The Tsarist Regime, 1906-1914

Question 1

State council

Answer 1

Debated laws - had to approve laws before legalised
1/2 members appointed by Tsar
1/2 members elected by Zemstva

Question 2

Council of ministers

Answer 2

Legalised + approved all legislation
Appointed by Tsar and were controlled by Tsar alone
Led by Prime Minister

Question 3

State Duma

Answer 3

Debated laws and had to approve before legalised

500 delegates elected every 5 years by men 25+ (indirect suffrage)

Question 4

When were political parties legalised?

Answer 4

March 1906 (for the elections)

Question 5

Political parties in 1906; left to right

Answer 5

Social Democratic Workers’ Party
Social Revolutionaries
KadetsOctobrists
Rightists

Question 6

Social Democratic Workers’ Party made up of..

Answer 6

Bolsheviks (refused to participate in 1st elections)

Mensheviks

Question 7

Why were the fundamental laws issued?

Answer 7

• To reassert power of Tsarist institution - who controls country?
Assert power over Duma - warning political powers
• restore pride - Tsar never wanted October Manifesto
• reassure conservatives - conservative protection of orthodoxy

Question 8

When were the fundamental laws issued?

Answer 8

23rd April 1906

Question 9

Fundamental Laws re asserted that the Tsar…

Answer 9

• supreme administrative power (inc. foreign affairs)
• supreme command over land + sea forces
• right to overturn verdicts in court
• rules by decree when Duma not in session
• declare war/restore peace
• appoint/dismiss gov. ministers

Question 10

Why did the Dumas fail?

Answer 10

UL: Dumas represent challenge to Tsar’s authority - didn’t want - exploited fundamental errors
MT: represented new political situation- not prepared for challenge
Trigger: can’t make effective decisions - range of parties + views

Question 11

The First Duma

Answer 11

= “Duma of National Hopes”
• May-June 1906
• + Kadets + Radicals
• demanded radical constitutional change

Question 12

The Second Duma

Answer 12

= “The Duma of National Anger”
• Stolypin changed voting rules => + Octobrists
• Bolsheviks and SRs participate
• opposed a lot eg. Agrarian reforms (so dissolved by Stolypin)
• measure passed under Article 87 (Tsar’s supreme power)

Question 13

The Third Duma

Answer 13

= “Duma of Lords and Lackeys”
• November 1907 - June 1912
• + Octobrists + Conservatives => less peasants/workers etc.
• agree with social & agrarian reforms

Question 14

The Fourth Duma

Answer 14

• November 1912 - 1917
• number of Octobrists decreased -> gap between Conservatives and Socialists => failed cooperation => ignored
• demand more power in 1915 => suspended

Question 15

What was the new constitutional structure made up of?

Answer 15

State council
Council of ministers
State Duma

Question 16

Causes of the Agrarian reforms

Answer 16

• UL: to utilise Russia’s land potential - Siberia = undeveloped/populated
• MT: encourage +peasants to move to towns -> boost industrialisation
• Trigger: quell discontent amongst rural population
1903-04 = challenge to Tsar’s authority (peasants rebel)

Question 17

What were the agrarian reforms?

Answer 17

• Mir system & collective land ownership = abolished Nov 1906
• Land Organisation Commission = established
• Jan 1907 - redemption payments = abolished (+ subsides)
• more state land for purchase
• Peasant Land Bank = established

Question 18

Successes of the Agrarian reforms

Answer 18

• Peasant ownership of land increased 20% in 1905 - 50% in 1915
• Grain production rose 56mil - 90mil tonnes 1900-14
• 1909 - Russia = world’s leading cereal exporter
• Kulaks
• ~3.5 mil peasants migrate to Siberia
• Peasants to Towns -> + labour force

Question 19

Failures of the Agrarian reforms

Answer 19

• reforms = v. slow - by 1913: 1.3/5mil applications for land = dealt with
• 1914: only 10% land communal -> private
: 90% peasant holdings on scattered strips
• poor peasants lost land

Question 20

Economic development 1908-1914 summary

Answer 20

Difficulties of global trade —> recession of 1900 hit Russian industry hard.
Turbulence of 1903-06
Growth and stability in 1908 => industrial boom

Question 21

Successes of the economic development of 1908-14

Answer 21

• State revenue doubled 2-4 billion roubles 1908-14
• • 400,000 industrial workers
• by 1914 = 2nd largest oil producer

Question 22

Failures of economic development 1908-14

Answer 22

• Russian growth = reliant on foreign loans
• Russian economy grew at slower pace than EU - It(121%),Ru(50%)• main export = grain (30% of industry)
• recovery = delicate - Lena Goldfields massacre (500 killed)

Question 23

Successes of social development

Answer 23

• 85% increase in primary school provision 1905-14
• 40% increase in literacy rate
• Trade Unions = legalised
• Romanov Tercentary (300 years of Romanov dynasty) HUGE support!

Question 24

Failures of the social development in Russia

Answer 24

• only 55% children in full time education
• poor living conditions in towns prevailed
• strikes escalated - 1914 = +1 million strikes
• widespread disapproval of Tsar’s ability to be controlled by Rasputin

Question 25

Why did the Lena Goldfields strike occur?

Answer 25

• show envy of British Industrialists and Russian nobles
• discontent with financial situation
• influenced by popular opposition groups