Tsardom to Communism Flashcards
1
Q
What was the distance from north to south in Russia?
A
2,000 miles
2
Q
How much of the land does Russia make up?
A
1/6
3
Q
What was the northern area called?
A
The tundra
4
Q
What were the conditions like in the tundra?
A
Mostly frozen
5
Q
What was the area of land called below the tundra?
A
The taiga
6
Q
What was the climate like in the south?
A
Desert like
7
Q
How much land could be used due to farming?
A
Little
8
Q
What was beyond the Ural Mountains?
A
Frontier Settlements
9
Q
Where were the main areas of agriculture?
A
European Russia
10
Q
What were roads like?
A
There were few paved roads, it was mostly dirt tracks
11
Q
How did people go on long journeys?
A
Steam boats
12
Q
When was the trans-Siberian railway opened and where did it go to and from?
A
1904
From Moscow to Vladivostok
13
Q
What was the population in Russia? And where did they mostly live?
A
130 million people mostly in European Russia
14
Q
Who were the Cossacks and what were they offered?
A
They were fierce warriors who were offered army service
15
Q
Who were the Byelorussians?
A
White Russians
16
Q
When was the Caucasus region conquered?
A
1864
17
Q
Who resisted the Byelorussians and society in the 1900s?
A
The Georgians and Tribesmen (Chechens)
18
Q
What was Russification?
A
The policy of being Russian, wearing Russian clothes and speaking Russian
19
Q
What was the public opinion of Russification?
A
Many people resented it
20
Q
In which countries were there Russian officials?
A
Finland, Poland and Latvia
21
Q
How much of the population did peasants take up?
A
4/5
22
Q
What were the main foods that peasants ate?
A
Rye bread, porridge, cabbage soup
23
Q
How many peasants died in 1891 and why did they die?
A
400,000 as a result of crop failure
24
Q
What method of farming did the peasants use under the Tsar?
A
The strip method
25
What percentage of the population were nobles?
1%
26
How much of the land was owned by the nobles?
1/4 and most had 2 homes
27
Who were the middle class?
Bankers, merchants, and owners of business
28
Where did the workers live?
In cheap lodging with no privacy
29
What was the typical diet of a worker in the 1900s?
Black bread and Vodka
30
When were the Bolsheviks formed?
1903
31
What were the aims of the Bolsheviks?
To overthrow the Tsar and make Russia a socialist state
32
When were the socialist revolutionaries formed and what were their aims?
1901 with the same aims as the Bolsheviks
33
When was the very first revolution under the Tsar?
1905, they didn't like the war with Japan
34
What was the troops response to the 1905 protest?
To open fire on peaceful protesters and therefore caused the revolution
35
Who was Stolypin?
The prime minister
36
How did Stolypin deal with opposition?
Very harshly and executed 1000s
37
What was the distance from east to west in Russia?
4,000 miles
38
What was described as backward in Russia?
The economy
39
How many years were Russia behind GB and USA (in terms of industry)?
100 years
40
Between what years did coal and steel industry increase?
1906 - 1914
41
In the early 1900s the government tried to do what with industry?
Modernise it
42
How did the government try to modernise industry?
By putting in lots of money from taxes - leaving many people poor
43
What did price increase between 1906 - 14 lead to?
Starvation
44
By when did the economy improve as a result of the input of money from the government?
1914
45
When did the 'October Manifesto' happen?
1905
46
What did the 'October Manifesto' mean for the people of Russia?
Freedom of the press and the Duma were to be elected
47
In 1906 what happened that took back the 'October Manifesto'?
The Fundamental laws
48
Who was used to ensure loyalty across Russia?
The Okhrana (secret police)
49
Between what years were members of the Duma elected?
1906 - 14
50
Did the Duma have any power?
No
51
Changes were made in the countryside which meant that peasants could do what?
Peasants could buy land
52
How were the peasants able to buy land?
With the help of Stolypin's peasant bank
53
Russia was still a what in 1914?
Hierarchy
54
What couldn't peasants not afford despite the help of the 'peasant bank'?
Land
55
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
56
What did Nicholas II believe in?
