Tsardom to Communism Flashcards
What was the distance from north to south in Russia?
2,000 miles
How much of the land does Russia make up?
1/6
What was the northern area called?
The tundra
What were the conditions like in the tundra?
Mostly frozen
What was the area of land called below the tundra?
The taiga
What was the climate like in the south?
Desert like
How much land could be used due to farming?
Little
What was beyond the Ural Mountains?
Frontier Settlements
Where were the main areas of agriculture?
European Russia
What were roads like?
There were few paved roads, it was mostly dirt tracks
How did people go on long journeys?
Steam boats
When was the trans-Siberian railway opened and where did it go to and from?
1904
From Moscow to Vladivostok
What was the population in Russia? And where did they mostly live?
130 million people mostly in European Russia
Who were the Cossacks and what were they offered?
They were fierce warriors who were offered army service
Who were the Byelorussians?
White Russians
When was the Caucasus region conquered?
1864
Who resisted the Byelorussians and society in the 1900s?
The Georgians and Tribesmen (Chechens)
What was Russification?
The policy of being Russian, wearing Russian clothes and speaking Russian
What was the public opinion of Russification?
Many people resented it
In which countries were there Russian officials?
Finland, Poland and Latvia
How much of the population did peasants take up?
4/5
What were the main foods that peasants ate?
Rye bread, porridge, cabbage soup
How many peasants died in 1891 and why did they die?
400,000 as a result of crop failure
What method of farming did the peasants use under the Tsar?
The strip method
What percentage of the population were nobles?
1%
How much of the land was owned by the nobles?
1/4 and most had 2 homes
Who were the middle class?
Bankers, merchants, and owners of business
Where did the workers live?
In cheap lodging with no privacy
What was the typical diet of a worker in the 1900s?
Black bread and Vodka
When were the Bolsheviks formed?
1903
What were the aims of the Bolsheviks?
To overthrow the Tsar and make Russia a socialist state
When were the socialist revolutionaries formed and what were their aims?
1901 with the same aims as the Bolsheviks
When was the very first revolution under the Tsar?
1905, they didn’t like the war with Japan
What was the troops response to the 1905 protest?
To open fire on peaceful protesters and therefore caused the revolution
Who was Stolypin?
The prime minister
How did Stolypin deal with opposition?
Very harshly and executed 1000s
What was the distance from east to west in Russia?
4,000 miles
What was described as backward in Russia?
The economy
How many years were Russia behind GB and USA (in terms of industry)?
100 years
Between what years did coal and steel industry increase?
1906 - 1914
In the early 1900s the government tried to do what with industry?
Modernise it
How did the government try to modernise industry?
By putting in lots of money from taxes - leaving many people poor
What did price increase between 1906 - 14 lead to?
Starvation
By when did the economy improve as a result of the input of money from the government?
1914
When did the ‘October Manifesto’ happen?
1905
What did the ‘October Manifesto’ mean for the people of Russia?
Freedom of the press and the Duma were to be elected
In 1906 what happened that took back the ‘October Manifesto’?
The Fundamental laws
Who was used to ensure loyalty across Russia?
The Okhrana (secret police)
Between what years were members of the Duma elected?
1906 - 14
Did the Duma have any power?
No
Changes were made in the countryside which meant that peasants could do what?
Peasants could buy land
How were the peasants able to buy land?
With the help of Stolypin’s peasant bank
Russia was still a what in 1914?
Hierarchy
What couldn’t peasants not afford despite the help of the ‘peasant bank’?
Land
Between 1906-1914 where did many people travel and why was this an issue?
West, which caused overcrowding and misery as conditions weren’t any better
What did Nicholas II believe in?
‘Divine Right of Kings’
Name the 6 good things about the Tsar Nicholas II
Intelligent, quick minded, good learner, hard worker, kind and well meaning
What did the Tsar refuse to do?
Listen to advice
What was the Tsar not confident in doing?
Making decisions
What did the Tsar admit about his position?
That he never wanted the position to rule Russia
Who was the Tsar not as good as in terms of physical strength?
His father
What wouldn’t the Tsar tolerate and how did he deal with this?
Opposition, he would call the Cossacks to put down roots
Why did many people oppose the Tsar?
Because of the Tsarina
The Tsar prioritised his time for who?
His family
In what way was the Tsar similar to Hitler?
They were both Anti Semetic
By the end of 1914 how many casualties of war had there been?
1 million
Russia were suffering what during the war?
Humiliating losses
How many casualties were there by the end of 1916?
8 million
When did the Tsar make himself supreme head of the military?
September 1915
What materials were scarce as a result of WW1?
Coal and industrial materials
What did shortages in coal and industrial materials lead to?
Extreme cold
Why did prices increase due to WW1?
Food shortages
How many were out of work as a result of WW1?
Millions
What were people suffering during the war?
Starvation
Why was making himself supreme head a big mistake during the war?
He was blamed for all the losses
Who was left in charge during the war and why was this an issue for the people?
Tsarina, she was mistrusted as she was German
Who did the Tsarina grow close to during WW1?
Rasputin
What did the Tsarina do while in control that were mistakes?
Sacked ministers and didn’t work with the Duma
In what year were male peasants conscripted and what was a consequence of this?
1916/17 which lead to food shortages
What was clogging up railways in 1916/17 and what did this mean for cities?
Ice
Supplies weren’t reaching them
What broke out among the people of Russia in 1916/17?
Law and Order
What happened on March 12th 1917?
Troops refused to open fire and Duma set up provisional government
What illness did the Tsar’s son have?
Haemophilia
Who did the Tsarina believe to cure her son?
Rasputin
What was Rasputin believed to be?
A religious healer
What suffered as a result of the tsarina’s association with Rasputin?
The Romanov’s reputation
Who banished Rasputin and when?
Stolypin in 1910