
February Revolution
This occurred on March 8. On March 8, 1917, a march of thousands of women which was supposed to celebrate this event turned into a protest about the food shortage in Petrograd. These women combined with the Putilov workers who were already on strike. They were quickly joined by thousands of other workers, beginning the March revolution.
International women’s day
to give up power
Abdicate
A temporary government created by the Duma after the abdication of the czar; it made the decision to remain in World War One, costing it the support of the soviets and the people.
Provisional Government
Order from Petrograd Soviet that army doesn’t have to obey officers, and can elect new ones
Order Number 1
Leader of the provisional government
Kerensky
After the Tsar abdicates - there is no official government. The Provisional Government & Petrograd Soviet sort of share power
Dual Authority
Council representing striking workers in Petrograd, Russia’s capital. Takes over as governing body after Tsar abdicates
Petrograd Soviet
Marxist leader of the Bolsheviks, slogan land, bread, peace to gain support from the people
Lenin
Lenin’s criticism of the provisional government and the Petrograd Soviet - says need class war and complete control by Bolsheviks
April Thesis
Lenin’s slogan
“Peace, Land, and Bread”
Russia signed a humiliating peace treaty with Germany at this site and dropped out of the war, marking Russia’s exit from World War I by conceding Lithuania, Poland, and Finland. Although Lenin supported peace many other Bolsheviks were not prepared to lose one third of the population to Germany.
Brest-Litovsk
when the Bolsheviks rose in insurrection but ended up failing. This temporarily strengthened the Provisional gov. Bolsheviks were arrested, Lenin fled.
July days
in late 1917 Kerensky’s commander in chief, General Laver Kornilov led a feeble attack against the provincial government in September; his forces were quickly defeated. Weakened the Provisional gov, strengthened the Bolsheviks
Kornilov Affair
Military Revolutionary Committee created by Trotsky to protect Petrograd after Kornilov, essential for October Bolshevik takeover
MRC
Bolsheviks led by Leon Trotsky and Lenin claimed power in name of the soviets and proclaimed a full-scale revolution with support of workers and troops
October Revolution
The secret police under Lenin and his Communist Party - focused on political opponents
Cheka
…a government institution formed shorty after 1917 October revolution.created in the Russian republic, led by Lenin & Bolsheviks
Sovnarkom
Bolshevik military force
Red Guard
The campaign of mass arrests and executions conducted by the Bolshevik government
Red Terror
The application of centralized state control during the Russian civil war, in which the Bolsheviks seized grain from peasants, introduced rationing, nationalized all banks and industry, and required everyone to work.
War Communism
New Economic policy in Soviet Russia to prevent Russia’s economy from collapsing - allowed limited capitalism back
NEP
Rose in 1921 against party domination of the Soviets - violently put down by Bolsheviks but helped prompt shift from War Communism to NEP
Kronstadt Mutiny
counter revolutionaries who were loyal to the czar, or wanted a more liberal government
Whites
anti-Bolsheviks who wanted National Self-determination
Greens
War between Bolsheviks and non-Bolshevik forces in Russia 1918 - 1921. Bolsheviks won
Civil War
Leader of the MRC and Red Army and Lenin’s second in command in the Bolshevik party.
Trotsky