'Divine Right of Kings'
57
Name the 6 good things about the Tsar Nicholas II
Intelligent, quick minded, good learner, hard worker, kind and well meaning
58
What did the Tsar refuse to do?
Listen to advice
59
What was the Tsar not confident in doing?
Making decisions
60
What did the Tsar admit about his position?
That he never wanted the position to rule Russia
61
Who was the Tsar not as good as in terms of physical strength?
His father
62
What wouldn't the Tsar tolerate and how did he deal with this?
Opposition, he would call the Cossacks to put down roots
63
Why did many people oppose the Tsar?
Because of the Tsarina
64
The Tsar prioritised his time for who?
His family
65
In what way was the Tsar similar to Hitler?
They were both Anti Semetic
66
By the end of 1914 how many casualties of war had there been?
1 million
67
Russia were suffering what during the war?
Humiliating losses
68
How many casualties were there by the end of 1916?
8 million
69
When did the Tsar make himself supreme head of the military?
September 1915
70
What materials were scarce as a result of WW1?
Coal and industrial materials
71
What did shortages in coal and industrial materials lead to?
Extreme cold
72
Why did prices increase due to WW1?
Food shortages
73
How many were out of work as a result of WW1?
Millions
74
What were people suffering during the war?
Starvation
75
Why was making himself supreme head a big mistake during the war?
He was blamed for all the losses
76
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
77
Who did the Tsarina grow close to during WW1?
Rasputin
78
What did the Tsarina do while in control that were mistakes?
Sacked ministers and didn't work with the Duma
79
In what year were male peasants conscripted and what was a consequence of this?
1916/17 which lead to food shortages
80
What was clogging up railways in 1916/17 and what did this mean for cities?
Ice
Supplies weren't reaching them
81
What broke out among the people of Russia in 1916/17?
Law and Order
82
What happened on March 12th 1917?
Troops refused to open fire and Duma set up provisional government
83
What illness did the Tsar's son have?
Haemophilia
84
Who did the Tsarina believe to cure her son?
Rasputin
85
What was Rasputin believed to be?
A religious healer
86
What suffered as a result of the tsarina's association with Rasputin?
The Romanov's reputation
87
Who banished Rasputin and when?
Stolypin in 1910
88
When did Rasputin return from being banished?
1912 when Stolypin died
89
What would women do for Rasputin for favours?
Have sex with him, he was believed to be a sex addict
90
When was Rasputin assassinated?
1916
91
What happened on March 4th 1917?
Strikes for higher wages at Putilov armament factories
92
What happened on March 8th 1912?
The strikers were joined by 1000s of women on the streets of Petrograd demanding bread
93
When did the Tsar order troops to end the disturbances and when did he ignore the Duma?
10th March 1917
94
What happened on the 12th March 1917?
Troops refused to open fire on demonstrators and the Petrograd Soviet was set up by soldiers and workers
95
When did the Tsar abdicate?
15th March 1917
96
Where were the Romanov's sent to after the abdication?
Ural Mountains
97
What were soldiers doing after the Tsar's abdication and why?
Deserting to seize land that was being redistributed
98
Who supported the Bolsheviks?
Workers in towns
99
Who had a lot of support and who from?
Socialist revolutionaries from the peasants
100
What did the Kadets want?
A constituent assembly back and a system like that in Britain
101
What did the landowners want?
The monarchy back
102
Who did the foreign countries support and why?
'The whites' because they wanted Russia back in the war
103
What areas of Russia did the Reds hold and why was this an advantage?
Central areas of western Russia - there were lots of factories to produce supplies
104
What was the aim of the Reds?
To stay in power
105
How did Trotsky and his troops travel to harder areas?
Via train
106
What did the Bolsheviks portray the whites as?
Capitalists
107
What did the Reds promise the peasants?
Return of land
108
What did the Reds have control of which was beneficial for them?
Railways that connected Moscow to Petrograd
109
What were the white leaders like?
Bad, cruel and disrespectful
110
Where were the whites working from?
All around central Russia
111
What did the whites not do together do to geographical separation?
Attack
112
What were the aims of the whites?
They all wanted different things
113
What did the foreign powers not send for the whites?
