Russian Revolution: Historian quotes Flashcards
Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905)
“Revealed the incompetence of the Tsarist regime and undermined its authority.” — Orlando Figes
Bloody Sunday (9 January 1905)
“Turning point in the relationship between the tsar and the people” - Figes
October Manifesto (17 October 1905)
“A temporary concession” - Pipes
“Designed to appease the moderates and defuse the revolutionary crisis” - Pipes
“Left the autocracy essentially intact.” - Pipes
Fundamental State Laws (23 April 1906)
“failure to recognise the difference between reform and reaction” - Pipes
First two Dumas (April to July 1906) + (February to June 1907)
“Revealed the limits of the monarchy’s tolerance for reform.” — Richard Pipes
Second 2 Dumas (1907-1912) + (1912-1917)
“failed to address the root causes of dissatisfaction.” — Orlando Figes
Lena River Massacre (17 April 1912)
“deeper sense of class solidarity” — Alec Nove
118 Strikes in St. Petersburg (June 1914)
“workers sought to challenge the autocracy.” — Richard Pipes
Involvement in WWI
“Crisis of authority and legitimacy, as well as of economics and logistics.” - Figes
“Tsar became personally accountable for Russia’s war failures” - Nove
Food Riots (1914-1916)
“Failure to understand the economic and cultural growth of his country” - Pipes
February revolution
“The strikes were an expression of the general discontent” — Orlando Figes
“These strikes marked the collapse of Tsarism” — Richard Pipes
“Tsar Nicholas had lost control, and the revolutionaries were gaining the upper hand.” — Alec Nove
Tsars train halted + Abdicates
“A pivotal moment, marking the final breakdown of authority.” — Orlando Figes
Provisional Government (March 1917 – October 1917)
“The failure of the Provisional Government was a key factor in the success of the Bolshevik Revolution.” — Orlando Figes
October Revolution (25 October 1917)
“Pushing against an already open door” - Lynch
“The revolution marked the triumph of a small, radical group, whose policies would radically reshape Russia.” — Richard Pipes
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (3 March 1918)
“Essential for the survival of the Bolshevik regime.” — Orlando Figes
Decree on Private Ownership (6 December 1917)
“Bolshevik commitment to eradicating the old capitalist system.” — Orlando Figes
Decree on Religion (9 February 1918)
“Part of Lenin’s broader strategy to secularize Russian society and eliminate religious influence.” — Richard Pipes
CHEKA Formed (19 December 1917)
“Signaled the Bolsheviks’ commitment to using violence to secure power.” — Orlando Figes
“Crucial in suppressing dissent during the Civil War.” — Alec Nove
Russian Civil War (1918-1921)
“The crucible in which the Soviet system was forged, marked by violence and widespread suffering.” — Orlando Figes
Attempt on Lenin’s Life (30 August 1918
“Catalyzed the Bolshevik crackdown on opposition.” — Richard Pipes
Tsar Nicholas II and Family Assassinated (July 1918)
“Decision to prevent the Romanovs from becoming a rallying point for anti-Bolshevik forces.” — Orlando Figes
Polish-Soviet War (February 1919 - March 1921)
“Marked the end of Lenin’s dream of exporting revolution to Western Europe.” — Richard Pipes
War Communism (June 1918 - March 1921)
“Essential for Bolshevik survival during the Civil War, but it created deep economic and social problems.” — Orlando Figes
“Stark reminder of the economic failure of Bolshevik policies during the Civil War.” — Orlando Figes
Kronstadt Uprising (7 March – 17 March 1921)
“Significant challenge to Bolshevik rule, revealing the limits of revolutionary support among workers and soldiers.” — Orlando Figes
“Symbolic parting of the ways between the working class and the Bolshevik Party.” - Pipes
Martial Law Declared in Petrograd (25 February 1921)
“Response to the collapse of order and an attempt to reassert Bolshevik authority in Petrograd.” — Orlando Figes
Tenth Party Congress (8 – 16 March 1921)
“Essential in the transition from War Communism to the NEP, marking a more cautious phase of Bolshevik rule.” — Orlando Figes
New Economic Policy (NEP) (March 1921 – 1928)
“Pragmatic retreat from the Bolshevik ideals” - Pipes
“Necessary step to save the revolution.” - Pipes
It brought economic recovery, but at the cost of reintroducing private capitalism and reinforcing the dominance of the peasantry.”
— Richard Pipes
Famine is at its Peak in Russia (June – July 1921)
“One of the greatest tragedies of the early Soviet period, resulting from failed economic policies.” — Orlando Figes
Wittes reforms
“Made Russia a serious economic competitor, but they also intensified the social struggles that would explode” — Richard Pipes
“Destabilized society and paved the way for revolution.” — Orlando Figes
Stolypins reforms
“Stolypin’s reforms aimed to buy time for the autocracy, but his repressive tactics deepened social divisions and resentment.” — Richard Pipes
SOVNAKROM
October 1917
“Sovnarkom represented the Bolshevik’s immediate move to create an authoritarian, centralised government” — Orlando Figes
June Offensive
18 June 1917
“discredited the Provisional Government and gave the Bolsheviks an opening to seize power.” — Orlando Figes
July Days
16-20 July 1917
“Exposing the government’s vulnerabilities” — Orlando Figes
“A failure in the short term” — Richard Pipes
Grain requisitioning
1918-1921
“Leading to peasant revolts and a sharp decline in agricultural output.” — Orlando Figes
Kornilov affair
27 Aug 1917 – 13 Sept 1917
“Played into the hands of the Bolsheviks” — Richard Pipes
“Inability of the Provisional Government to maintain control, leading to a shift in power toward the Bolsheviks.” — Orlando Figes
