Russian History 339-343

Were the revolutions of 1917 inevitable?

A. Reforms under Nicholas II

1. How was Nicholas able to survive the 1905 revolution?

i. All his opponents were not untied:

ii.there was no central leadership this wasn't really a though out planned revolution.

iii. he was willing to compromise at the critical moment by issuing the October Manifesto, promising concessions.

iv. he had a army at his disposal that were still loyal to him.

2. What reforms did Nicholas institute?

i. improvements in industrial working conditions and pay for workers.

ii. cancellation of redemption payments- these were annual payments to the government by peasants in return for their freedom and some land. Payments had reduced over half the rual population to dire poverty.

iii. more freedom for the press: a.k.a freedom of speech

iv. genuine democracy in which the Duma would play an important part in running the country as a type of parliament.

3. What happened to the Dumas?

They kept failing the First Duma (1906) was not democratically elected, and they had rights over the Tsar which upset him causing them to dispersed after ten weeks, The Second Duma (1907) suffered the same fate, while the Third Duma (1907-1912_ and the Fourth Duma (1912-1917) lasted longer because they were conservative but criticized the government because the Tsar still controlled the ministers and the secret police.

B. Strengths of the regime

1. how did Stolypin gain support of some peasants?

i. He got rid of redemption payments so that they would be able to buy land.

ii. Encouraged them to buy their own land.

iii. what is a kulak?

Its the peasant class that is well off and would support the government against a revolution, they owned land.

2. how did the regime gain support among industrial workers?

Better working conditions such as workers' sickness and accident insurance.

3. other positive signs for the regime

i. Universal education within ten years by 1914 opening an extra 50,000 primary schools.

ii. At the same time revolutionary parties seemed to have lost heart; they were short of money, torn by disagreements, and their leaders were still in exile.

C. Weaknesses of the regime

1. why were Stolypin's land reforms failing?

i. Because the peasant population was growing to rapidly

ii.And because the farming methods were too old fashioned.

2. what was the trend with industrial strikes in the years leading to WWI?

They kept increasing over the years doubling and doubling up to 1914: 270 strikes, 2000, 2400, then 4000.

3. what three groups did the government especially target for repression?

i.peasants

ii.industrial workers

iii. intelligentsia

4. revolutionary parties - what did each hope for?

i. Bolsheviks - (Red) the communists

ii. Mensheviks - strict marxists worked with peasants.

iii. Social Revolutionaries - not marxists they were striving for a agrarian society based on peasant communities operating collectively.

5. How was the royal family tainted by scandal?

i. Stolypin's death - They were said to have had a part in his death due to his liberalness.

ii. Rasputin - Defendend him from public cristisms.

D. World War I

What were considered failures in Russia's effort in WWI?

i. incompetent and corrupt organizations

ii. the shortage of equipment.

iii. poor transport organizations and distributions meant that arms and ammunition were to slow to reach the front.

iv. food became scarce

v.trains were monoplolized.