Troops
114
What did the white generals not do?
Trust each other
115
What were attacks like? (From the Whites)
Not co-ordinated
116
Allied intervention was _____
Ineffective
117
What was happening among troops in the white army?
They were fighting one another
118
Communications for the whites were what?
Difficult
119
What army fell apart?
Kolchaks
120
Who did the whites lose support from and why?
Peasants as land wouldn't be returned
121
What is the name of the harsh treaty imposed on Russia?
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
122
How many people did Russia lose due to the treaty?
62 million
123
What percentage of farm land was lost due to the treaty?
27%
124
What percentage of railways was lost due to the treaty?
26%
125
What percentage of iron ore and coal was lost due to the treaty?
74%
126
In what year were the Bolsheviks renamed 'communists'?
1918
127
What was the first priority of the communists?
To get food to cities
128
What 5 things did Lenin introduce in November 1918?
```
Maximum 8 hour day/48 hour week
Employment insurance
Titles abolished - 'comrade' introduced
Gender equality
Censorship of newspapers
```
129
What 6 things did Lenin introduce in December 1918?
Liberal party (cadets) were banned
Factories under control of workers committees
Banks taken over by gov
Church land confiscated
Divorce made easy and marriage not in churches
Election of army officers
130
What was to happen to lands under landlords (1918)?
It was to be confiscated and redistributed
131
When were the Cheka set up?
December 1917
132
Who was the leader of the Cheka?
Dzerzhinski
133
What was Lubyanka?
The headquarters of the Cheka
134
What was carried out at Lubyanka?
Torture and executions
135
What kind of people did the Cheka arrest?
Anyone considered dangerous
136
When was the red terror launched?
After an assassination attempt on Lenin
137
What happened to people who spoke out against the government during the red terror?
They were arrested and shot without trial
138
What was Lenin forced to hold in November 1917?
Elections to elect a constituent assembly who would decide how Russia would be governed in the future
139
After the constituent assembly met in January 1918, what did Lenin do?
He sent in soldiers to shut them down for good
140
What was war communism?
The state took control of industry and told them what to produce
141
What did managers enforce during war communism?
Strict discipline
142
What was forbidden during war communism?
Trade unions
| Workers weren't allowed to leave cities
143
What was the effect of war communism on food supply?
It was rationed and was sometimes as little as 200g of bread
144
Who were given larger rations during war communism?
Factory workers and soldiers
145
Why did the popularity of the black market increase during war communism?
Because it was the only way to get more food
146
What was the value of money in 1920 compared to its 1917 value?
It was 1% of its 1917 value
147
What did people pay with instead of money during war communism?
Food or goods
148
Why were the Cheka sent in to seize food during war communism?
Because peasants were unwilling to sell their grain
149
What happened to anyone hoarding food during war communism?
They were punished
150
In what way did peasants resist war communism?
They produced less grain
151
By what year was the economy in ruins due to war communism?
1921
152
What two crimes were common during war communism?
Robbery and burglary
153
When did war communism begin?
June 1918
154
What was the effect on the size of grain harvests due to war communism?
Harvests decreased in size
155
How many people died during war communism?
5 million due to famine
156
How many tonnes of grain were being produced in 1913 and what had this decreased to by 1921?
80 million tonnes to 37.6 million
157
By how much had the price of goods risen due to war communism?
20, 50, 100 or 600 times
158
How were people affected by the Cheka during war communism?
They became increasingly brutal
159
What happened in March 1921 at the Kronstadt naval base?
They staged an uprising as the dictatorship was 'worse than death'
160
What was Trotsky's response to the mutiny at krondstadt naval base?
He sent in troops to crush them, 20,000 were killed or wounded
161
What happened to the sailors at krondstadt naval base?
They were executed or sent to camps
162
What did the workers opposition do?
Demanded higher wages, better conditions and workers control over industry
163
Who was one of the Bolshevik leaders that lead the workers opposition?
Alexandra kollontai
164
When was the NEP introduced?
March 21st 1921
165
What stopped due to the NEP?
Grain requisitioning
166
What did peasants hand over grain for each day?
Tax
167
What was done with surplus grain during the NEP?
