The Condition Of Russia In 1917 Flashcards
What fraction of the worlds land surface did the Russian empire occupy?
One-sixth
What was there an enormous diversity of?
Climate, vegetation and physical features
What did the difficult climate and terrain result in?
Meant that most of the population was concentrated in European Russia, west of the Ural Mountains
What was the population of Russia at the turn of the 20th century?
126 million people
What was the Russia population notes for?
It’s diversity- each national group had its own language, religion, culture and traditions
What did the government insist on?
Russification- whereby Russian was the official language
What was the Russian society shaped by?
The dominance of the Orthodox Church and the peasantry
What percentage of the population did the peasants make up?
80%
When were political parties in Russia legally permitted?
1906
Name 5 main prominent parties in 1917?
1) Bolsheviks
2) Mensheviks
3) Octoberists
4) Kadets
5) Social Revolutionaries (SR’s)
Who were the Bolsheviks?
They were a congress that agreed that Russia needed a revolution in order to establish Socialism. The Bolsheviks became the leading party during the Russian Revolution’s October Revolution phase in 1917.
Who were the Mensheviks?
They were a minority of the social democrats, the Mensheviks wanted to make their movement less elitist than the Bolsheviks in the belief that it would attract the support of the uneducated workers and peasants.
Who were the Kadets?
Russian liberal party founded in October 1905 whose members were popularly known as the Kadets. The Kadets took part in all the Russian state dumas and held 35 percent of the seats in the First Russian State Duma.
Who were the octoberists?
afterwards the Union of 17 October was established as a political association for the purpose of assisting the Russian government to implement the October Manifesto. Members of this association became known as Octobrists.
Describe the duma?
On 17th October, 1905, Nicholas Itook the advice of Sergi Witte, his new Chief Minister, and published the October Manifesto. The manifesto granted freedom of conscience, speech, meeting and association. He also promised that in future people would not be imprisoned without trial. Finally it promised that no law would become operative without the approval of the State Duma.
Who are the SR’s?
Russian political party that represented the principal alternative to the Social-Democratic Workers’ Party. Between February and October 1917 its members held powerful political posts (e.g., Aleksandr Kerensky was minister of justice and exercised considerable influence over the provisional governments. The party won 410 seats compared to the Bolsheviks 175
How many workers went on strike in 1912?
750,000
How many worker were on strike in 1913?
887,000
How many workers were on strike in 1914 January to July?
1,450,000
How long had the Tsar Nicholas II governed Russia for?
Since 1894
What was Tsar family name?
The Romanovs
How did the Romanovs rule Russia and for how long?
Since 1613 in an autocratic fashion
Describe the Tsar
A family man believed in autocracy and was highly resistant to reform
Who assisted the Tsar?
The Cabinet, the Senate and the State council (merely advisory and had no power independent of the Tsar)
