Why Did the Tsarist Regime Collapse in 1917? Flashcards
Factors leading to LONG-TERM discontent.
- REVOLUTIONARY GROUPS, SR’s were popular among peasants. Peasants suffered in poverty, high taxes, little land, famines. Made up 80% of population.
- WORKERS, experienced unbearable conditions, long working hours, no civil rights, no vote, low pay.
- NATIONAL MINORITIES, hated Russification, Finns, Poles, and Jews all wanted more autonomy.
Russification
The process of making ethnic minority groups adopt Russian customs, wear Russian clothes, and speak Russian.
Autonomy
Having power over your own community
Totalitarian Regime
Ruled by one person with absolute power/control.
Tsar’s incompetence
- 1984, started Autocratic rule. Nominated a ministerial Council, but it never met.
- WEAK CHARACTER, fired people by letters, never face to face. Not interested in state affairs. He was aloof (disinterested) from current affairs.
- RESPONSE TO OPPOSITION, violent repression, many said her was responsible for turning minor protests into a full-scale revolt ( e.g. Bloody Sunday).
Reasons for the 1905 revolution (2)
- Russo-Japanese war, lost to Japan, humiliation for the Tsar, lost much respect from the public. Viewed as a weak leader
- Peaceful demonstrations, Bloody Sunday, led by father Gapon is fired upon and causes innocent deaths, sparking rise of strikes and riots across country.
Result of the reasons for Revolution in 1905.
ALMOST OVERTHROWN, however just holds on to power. In response publishes the OCTOBER MANIFESTO.
OCTOBER MANIFESTO
short term results…
- THE DUMA, Russian parliament which would have to agree to laws that would be passed. (was the first of many, dissolved less than 1 year later).
- ADDITIONAL REFORMS, lowered taxes for the poor. Okhrana find and arrest revolutionaries.
Liberals
Radical members of the duma that wanted progressively more modernizing reforms.
Stolypin introduction
April 1906, Minister of the interior
July 1906, replaced the failed goremykin as Chairman of the Council of Ministers.
Attack on Stolypin when and effects
August 1907, gov declares state emergency!
- Field courts-martial were used to deal with terrorists.
- Trials were secret, took place within 24 hours of the Crime.
- Sentences, often execution, took place immediately.
Continued instability after 1905.
SR combat organisation carried out political assassinations, over 4,000 Gov. officials killed in 1906/7.
Stolypin best known for
AGRICULTURAL REFORM.
Law of Nov 1906
peasants allowed to leave the commune,
peasants allowed to buy up neighboring strips of land,
Stolypin hoped for more efficient farming systems as a consequence.
Wanted to create a class of landowners who had their own property to prevent revolution.
Peasants’ land bank
Gave loans to individual peasants to help them buy their own land, motivation for more productivity.