Why did the Tsarist regime collapse in 1917? (extra details not in ready made cards) Flashcards
There are 5…
How did the Tsar exercise control over his people?
- Newspapers were censored
- Political parties banned
- Police special force that dealt with political opponents of the regime
- The Okhrana sent thousands to prison or Siberia
- Cossak army
How was the countryside governed?
- Each peasant belonged to village commune which controlled thier daily lives
- Each area had ‘land captain’ , a local noble who dealt with disputes/crime
- Larger regions had governors (aristocrats appointed by Tsar) who had power to arrest people etc
How were towns and cities governed?
- There were some elected officials called Zemstva who were dominated by nobles and profesional classes
- Did some good work in areas such as health and education and gave useful experince in running local gov
- Some wanted a national Zemstva who would help run country, but Tsar and his autocratic regime didn’t allow this
What was Bloody Sunday?
Reason for the 1905 revolution!
- A crowd of 200,000 protestors who wanted the Tsar’s help marched to his palace on 22nd Jan 1905
- However the tsar was not in his palace, and the guards panicked and fired on the crowd
- Hundreds died, news spread quickly to other cities
What happened during the Russia-Japan war?
Reason for the 1905 revolution!
- Tsar felt threatened by Japan and the rivaly and suspicion erupted into war in Feb 1904
- He hoped it would unite his subjects behind him
- Russia underestimated Japan’s military and was defeated on land and humiliated at sea –> made the Tsar look bad
- Increased discontent amongst several different classes
What were the effects of the faltering economy?
Reason for the 1905 revoltion!
- Russia entered economic depression from 1900, affecting all areas of the economy
- Wages fell, unemployment rose
- In 1902-3 there were more strikes
There are 5 groups…
What was the new class that begun to emerge in Russia and who was it made up of?
Capitalists - landowners, industrialists, bankers, traders, buisness men, who increased the size of middle class epecially in towns
Up until this time, Russia had a very small middle class, and clashes between workers and capitalists were to play an important part in Russia history up to 1917
Who were the Socialist revolutionaries (SR’s)?
A radical movement whose main aim was to carve up huge estates of nobility and hand them over to peasants - they had support in towns and the countryside.
This organisation was illegal
What was the Social Democrat Party?
A smaller but more disciplined party who followed ideas of Karl Marx - split themselves into the Mensheviks and Bolsheviks
This organistaion was illegal
What did the war with Japan result in?
Higher taxes, food prices and shortages
What were the 8 reasons that the Tsar was facing revolution in 1905?
- Discontented peasants
- Discontented nationalities
- Discontented workers
- Discontented middle classes
- War with Japan
- Political opposition groups
- Economic problems
- Bloody sunday
Briefly explain why unhappy peasants was a reason for revoltion in 1905.
They were treated harshly, suffered poor health and envied land of landlords
Briefly explain why unhappy nationalities was a reason for revoltion in 1905.
Were treated as second class citizens and suffered discrimination
Briefly explain why unhappy workers was a reason for revoltion in 1905.
They suffered appaling living and working conditions
Briefly explain why the war with Japan was a reason for revoltion in 1905.
Increased discontent among several different classes
Briefly explain why unhappy middle classes was a reason for revoltion in 1905.
Were unhappy with Tsar’s inefficient government and wanted some say in running of the country
Briefly explain why political oppostion groups was a reason for revoltion in 1905.
Wanted to topple Tsar and stirred up and organised peasants and workers
