Topic Two: Opposition to Tsarist Rule Flashcards
Why did the army face problems in WW1?
1/3 of the army had no rifles. They were short of ammunition. Soldiers did not have warm uniforms of enough to eat.
What was the situation for Russia in WW1 by the end of 1915?
Lost 2 million men and were in retreat, the enemy was occupying 3 areas of the Russian Empire.
Why could people blame the Tsar for the military defeats?
He had made himself commander-in-chief despite having no military experience. The Duma advised against it.
Identify 4 economic problems caused by WW1.
- National Debt increased so government put up taxes and got more loans. 2.Regions captured by the Germans included some of the most important economic areas such as coal-mining. 3.Military demanded a ban on grain exports. 4.Due to men being sent to fight, there was not enough labour.
What was requisitioning?
Taking food by an official order. Many peasants grains were requisitioned to feed the army.
What was the problem with inflation?
Prices in shops went up but wages remained low.
What problem did the Countryside face in WW1?
Many men of working age were lost, so by 1916 there were twice as many women in the Russian countryside than men.
What problem did cities face in WW1?
The number of jobs fell sharply as factories lost overseas markets. 150,000 workers lost their jobs in the first 3 months of war.
What happened to the Fourth Duma during WW1?
It got suspended to allow the government to concentrate on winning the war.
What was the Progressive Bloc?
A centre of opposition to the government after the Tsar refused to listen to members of the Duma.
What title was Tsarina Alexandra given in the Petrograd.
Regent. It gave her the Tsar’s power to govern the empire in his absence.
Identify 3 reasons Tsarina contributed to the 1917 revolution.
1.Refused to deal with the Duma as she was dedicated to the idea of autocracy. 2.She was German which made her deeply unpopular with the Russian people. 3.Her relationship with Rasputin weakened the authority of the royal family and offended the nobles
Why did people dislike Rasputin?
He believed the best way to connect with God was by sinning and repenting. To most people at the time, sinning meant drinking alcohol, stealing and sex.
How did Tsarina meet Rasputin?
Her son had been born with a blood disease called Haemophilia. She turned to Rasputin as a spiritual healer.
In what way did Tsarina take Rasputin’s advice?
She appointed moinisters according to his recommendations, and even wrote to Nicholas about his dreams and what they meant the Tsar should do next in the war.
