the rule of nicholas II

Question 1

what was the character of tsar nicholas II

Answer 1

was viewed as weak willed, poorly educated and lacking confidence

Question 2

what was the attitude of nicholas II

Answer 2

he had a rigid sense of autocracy

this was further emphasised by the fundamental laws 1906

Question 3

what were the political problems in russia in 1894

Answer 3

opposition had grown due to repressive measures of alexander III
rise in censorship
reduction of peasant representation in government
tighter control of provincial government

Question 4

what were the economic problems in russia in 1894

Answer 4

lacked productivity, lagged behind many countries in the west
reliance on foreign investment
rising exports of grain
agriculture was backwards

Question 5

what were the social problems in russia

Answer 5

peasants were aggrieved by living standards. redistribution of land resulted in reduction of size of plots 1891 famine caused over 350,000 deaths

Question 6

who were the revolutionaries

Answer 6

populists
social democrats
social revolutionaries

Question 7

Who were the populists

Answer 7

group regarded the future of russia as being in the hands of the peasants. beginning with the overthrow of russia itself
was unrealistic as peasants were not interested in a political revolution

Question 8

who were the SRs

Answer 8

focused on improving living conditions from the poorest people in society
by 1905 the party split into more radical SRs on the left and the moderate SRs on the right
the left killed 2000 political people from 1901-1905
the right worked with other groups. despite the split the SRs were the bigges threat to the tsar before 1917

Question 9

who were the SDs

Answer 9

leader was george plekhanov who emphasised the need to keep working class conscious 
lenin influenced the left the bolsheviks

Question 10

what was russification

Answer 10

was the process whereby national minorities were drawn securely to framework of empire
transmission of russian language, religion and culture
the aim was to impose russian values and ways on all people within the nation

Question 11

role of the poles

Answer 11

as a result of industrialisation a proletariat emerged and showed an interest in marxism
poli

Question 12

anti semitism

Answer 12

greatest victims of russification was the jews
over 600 measures introduced requirement that russians lived in ghettos
programmes encouraged terrorising the jews

Question 13

response to his policies

Answer 13

did not lessen the opposition to the tsardom
produced a situation where many political and national groups grew increasingly frustrated by the mixture of coercion and incompetance that was the tsarism

Question 14

what was the great spurt

Answer 14

russian industry grew so rapidly it was known as the great spurt

Question 15

how did witte bring about the great spurt

Answer 15

invited foreign experts and workers to advise on industrial planning
he also negotiated large loans from abroad while imposing heavy taxes and higher interest rates at home
tariffs were set up to protect domestic industries
rouble was put on the gold standard

Question 16

why did he invest in railways

Answer 16

thought it way of developing russia by connected remoter regions s was largely with the industrilasied moscow

Question 17

outcome of the great spurt

Answer 17

coal production doubled
steel production increased by sevenfold
trade figures increase but this was largely to do with increase in population
it made russia too relient on foreign loans
tsarist government were more concerned with the military power economic development would give them and not the actual growth
railway was incomplete and ineffective was more of a symbol of enterprise than having economic worth

Question 18

what were the causes of the russo japanese war

Answer 18

to pursue an expansionist policy in the far east to make up for a decline of europe
to obtain an ice free port
to distract attention away from russias domestic troubles by rallying the nation in a patriotic struggle
plehve - ‘we need a small victorious war to avert a revolution’

Question 19

what was the course of conflict

Answer 19

russia occupied port arthur which was an ice free port and was their naval base for pacific fleet
after a long siege it fell to japan in january 1905
japanese then exploited their advantage by seizing the key the key manchurain town of mukden
defeat at sea in tsushima in may 1905
final defeat russia agreed to withdraw forces and accept japanese control

Question 20

why did russia lose

Answer 20

military commanders were not prepared effectively
their ignorance allowed japanese to outmanoeuvre the russian forces
distance men and equipment travelled made it impossible to provide adequate resources
nicholas was over confident due to the sheer size of russia he thought they could easily win
japanses navy and army were well trained and equipped

Question 21

reasons for the 1905 revolution

Answer 21

due to repressive nature of nicholas government conflict was bounded to occur
famine was a constant source of peasant misery
there was soliders on the street ready to shoot people
general dissatisfaction amongst all the classes

Question 22

what was bloody sunday

Answer 22

on 22nd january father gregory gapoob a priest led a peaceful march of workers and their families to winter palace. intention was to relieve workers of their desperate conditions
induced panic in the police force who charged on the marches and over 200 people killed

Question 23

what the reaction to bloody sunday

Answer 23

widespread strike in major towns and cities
terrorism spread throughout the country side
situation was made worse with russias defeat in the russo japanese war
caused unrest in the countryside who feared government was going to reposss their land due to failure to pay mortgages
liberals formed into unions of unions was an alliance between peasantary and factory worke

Question 24

what was the potekin mutiny

Answer 24

summer of 1905 brought mutinies in the army and navy
crew of prince potemkin mutined as a protest of sailors having to eat purfied food
mutineers sailed to odessa where they were joined with a serious government strike
troops were ordered to disperse the crowds, the soliders marched down the steps trampling on any who fell driving hundereds into the sea

Question 25

how did tsar defeat the liberals

Answer 25

witte had to negotiate peace terms with the japanese
issued the october manifesto resulted in creating a duma, freedom of speech and assembly, right for political parties to exist
liberals saw this as a success

Question 26

how did tsar defeat the peasant

Answer 26

announced in november that the mortgage repayments were reduced then abolished all together

Question 27

how did tsar crush workers

Answer 27

policy was not of concession but of suppression
government felt strong enough to crush soviets
after a five day siege soviet headquarters were stormed and ringleaders were arrested

Question 28

what was the consequence of the october revolution

Answer 28

• October manifesto - duma was created
• fundamental laws - no law could come into force without his approval
• Dumas - first two lasted only a couple of months
  the second two Dumas were more productive and resulted in major reforms of the army and navy and introduced of state run insurance schemes for workers
• showed the army remained loyal
• trotsky said the rebellion failed as they were not united and inexperienced