Wartime opposition to Nicholas

Question 1

Who was in charge of foreign and defence policy during the First World War?

Answer 1

Nicholas II alone

Question 2

Give one example of:

• a good commander Nicholas appointed during WWI
• a poor commander Nicholas appointed

Answer 2

Good one: Brusilov

Bad one: Kuropatkin

Question 3

What nationality was Alexandra? Who was her grandmother?

Answer 3

She was German and the granddaughter of Queen Victoria

Question 4

Who governed Russia from August 1915 and why?

Answer 4

Alexandra and her personal adviser, Rasputin - Nicholas had taken personal command of the armed forces

Question 5

What was Zemgor and what did it do?

Answer 5

The Union of Zemstva and Union of Municipal Councils - a joint organisation that provided medical care and supplied uniforms, boots and tents

Question 6

Why did the government refuse to work with Zemgor?

Answer 6

Nicholas saw them as alternative forms of government; Alexandra saw them as revolutionary bodies that undermined the autocracy

Question 7

Between September 1915 and February 1917, how many of each of these did Russia have:
Prime Ministers
Foreign Ministers
Ministers of War

Answer 7

4 Prime Ministers
5 Foreign Ministers
5 Ministers of War

Question 8

Who did Alexandra sack in March 1916 and why was this controversial?

Answer 8

Alex Polivanov, Minister for War - he was considered a very able minister

Question 9

Who did Nicholas want to sack as Minister of Internal Affairs and why wasn’t he successful?

Answer 9

Alexander Protopopov - Alexandra over-ruled Nicholas

Question 10

What does historian Dominic Lieven argue about the impact of Rasputin?

Answer 10

“What really mattered about Rasputin was not his actual political influence but the fatal impact he had on the monarchy’s prestige” - his impact was not political but reputational

Question 11

How did Rasputin win the admiration of Alexandra?

Answer 11

He cured her son, Alexei, from his haemophilia

Question 12

How much political impact did Rasputin have on Russia?

Answer 12

Very little - all he did was reorganise the army’s medical supply system

Question 13

When was Rasputin assassinated, and by whom?

Answer 13

December 1916; murdered by aristocrats who wanted to save the autocracy

Question 14

What did the Duma demand in August 1915? What was Nicholas’s response?

Answer 14

Duma demanded a national government (‘ministry of national confidence’ to take charge of the war effort.
Nicholas suspended the Duma.

Question 15

Who was left to govern Russia when Nicholas went to the front line?

Answer 15

Alexandra and Rasputin

Question 16

Who was in the Progressive Bloc and what were their initial aims?

Answer 16

Kadets, Octobrists and Progressists (236/422 Duma members).

Initially they tried (unsuccessfully) to persuade Nicholas to make concessions.

Question 17

How (and why) did the aims of the Progressive Bloc change over time?

Answer 17

Moved from persuading Nicholas to make concessions, to opposing the government outright (but continued to support the idea of autocracy)

Question 18

On 1 November 1916, who spoke of “treachery and betrayal, about the dark forces fighting in favour of Germany” in the Fourth Duma?

Answer 18

Paul Miliukov

Question 19

What did Miliukov say in his famous speech in the Fourth Duma after every accusation against the government?

Answer 19

Is this stupidity or is this treason?

Question 20

How did Miliukov’s speech have a negative impact on the autocracy?

Answer 20

It was printed secretly and circulated widely among workers and soldiers