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
