Unit 4 AoS 1 Coronation of Tsar Nicholas II to the announcement of Soviet Gov on 26/10 1917 Flashcards
Coronation of Tsar Nicholas II to the announcement of Soviet Gov on 26/10 1917
Institutional Weaknesses in Tsarist Russia
Events
- The large size and multiple nationalities of Imperial Russia was difficult to manage, even with autocratic rule.
Sergei WItte: “With many nationalities, many languages, and a nation largely illiterate, the marvel is that (Russia) can be held together even by autocratic means.”
Institutional Tensions in Tsarist Russia
Events
Economic Inequalities
Events
- 82% of 1897 population were in poverty
- Extreme wealth existed alongside extreme poverty.
- Unequal distribution of wealth and priviledge
Sergei Witte reporting to Tsar Nicholas: “Your Majesty has 130 million subjects. Of them, barley more than half live, the rest vegatate.”
Social Inequalities
Events
Russian and Japanese Tension (Pre War)
Events
- Russia wanted to expand into Manchuria and Northern Korea and began developing the Trans-Siberian Railway to transport materials.
- In the 1900s, Russia increased military presence in Manchuria, based its pacific Naval Fleet in Port Arthur, and effectively took control of Manchuria off of the Chinese.
- Japan wanted to modernise and built up a powerful military and naval force, also wanted to expand to neighbouring Korea which Russia had logging and mining rights for.
- Attempted negotiations with Russia from the Japanese failed as Russia wasn’t interested in a diplomatic resolution and war with Japan was welcomed by tsarist figures.
Russian Minister of the Interior Vyacheslav Plehve: “a little victorious war to stem the tide of revolution”
- General consensus among Russians was that war would boost national pride and that the Japanese were weak and inferior.
Nicholas II (talking about the Japanese): “little yellow monkeys”
- The Japanese also was supported by the British through the Anglo-Japanese Alliance (1902), which was designed to control Russian expanionism in the Pacific.
Russo-Japanese War
Events
8th of February 1904 - 5th of September 1905
- After the Japanese destroyed the Pacific fleet’s most powerful ships, Port Arthur surrendered to the Japanese on the 2nd of January 1905 with 31,000 men lost.
- The Japanese again defeated the Russian army in the Battle of Mukden on 11th-25th of February 1905, with 90,000 men lost.
- Russian commanders were largely incompetent as many were given ranks based off of loyalty to the Tsar and lacked the ability and insight to adapt to modern warfare.
- The incomplete Trans-Siberian Railway led to an undersupplied army who lacked a full military battle kit.
- The Battle of Tsushima (14th-15th May 1905) was the most humiliating defeat for the Russians as 10,000 Russian seamen were killed or captured and 25/28 Russian ships were destroyed iwithin 24 hours.
- The Treaty of Portsmouth was signed on 23rd of August 1905 and Russia avoided paying compensation due to Witte’s diplomatic efforts.
- The war humiliated Russia, not just domestically, but internationally, along with lessening the power and influence Tsarism once had amongst the Russian people.
Bloody Sunday
Events
- The Putilov Steelworks was the largest industrial enterprise in St Petersburg and was known for poor conditions and unfair dismissals. Very common for strikes to occur featuring numbers of striking workers reaching 120,000.
- Father Gapon was a priest who worked amongst the poor people of St Petersburg.
The October Manifesto
Events
- A series of political reforms issued by Tsar Nicholas II and drafted by Sergei Witte in 17/10/1905 that promised representation and reform within the government.
- By mid-October 1905, Tsar faced massive opposition and looked to Sergei Witte for a solution.
Nicholas’ Mother, Dowager Empress Marie, “I’m sure that the only man who can help you now and be useful is Witte”
- Witte called for significant reform in order to bring peace and order to the empire. Highlighted issues with the governments structure, repression, and a need for elected representative gov.
Witte: “The slogan of “freedom” must become the slogan of government activity. There is no other way of saving the state.”
- Nicholas was reluctant to offer concessions to the people but was convinced after his uncle, Grand Duke Nikolai, threatened suicide if the Tsar ignored Witte’s advice.
- Witte drafted the October Manifesto with the Minister of Education and on 17th of October 1905 the Manifesto was proclaimed.
Nicholas II Diary Entry (19/10/1905): “There was no other way out but to cross oneself and give what everyone was asking for.”
The Fundemental Laws
Events
- Tsar considered the Duma as consultative, rather than a legislative body, and wanted to maintain the main principles of autocratic rule.
Tsar Nicholas II: “I created the Duma, not to be directed by it, but to be advised.”
- Fundamental Laws issued by the Tsar on 23 April 1906.
- All laws now required the Tsar’s approval.
- Tsar appointed his own ministers.
- Retained complete control over foreign affairs, military matters, and the declaration of states in emergency.
- Article 87 allowed the Tsar to dismiss the Duma and legislate on his own.
- Fundamental Laws were essentially the new Russian constitution.
Limitations of the Dumas
Events
- Tsar continued to rule by divine right.
- Electoral system was not equal or fully representative.
- Favoured landowners.
- Peasants had an indirect vote through a representative.
- 60% of the working population were excluded (factory workers, costruction workers, casual tradesmen, etc)
- Sailors and women were not allowed to vote either.
Tsar Nicholas II: “Curse the Duma, it’s all Witte’s fault.”
Trotsky: “A constitution is given, but the autocracy remains. Everything is given, nothing is given.”
World War One
Events
- The heir to the Austrian-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by Serbian terrorists on 28th of June 1914, sparking the war and creating conflict between Russia (Serbian supporter) and Germany (Austrian-Hungarian supporter).
- Nicholas was unprepared for such a long and difficult war, assuming it would be over in less than a year, and was warned by Durnovo, Witte, and Rasputin.
Grigory Rasputin: “…with war will come the end of Russia…”
- The announcment of war caused wide spread nationalism along with loyalty towards the tsar, this resulted in the dramatic decline in strikes and disdain for revolutionaries (e.g. Lenin).
- St Petersburg renamed to “Petrograd” to sound more Russian and Duma dissolved to avoid interference in war efforts.
- Patriotism quickly was forgotten when news of Russian defeats spread.
Friedrich Engels: “War is the mid-wife of every old society pregnant with a new one.”
- The Great Military Program in 1912 was an agreement that France would partially fund military infastructure but little progress had been made by 1914.
- The Russian army had an army of 6.5 million men but only had 4.6 million rifles.
- Army was short of recommended number of cartridges by 1 Billion.
Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich: “I have no rifles, no shells, no boots!”
The February Revolution
Events
- Mass protests against food shortages
- mismanagement of war
Provincial Governments
Events
- Made up of former Duma deputies of the Provisional Committee on 2 March 1917.
- Prince Georgi Lvov was named Prime Minister and was not a member of any party.
- The Prov. Gov. issued several popular reforms, generating considerable goodwill.
- Notable reforms incuded recognition of trade unions, an 8-hour work day, abolishment of the Okhrana, abolishment of capital punishment, and freedom of speech.
Lenin describing Russia after the February Revolution: “the freest country in the world.”
- Soviet Order No. 1 was passed on March 1st and stated that the soldiers of the Petrograd garrison should only follow the directions of the Prov. Gov. if they don’t conflict with the Soviets orders.
The Dual Authority
Events
Alexander Guchkov: “The Provisional Government does not possess any real power.”
- Divided power between the Prov. Gov. (Authority w/o power) and the Soviets (Power w/o authority)
Lenin’s Return
Events
Lenin’s April Thesis
Events
The July Days
Events