It was kept or sold
168
What could the traders now do freely during the NEP?
They could buy and sell freely
169
What happened to factories under the NEP?
Small factories were returned to owners
| Large factories were kept under government control but could produce their own products
170
By when did Lenin want electric light in Russia?
By mid-20s
171
How long did it take Moscow to change under the NEP?
3 weeks
172
What was the effect of living conditions under the NEP?
They improved
173
How did the NEP effect unemployment?
Unemployment rates when down
174
What did the NEP encourage with other people?
Trade
175
The NEP caused a period of stability between what years?
1921 and 1928
176
By what year did the economy reach pre-1914 and thus creating huge capital investment?
1926
177
When was the Anglo-Russian trade agreement signed?
1921
178
What was the NEP seen as a return to?
Capitalism
179
What were poor farmers unable to use under the NEP?
New machinery
180
Who widened the wealth gap under the NEP?
'NEPmen'
181
Why was there overcrowding during the NEP?
Due to an influx of workers
182
What increased under the NEP?
Crime rate
183
Why were their food shortages under the NEP?
Because peasants were unwilling to sell grain as they were unable to buy much
184
What was the general peasant opinion of prices under the NEP?
They found them too high
185
How did output of coal increase from 1913 to 1928?
29 million tonnes - 1913
9 million tonnes - 1921
35 million tonnes - 1928
186
How did iron and steel output change from 1913 to 1928?
8. 5 million tonnes - 1913
0. 3 million tonnes - 1921
7. 3 million tonnes - 1928
187
How did grain output change between 1913 and 1928?
80m tonnes - 1913
37. 6m tonnes - 1921
73. 3m tonnes - 1928
188
When were the royal family executed?
July 1918
189
How many died between 1914 and 1921?
21 million
190
How much of land was cultivated as a result of the civil war?
50%
191
What was there a shortage of as a result of the civil war?
Doctors and hospitals
192
What was the ration of bread during the famine of 1921 and how many people died as a result?
30g, 5 million died
193
When was Comintern set up?
March 1919
194
What happened to religion under communism?
It was banned, churches were destroyed and priests were killed
195
Which 'useless' subjects were banned under communism and what subject was encouraged?
History and Latin
Science
196
In what year were the 'socialist republics' brought together into the 'union of soviet socialist republics'?
1923
197
Who devised the provisional government?
The 4 remaining members of the Duma
198
What three things did the provisional government do when they came to power?
Freed political prisoners, introduction of an eight hour day and abolishment of secret police
199
Who did the provisional government share dual power with?
The Petrograd soviet
200
What did the Petrograd soviet issue that gave them control of the armed forces in Petrograd?
Order number one
201
Who took over the PG in July 1917?
Kerensky
202
Why did the PG continue war?
Because they felt they didn't have the power to make such an important decision
203
When was the Russian offensive launched?
June 1917
204
How many died in the Russian offensive?
60,000
205
Who resigned as a result of the failed Russian offensive?
Guchov (minister of war) and Milyukov (foreign minister)
206
What reforms did the PG fail to carry out?
Land reforms
207
When did Lenin return to Petrograd and give his 'April Thesis'
April 1917
208
What was the April thesis?
Lenin's promise of 'peace, bread and land'
209
During what protests did Lenin flee to Finland?
'July days'
210
When was the Kornilov Affair?
August 1917
211
What happened during the Kornilov affair?
General Kornilov attempted to take over the provisional government and the bolsheviks stopped him
212
When Lenin returned on the 7th October, what was established?
Military revolutionary committee which allowed Trotsky to control the Petrograd troops
213
When did the Bolshevik revolution planning begin?
10th October
214
When did the Bolshevik Revolution begin?
On the night of the 24/25th October
215
What was seized during the Bolshevik revolution?
Bridges and post offices
216
When did the Peter and Paul fortress provide weapons for the revolution?
23rd October
217
Which ship from the krondstadt naval base led ships to open fire on the winter palace?
The aurora
218
By what time was the government captured (Bolshevik Revolution)?
1:30am
219
What statement did Lenin issue which announced the new government?
'The PG is no more and power has passed to the Soviets'
