The Decline & Fall of the Romanov Dynasty Flashcards
How long did the Romanov’s rule Russia?
300 years - from 1613-1917
Which Tsar attempted to modernise Russia?
Tsar Alexander II
What actions did Tsar Alexander II take?
He emancipated the serfs in 1861 and created the Zemstovs (elected local representative governments)
How and when did Alexander II die?
He was assassinated in 1881 by the ‘People’s Will’ Movement
What actions did Tsar Alexander III take?
Tsar Alexander III adopted a policy of Russification which attempted to destroy all other non-Russian cultures and beliefs - Jews suffered terribly
What year did Nicholas II ascend to the throne?
1894
What was the population of the Russian Empire in 1894?
122 million
What was Russia’s economy based on?
The economy was primarily agrarian
How was Tsarist Russia run?
Nicholas II ran Russia as an autocrat, and used the secret police (the Okhrana) to silence his opponents
What was the role of Count Sergei Witte?
Between 1892-1903, Witte was Finance Minister to Nicholas II
What was Count Sergie Witte responsible for?
He was responsible for the “Great Spurt”, which was a time of economic industrial growth across Russia
He started using foreign investment for industrial projects and began the Trans-Siberian Railway
What was the impact of the ‘Great Spurt’?
It led too poor working conditions in unregulated factories, poor peasant farmers moving to the cities, and a new middle class that was educated and demanded participatory government.
What were the dates and events of the Russo-Japanese war?
1904-1905
Russia went to war with Japan over disputed territories in Manchuria (the Korean Peninsula)
What was the outcome of the Russo-Japanese war?
Russia suffered a humiliating defeat which exposed the weakness and corruption of the Romanov regimen
It was the first time that an Asian nation had defeated a modern European power
What sparked the wave of strikes in January 1905?
The 1905 revolution was triggered by a strike in the Putilov steelworks in St Petersburg
The strike was caused by the dismissal of men belonging to the Assembly of Russian Workers, a Union founded by Father George Gapon
What was the date of Bloody Sunday?
22 January 1905
What occured on Bloody Sunday?
Father Gapon organised a peaceful protest march and petition to present to the Tsar at his winter palace - 150,000 attended
Tsarist troops opened fire on the marchers, killing 92 and wounding hundreds
What was the impact of Bloody Sunday?
Attittudes towards the Tsar changed - instead of a benevolent protector, he was now a ruthless killer
Peasant revolts intensified across the nation
When was the Union of Unions formed and what did they demand?
May 1905
The Union of Unions demanded civil liberties and the formation of a legislative assembly
When was the Mutiny on the Potemkin?
June 1905
Sailors abroad the battleship Potemkin mutinied in the Black Sea
What was the October Manifestio and when was it signed?
The October Manifesto granted the Russian people freedom of speech, assembly and union, as well as establishing a State Duma (Legilsative Assembly)
It was signed by Nicholas II on October 30th, 1905, with the encouragement of Prime Minister Sergei Witte
What was the impact of the October Manifesto?
The soviets condemned the Manifesto, as it did little to address the everyday needs of the working people
However, the liberal, middle-class elements were willing to settle for the political concessions and no longer supported the Soviet strikes
How did Nicholas II respond to protests in the wake of the October Manifesto?
On December 16, 1905, the St Petersburg Soviet was closed and 190 members were arrested
Loyal troops were sent into the countryside to beat and hang revolting peasants
What were the Fundamental Laws and when were they created?
On May 2, 1906, Nicolas issued the Fundamental Laws
The laws confirmed the Tsars right to appoint his own ministers and to have complete control over foreign affairs. All laws passed by the Duma would require his approval
