russian revolution Flashcards
Long term casues
Politics of Russian empire
Tsar Nicholas
economic factors
geographical factors
politics of russian empire
-Russia ruled by Romanov dynasty since 1613
-Population 130 million
-Only half of population Russian
-Over 200 different nationalities
-ruled by Tsar (latin-caesar- emperor)
-Tsardom - autocratic inherited title
-Empire- absolute monarchy
-by 19th century- other euro rulers no longer absolute monarchs
RUSSIA BEHIND EUROPEAN COUNTERPARTS
tsar nicholas (II)
ruled from 1816-1918
-last Tsar of Russia
-assumed power 1894 w death of dad (Alexander III)
-ruled until 1917 (Feb. revolution)
-inexperienced, underprepared, ineffective
-against reform on principle
-grandfather - Alexander II aka Alexander the Liberator- responsible for emancipation of Russian serfs (1861) yet assassinated by anarchists Mar 1881
- Alex II & Nicholas II used police brutality (Okhrana) to supress personal freedom of Russian people - talk of constitution/parliament quelled
-out of touch,stuborn ,indecisive,nepotism
-policies alienated ethnic minorities
-PEOPLE FELT THAT INDEPENDENCE FROM EMPIRE WAS ONLY WAY TO HAVE THEIR RIGHTS AND IDENTITIES VALUED
-supported/defended autocratic rule
-reign not progressive or supportive of reform
RESPONSIBLE FOR UNHAPPINESS AMONGST RUSSIAN PEOPLE ULTIMATELY RESULTING IN HIS FALL FROM POWER
Alexandra- Tsarina (Nicholas II wife)
-german princess and extremely unpopular
-criticised-struggled to produce male heir (Tsarevich)
-1904 birthed Alexei - haemophiliac- unable to heir throne
geographical factors
-Russia over 23 million square km
-1/4 in Europe- rest in Asia- separated by Urals (conventional boundary)
-many people & cultures, religions, nationalities, languages on vast land size
COMMUNICATION AND DIRECT RULE DIFFICULT
-harsh climate: cold &difficult to inhabit- parts such as Siberia sparsely populated
-St Petersburg capital city
-Moscow 2nd most populated city
-in 1900s large % of pop. lived in countryside (peasants/rural)
- commercial & economic opportunities in cities in European part
-Russian Orthodox Church- official main religion (followed by majority)
-increasing tensions towards 19th century with rise of nationalism
-MINORITIES WANTED FREEDOM FROM RUSSIAN CONTROL
-Due to rise of nationalism in 19th century- Romanov tsars began campaign of Russification
-promoted appreciation of Russian history&culture, encouraged development & strengthening of Russian cultural identity & national unity- push for Russian to be only administrative language.
-Russification forced onto ethnic groups
-STRENGTHENED NATIONALIST FERVOUR & INCREASED CALL FOR INDEPENDENCE FROM EMPIRE
economic factors
-large exporter of agricultural products- large labour needed to work land
- agricultural economy w/ low productivity on large estates worked by serfs
-economic/social/political system -Serfdom (feudalism)
-nobles own land -no priv. property rights which were fundamental to industrialisation + capitalism
-peasants work land -no workers for factories-no goods to exchange
-orthodox priests dominate education & social customs- no room for critical thinkers in sciences to create new technologies
-ENSURED ECONOMIC STAGNATION
-1861- Tsar Alexander II abolished serfdom
-former serfs still had to work land- pay tax for freedom
-abolishment:
-more people join military of own will
-more people move to cities-industrialisation
-economy slowly industrialised -foreign investments in railways and factories
-by 1914-immense economic growth & industrialisation in european cities- land east of Urals (asian part) remained underdeveloped & agrarian
-1894-1914- certain industries experienced rapid growth in production (coal 306%, oil 65%,gold 43%,copper 375%,cast iron 250%, iron&steel 224%, supplied 50% of world egg exports, owned 80% of world flax production)
-RUSSIA STILL LAGGED BEHIND EURO COUNTERPARTS IN INDUSTRY & MECHANISATION
russification
campaign that promoted appreciation of Russian history&culture, encouraged development & strengthening of Russian cultural identity & national unity- push for Russian to be only administrative language.
-Russification forced onto ethnic groups
serfdom
economic/social/political system similar to feudalism
-nobles own land -no priv. property rights which were fundamental to industrialisation + capitalism
-peasants work land -no workers for factories-no goods to exchange
-orthodox priests dominate education & social customs- no room for critical thinkers in sciences to create new technologies
-ENSURED ECONOMIC STAGNATION
Social causes
unhappiness amongst peasants and proletariat
communism
unhappiness amongst peasants and proletariat
POVERTY
peasants very poor -taxed heavily by nobility
no money left for education/business- therefore unable to progress
famine,electricity scarce- life difficult
EDUCATION
illiterate- limited ability to improve individual circumstance/develop russia
harshly treated
WORKING CONDITIONS
harsh-long hours,little to no pay, bad climatic conditions,starvation,no individual rights therefore exploited
also
compulsory military service, no political rights/say (nobility influenced politics greatly as access to Tsar)
social groups %
peasants 80%
proletariat 2%
nobility 1.1%
communism
began gaining popularity towards end of 19th century
belief that countrys wealth should be distributed equally amongst all which would result in less conflict. everyone works towards good of state
how is communism executed
-state controls all wealth of country (no priv ownership)
-wealth distributed amongst people (socialism)
-eventually no need for state (communist society)
karl max plan for russia
proletariat rise up + overthrow capitalist bourgeoisie (revolution)
proletariat sieze control of wealth + power &redistribute by force -dictatorship for good of people (socialism)
bourgeoisie disappear- classless society w/ no need for state (communism)
socialism
system based on public ownership
decisions made by government
citizens rely on government for everything
production for use opposed to for profit
more equitable society- equal distribution
no competitive buying+selling
free access to goods and services
capitalism
anyone can own business,employ ppl + make profit for own use
can earn wage/salary
market not controlled by gov - can buy+sell goods
prices influenced by natural forces of economy
pairs w democracy
