The Rule of Nicholas II 1894-1905 Flashcards
What was the majority ethnic group in Russia (1897 census)?
Russian: 55.6 million
What were the three predominant minorities in Russia? (1897 census)
Ukrainian: 22.4 million
Polish: 7.9 million
White Russian: 5.8 million
When was serfdom abolished in Russia ?
1861
What percentage of Russians were peasants? (1897)
82%
What percentage of the Russian population were workers ? (1897)
4%
What percentage of the Russian population were upper class and ruling class ?
12% - upper class
0.5% - ruling class
What did the Tsar claim to be in the Russian census of 1897 ?
Landowner of all of Russia
What were the problems of the workers under Alexander III?
Poor working conditions and heavily suppressed
What were the problems of the peasants under Alexander III?
South was overcrowded and they had a lack of education and equipment
How did the Tsar benefit from the class system?
•Lower chance of revolt
•Elevate his position and myth of the Tsar
•Keep those influential close to him
What is the definition of autocracy?
Someone with a birth claim that they are a rightful ruler
What is the definition of dictatorship?
Dictatorship is someone persuading and working their way up to being a ruler
Autocracy - What are the three bodies the Tsar appointed ?
•The Imperial Council
•The Cabinet of Ministers
•The Senate
What are the three bodies of “For Faith, Tsar & Fatherland”?
Autocracy, Nationality and Orthodoxy
When did Nicholas I introduce “For Faith, Tsar & Fatherland”?
1833
Nationality - What was the Tsar obliged to do with nationalities?
Promote and preserve the superior Russian national identity
Orthodoxy- How was the Tsar related to God ?
He was an agent of God and upholder of faith and he acted as the father and the Russian population were his children
When was the start and end of Alexander II’s reign?
1855-1881
What did Alexander II achieve during his reign ?
•Extension of railways
•Emancipation of serfs
When was the start and end of Alexander III’s reign?
1881-1894
What did Alexander III achieve during his reign ?
He adopted Russification of national minorities and persecuted non-orthodox religious groups
When did Nicholas II become King ?
13th May 1896
What was the distressing event that occurred on Nicholas II’s coronation?
In NW Moscow the Kodhnyka field was chosen to accommodate 30,000 people to receive free beer and sausages however 500,000 people showed up and 1,300 died
How did Sergei Witte modernise Russia ?
•Hired foreign experts
•Direct investment in industrial projects
•Foreign investment negotiated
•Increase in indirect taxes
What was Russification ?
Imposing Russian culture on minorities such as harassing churches and imposing Russian language
When was the rouble put on the Gold Standard by Sergei Witte?
1897
What happened when the Armenian Church was banned ?
Troops opened fire on a crowd killing 10 and wounding 70
Why was Russification seen as counter-productive ?
It was aimed to halt the growth of nationalist movements but it led to resentment in these groups
What were restrictions were put on Jews in Russia?
Higher education was limited and they were banned from living in rural areas forcing them into towns and villages
What was the role of The Okhrana?
•censored newspapers
•repressed ideologies
•infiltrate and destroy uprisings
How many Okhrana were there in 1900?
2,500 and 1/5 were staged in St Petersburg
When was the Okhrana established?
1880
What was the problem of Okhrana?
Many were converted and became double agents leading to the assassinations of Plevhe and Stolypin
Who was Sergei Zubatov?
In 1895 he was appointed as Head of the Moscow Okhrana
What did Sergei Zubatov introduce?
Modern methods of detection including photo registration and a flying squad
What was a Zemstvo?
A local council in the countryside set up under Alexander in 1861
What newspaper did Lenin and Martov write ?
Iskra (Spark)
What was the argument between Lenin and Martov?
Lenin wanted an exclusive approach whereas Martov wanted an inclusive approach to the party
What was the result of Lenin and Martov’s argument ?
They had a vote in 1903 where Lenin won a majority (Bolshevik) and Martov got a minority (Menshevik)
What were the aims of the Popularists?
A constitutional monarchy or overthrow and were seen as terrorists
What were the strengths and weaknesses of the Popularists ?
Focused on the peasants but they didn’t care and was very vague
Who were the Popularists ?
A group of middle and upper class idealists set up in 1870s
What were the aims of the SRs?
A complete overthrow and wanted to work with other parties
What were the strengths and weaknesses of the SRs?
Focused on everyone but particularly the peasants however there is a split in 1906
Who were the SRs?
A group set up in 1902 led by Victor Chernov and was an offshoot of the Populist movement
What were the aims of the SDs?
A complete overthrow and was the first communist party of Russia
What were the strengths and weaknesses of the SDs?
Focused on the working class and encouraged trade unions but it was theoretical and divided leadership
Who were the SDs?
A group of intelligentsia in 1898 focused on Marxist theory
When was the Communist Manifesto published ?
1848
What are the Lumbenproletariat?
Outcasts of society such as beggars, criminals and prostitutes
What are the Proletariat?
The wage labourers and sell their workforce
What are the bourgeoisie ?
The owners of the workers and buy the labour
What were the ideas of Liberal oppositions ?
•reform rather than violence
•parliamentary democracy
•national zemstvo
What methods did Liberal oppositions use?
Pre-existing ones such as Zemstvo and newspapers
What is another name for the League of Liberation ?
Union of Unions
When was the League of Liberation set up?
January 1904
What were the aims of the League of Liberation ?
Replace absolutism with a constitutional monarchy
Who were two leading members of the League of Liberation?
Peter Struve and Pavel Milyukov
When was the three -point plan adopted by the League of Liberation?
October 1904
What were the three points in the plan adopted by the League of Liberation?
•Persuade the Zemstvos to ask for a constitutional monarchy
•Stage a series of banquets pushing ideals
•Support the formation of unions
