Topic 1: The Tsarist regime and its collapse 1914-1917

Question 1

What did autocracy mean for the Tsar?

Answer 1

It meant that he had absolute power, could make laws, appoint ministers and decide on policies completely on his own.

Question 2

When was the first duma set up?

Answer 2

1906

Question 3

Did Nicholas II like the duma having power?

Answer 3

No, he was very reluctant to allow it any real power.

Question 4

What did Nicholas II ‘s tyrannical control over power mean about change in Russia?

Answer 4

It meant that it was impossible to bring about any changes in Russia without Nicholas agreeing to them.

Question 5

Was Nicholas II strong and stubborn on his decisions or weak and easily influenced?

Answer 5

Weak and easily influenced by others

Question 6

Give an example of when Nicholas II was indecisive in his regime.

Answer 6

Even when he took the right decision e.g. after the 1905 revolution, he changed his mind later on.

Question 7

Did he really want to be the Tsar?

Answer 7

No

Question 8

What was a problem about the Tsar Nicholas II attitude?

Answer 8

He was not capable of acting sensibly

Question 9

What had the Tsar traditionally relied on to deal with opposition?

Answer 9

Repression

Question 10

What was one of the Tsars forms of repression?

Answer 10

The secret police

Question 11

What was the name for the Tsars secret police?

Answer 11

Okhrana

Question 12

Who broke up street disturbances? (repression)

Answer 12

Cossacks

Question 13

How was the Tsars Nicholas II grandfather killed?

Answer 13

By a bomb.

Question 14

What was the name of the Tsar Nicholas II grandfather?

Answer 14

Alexander II

Question 15

When was Alexander II ( Tsar Nicholas II grandfather) killed?

Answer 15

1881

Question 16

In Russia there were extremes of wealth and poverty, far greater than in any other European country. How were these made worse?

Answer 16

These were made worse by big increases in the populations of the two main cities St. Petersburg and Moscow.

Question 17

Fill in the blanks.

The number of people living in St. Petersburg and Moscow nearly doubled between ____ and _____

Answer 17

1880 and 1914

Question 18

What did the increase in population in Russia lead to?

Answer 18

Overcrowding
Shortages of food
Unrest

Question 19

In 1917 what percentage of the population worked in industry?

Answer 19

2%

Question 20

In 1917 what percentage of the population worked in agriculture?

Answer 20

80%

Question 21

In 1917 what percentage of the population were literate?

Answer 21

30%

Question 22

What did the Russians think about Western ideas?

Answer 22

They distrusted them

Question 23

What did the army commanders think was the most important weapon?

Answer 23

Bayonet

Question 24

What was the largest and most powerful opposition group in Russia called?

Answer 24

Socialist-Revolutionaries

Question 25

Where were the socialist revolutionaries strongest in Russia? And who supported them the most?

Answer 25

Countryside where they were supported by many peasants

Question 26

What two groups made up the Social Democrats?

Answer 26

The Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks

Question 27

Which opposition group was most significant?

Answer 27

The Bolsheviks (part of the social democrats)

Question 28

# Fill in the blanks. Industrialisation was proceeding rapidly in the big cities of St Petersburg and Moscow. Their populations increased by more than ______ in the twenty years leading up to the outbreak of the First World War in 1914.

Answer 28

50%

Question 29

What did Russia being an important industrial power mean for the workers living conditions?

Answer 29

That ten of thousands of them were were squashed into overcrowded districts in the centres of the cities.

Question 30

In 1904 and 1905 which country was Russia defeated by?

Answer 30

Japan

Question 31

In what years did Japan defeat Russia?

Answer 31

1904 and 1905

Question 32

In what did Japan defeat Russia in 1904 and 1905?

Answer 32

Russo-Japanese War

Question 33

How did Russias defeat by Japan make Russia feel?

Answer 33

Humiliated

Question 34

What did Russias defeat by Japan lead to? Give an example.

Answer 34

Protests like 'Bloody Sunday'

Question 35

What helped bring about the 1905 Revolution?

Answer 35

Protests like 'Bloody Sunday' after Russia was defeated by Japan.

Question 36

What was the only reason that Tsar Nicholas II was saved during the protests throughout 1905?

Answer 36

The loyalty of his army

Question 37

When was the October Manifesto granted after the revolution of that year had threatened to overthrow him?

Answer 37

1905

Question 38

What did Nicholas II grant in 1905 in response to the threat to overthrow him?

Answer 38

The October Manifesto 1905

Question 39

What did the Tsar Nicholas II promise the October Manifest?

Answer 39

- Civil liberties for all people, including freedom from arrest and freedom of conscience, speech, assembly and association. - The creation of a State Duma, which would have to agree to all laws. - Universal suffrage for the election of the Duma.

Question 40

After the 1905 October Manifesto when did the State Duma first meet?

Answer 40

1906

Question 41

How long was the first State Duma around for?

Answer 41

72 Days