The Romanov Dynasty Flashcards
1
Q
When did the Romaov Dynasty fall?
A
1917
2
Q
What were some issues with the size of the empire?
A
- Hard to maintain control over such a vast stretch of land
- Differing belief systems would’ve caused conflict
- Language barrier
3
Q
What was the population of the empire?
A
126 million
4
Q
Why was Nicholas II ill fit for his role as autocrat?
A
- Premature death of his father
- Lacked strong character and prompt decision making
- Charmer rather than a leader
- Devoted husband and family man
5
Q
Describe the nature of Russia at the beginning of the 20th century.
A
- Nicholas II was in power
- Industrialisation was beginning
- The Peasantry made up 90% of the population
- Emergence of new political groups due to the spread of Enlightenment. Marxism began to take hold and became a popular ideology
6
Q
Outline political grievances.
A
- Middle and Upper classes wanted an end to autocracy. Wanted a democracy and parliament.
- Political parties were outlawed, trade unions banned and there were no elected government institutions
- Intellectuals (bourgeoise) were influenced by socialism and wanted revolution (support came from urban workers)
- The Socialist Revolutionary Party wished to overthrow the Tsar and achieve land distribution
- Nicholas repressed demands for political reform (lessened working hours attempted and wholly unsuccessful)
- Use of the secret police, arbitrary arrest, imprisonment without trial were met with opposition by the public
7
Q
Outline social grievances.
A
- Failed harvests led to poor income and discontent
- Civil unrest became more common: strikes, riots and demonstrations to protest poor working conditions
- Redemption payments (for being “given” land) were protested
- Lack of machinery meant manual labour was the most efficient method
- Low standard of living for peasantry: one bedroom for a whole family
- Appalling conditions for proletariat: long hours, overcrowded, unsafe, unhygienic
- Land plots so small subsistence farming not possible
- Peasant revolts met with severe punishment
- Emancipation Act disgruntled nobility and Upper class as they had to give away half their land
8
Q
Outline economic grievances.
A
- Land now owned by village community meant that even when peasants moved they still had to send back regular payments
- Taxes collected for the Trans-Siberian railway
- Grain was continually exported even in the face of the 1897, 1898 and 1901 famines
- Taxes collected when grain prices were lowest
- 1903 strikes: oil, rail, engineering industries
- Inflation and economic depression
- Industrialisation was very slow and basic. There was a focus on heavy industry and railway at the expense of other economic factors
9
Q
What were the main issues of Nicholas II?
A
- Wanted to maintain autocracy for his heir
- Corrupt ministers influenced his decision making
- Forced to grant October Manifesto
- Failed to follow through with political reforms
- Took control of the battlefront in WW2, placing blame for losses solely on him
- Used violent repressive measures to quell challenge to his absolute power (Bloody Sunday)
10
Q
What were the impacts of the Russo-Japanese War?
A
- Mobilisation of men from the peasantry meant less people working the land. This added to the already poor harvests
- Urban workers produced war goods rather than goods for the Russian people
- Russia lost the war, resulting in international embarrassment as no European power had lost to an Asian nation before. Loss of faith in the Tsarist Regime
11
Q
What were the impacts of Bloody Sunday?
A
- 8 January 1905, 111 000 people marched on the Winter Palace
- 130 people killed, more wounded
- Destroyed the image of the Tsar as the ‘People’s Saviour’
- Resulted in 50% of peasants revolting in 16 provinces and mass disturbance
- The first Socialist Soviet (worker’s council) formed
- Eventually led to the October Manifesto
12
Q
What was a Duma?
A
An elected parliament for Russia, with the power (allegedly) to make laws. Nicholas dismissed the forth and final Duma in 1917.
13
Q
What were the shortcomings of Russia in preparing for WW1?
A
- Factories were unable to produce supplies for the war effort quickly
- Transportation system was weak; Germany had ten times the amount of railway per square kilometre
- Russian soldiers travelled an average of 1290km to reach the front
- Equipment was outdated, reserves were pitifully small: severely short on artillery pieces, shells, motorised transports and even boots
- Russian heavy industry was too small to equip the massive armies it raised
14
Q
What were the military implications of WW1?
A
- Millions of Russian soldiers killed or wounded in early battles
- The Battle of Tannenberg saw the annihilation of the entire Russian Second Army
15
Q
Why was the decision to go to war a ‘death knell’ for the nation?
A
- Nicholas II’s assumed leadership of the army in 1915 resulted in the full blame of military losses being placed on him
- Without Nicholas, Rasputin assumed a high level of control and irked members of the Upper Class
- Lack of working men meant an increase in food shortages, and bread strikes and riots became common
- Military losses resulted in low morale amongst the soldiers
- The final death toll was around 1 451 000 out of 1 811 000 soldiers
