Topic 1 facts Flashcards
when did Nicholas II become the tsar?
1894- led an autocratic empire- believed he had divine right to rule
why was Nicholas II not ready?
- he was weak and unready for leadership
- showed little interest in national affairs
- firmly committed to autocracy and opposed democracy
who was Nicholas II father?
Alexander II who was tsar 1881-1894
- introduced the Statute Of State Security
- banned meetings of more than 12 people
- reduced the power of the Zemstva (0.7% of the population could vote)
who was Nicholas II tutor?
Pobedonostev- he was against reform
why was Russia difficult to govern?
because of its geography:
- much of the land was uninhabited
- northern part is frozen most of the year
- south is forest and deserts
what was Russia’s population like in 1917?
- just under 185 million and less than half was Russian
- many national minorities resented Russian control particularly the policy of Russification
what % of the population were peasants in 1897?
77
what % of the population were the nobility?
1%- yet owned 25% of land
what happened to a lot of the peasants in 1915?
3.5 million were encouraged to move to Siberia, which grew as a major agricultural region
how many strikes were there in 1913?
- Reduced with outbreak of war but increased again in 1917
who were the Kulaks?
richer peasants who owned their own land outside the village commune. More supportive farmers towards the tsar
who were the tsarist secret police?
Okhrana. Had unlimited power to carry out raids, arrest and ensure the imprisonment of anyone suspected of anti-tsarist behaviour. Political meetings were forbidden
when did the Bolsheviks split with the Mensheviks?
1903
who were the SR’s?
formed in 1901 evolved from groups that had tried to organise and improve positions of the peasantry
who were the liberals?
loose name for those groups who favoured moderate reform and constitutional monarchy
what were the ‘fundamental laws’?
made clear that the State Duma had no control over state ministers or parts of the state budget. Tsar’s power to dissolve the Duma undermined change
how much did agricultural production increase under the tsar?
from 45.9mil tonnes in 1906 to 61.7mil in 1913
what was the Bolshevik newspaper?
Pravda- had a circulation of 40,000 copies per issue
how did education change under the tsar?
spending quadrupled after 1905 and literacy rates rose by 15% in 1914 whilst the number of pupils in primary education doubled and secondary quadruples. Improvements in education made it easier to spread revolutionary ideas
how much did railways grow?
from 3000 miles in 1866 to 43,850 miles in 1913
how much did the cost of living rise during WW1?
300% rise between 1914 and 1917
how many men did Russia mobilise for WW1?
12 million men but could not provide for them. Limited to two rifles for every 3 soldiers and artillery to 2 or 3 shells per day in 1915
what did temperatures reach in the winter 1916-17?
-35°c- severely impacted on harvests
where did Russia suffer a big defeat in 1914?
The Battle of Tannenburg in August 1914. 300k dead or wounded
what was the ‘Progressive Bloc’?
suggested by Duma deputies to form a constitutional monarchy and removing the tsar from power in August 1915. From 1915-16 there were 4 PMs, 3 defence ministers- seen as out of control
when did Nicholas II make himself commander in chief?
September 1915
how many soldiers deserted the army in 1916?
1.5million
how many workers went on strike in January 1917?
30k in Moscow and 145k in Petrograd
