Unit 3: Area of Study 1 - Causes of the Russian Revolution Flashcards
Model to use when Responding to Area of Study 1
- Cause
- Effect
- Significance
Years that Caused the Revolution
1896-1917
Major Political Parties in Imperial Russia
- Kadets
- Octobrists
- SR’s
- Bolsheviks
- Mensheviks
Ideology of the Kadets
Libeal Reformism
Goal of the Kadets
To transform Autocracy into a Constitutional Monarchy
Supporters of the Kadets
- Middle Class
- Progressive Nobles
The Contributions of the Kadets to the Revolution (List 2)
- Demanded a Duma and a Constitution (1905-1906)
- Led the Progressive Bloc (1915-1917)
- Established a Provisional Government (1917)
Ideology of the Octobrists
Great Russian Nationalism
Goal of the Octobrists
To support the Tsarist Regime
Supporters of the Octobrists
- Gentry
- Industrialists
The Contributions of the Octobrists to the Revolution (List 2)
- Controlled the 3rd and 4th Dumas (1907-1917)
- Turned against the Tsar when Russia suffered defeats in WWI
- Alligned themselves with the Kadets to push for more democratic reforms
Ideology of the SR’s
Revolutionary Populism
Goal of the SR’s
To redistribute the Gentry’s land to the Peasants
Supporters of the SR’s
Peasants
The Contributions of the SR’s to the Revolution
- Controlled the Petrograd Soviet with the Mensheviks (1917)
- Provided their support to the Provisional Government (1917)
Ideology of the Bolsheviks
Marxism-Leninism
Goal of the Bolsheviks
To undertake an immediate and violent workers’ revolution
Supporters of the Bolsheviks
Workers
The Contributions of the Bolsheviks to the Revolution
- Seized control of the Petrograd Soviet (September 1917)
- Overthrew the Provisional Government in a Coup (October 1917)
Ideology of the Mensheviks
Marxism
Goal of the Mensheviks
To improve the rights of the workers’ by enrolling them in Trade Unions
Supporters of the Mensheviks
Workers
The Contribution of the Mensheviks to the Revolution
- Formed a Coalition with the SR’s and controlled the Petrograd Soviet (1917)
- Provided their support to the Provisional Government (1917)
Date of the Bloody Sunday Massacre
January 9, 1905
Summary of the Bloody Sunday Massacre
Russian Priest Father Gapon who worked with the urban workers and heard their grievances and encouraged them to create a petition which set out their grievances, marched to the Winter Palace and presented the Tsar with their petition. The Putilov Steel Works saw workers’ being dismissed. This leads to the other workers’ going on strike to support these dismissed workers’. This leads to even more workers’ going on strike. The petition was designed to demand social and political reform
Short-Term Cause of the Bloody Sunday Massacre
Father Gregory Gapon creates a petition for the workers’ to deliver to the Tsar at the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg to improve their working conditions and to introduce a Legislative Duma where workers’ can express their grievances and vote on laws to improve their rights
Long-Term Cause of the Bloody Sunday Massacre
Industrial workers were angered by the poor working conditions as they had to work 13-hour days and were only paid 1 rouble per day and were given no sick leave
Effect of the Bloody Sunday Massacre
150,000 protestors (workers) joined a peaceful march to present the petition to the Tsar, however they were met with force due to Nicholas feeling threatened. He ordered the police, soldiers and Cossacks to open fire on the crowd, killing 200 and wounding 800
Significance of the Bloody Sunday Massacre (List 2)
- This shatters the myth of the “benevolent Tsar” and Nicholas was no longer seen as the “Little Father” and instead was seen as “Bloody Nicholas”
- The Massacre triggered a series of protests
- The Massacre led to Nicholas’ eventual overthrow in 1917
- The Russian Army had 400 mutinies due to low morale and insufficient supplies due to factory workers’ not producing supplies due to strikes
Date of Peasant Uprisings
June 1905 onwards
Short-Term Cause of Peasant Uprisings
There was the breakdown of law and order due to strikes in the cities and the lack of loyal soldiers due to the war. This encourages the Peasants to take action
Long-Term Cause of Peasant Uprisings
Central Russia suffers from overcrowding due to a population boom, due to families having a lot of babies
Effect of Peasant Uprisings
Peasant uprisings begin in June 1905 and Peasant mobs drive out the Gentry and redistribute their land and property
Significance of Peasant Uprisings
The Tsarist Regime now loses the control of the countryside
Date of the October Manifesto
October 17, 1905
Summary of the October Manifesto
It was drafted by Sergei Witte who convinced the Tsar who did not want this document created nor wanted to sign it that this was the only way that he could preserve his leadership and Tsarism. The Manifesto promised an elected assembly that was based on the British model, a Representative Parliament and that there will be a Prime Minister. It also promises that the people’s civil rights and freedoms will be expanded
Short Term Causes of the October Manifesto
- A general strike breaks out in St. Petersburg and 50 other cities across the Empire
- Count Sergei Witte convinces the Tsar that he must promise democratic reforms, or else he risks being overthrown
Effect of the October Manifesto
The Tsar issues the October Manifesto, in which he promises a series of liberal reforms. He is going to create a Legislative Duma, hold parliamentary elections and guarantee the civil rights of Russians