These notes cover the entirety of the GCSE history Tsardom and Communism. They are in depth, whilst being easy to understand and interesting. I am predicted a Grade 9, which is equivalent to a distinction, using these notes.
The Tsar's Abdication (Timeline) - GCSE AQA History
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Russia 1894-1945:Tsardom and Communism
The Tsar
Tsar Nicholas II, Crowned TSAR of Russia in 1894 and Abdicated Power in 1917.
He was Married to Alexandra more commonly titled Tsarina. They had a Child with Haemophilia
Tsar believed he was an Autocrat, ”He was placed by God in his Position of Power”
Tsar Led Russia into a disastrous War with Japan in 1904-05, he wasn’t an effective ruler
Russia’s Economy and Society 1894
From Later 19th Century, Tsars wanted Russia to be an Industrial Power, A senior Minister Introduced
Policies Which Tripled Oil and Coal production and Iron Production Quadrupled. As there was Rapid
Industrial Growth, peasants left their land to find work in these new industries, however living conditions
Hardly Improved.
Most Workers were In the Capital, St Petersburg and in Moscow. As the population in these places
increased (due to Peasants wanting work) they actually lived in squalor- unlike the Tsar whose Winter
Palace was a short walk away in St Petersburg- the peasants had: Overcrowding, Terrible Food, Disease,
Alcoholism (all a part of everyday life). Their working conditions matched their living awful conditions.
Unlike other European Powers, there was no Government Regulations on: Child Labour, Hours, Safety or
Education. Trade Unions were Illegal. Low Pay, 12-15 Hour Days, Brutal Discipline made peasants realise
working on land was no better than working in the Cities.
As a Result of Industrialisation, a new class began to Emerge, The Capitalists, in Russia you started seeing
more Businessmen, Bankers, Traders and Industrialists.
Living and Working Conditions in Vilages
Around 80% of Russians Population were peasants who lived in communes. But living and working
conditions were dreadful for them. Famine and Starvation were common and in some regions the life
expectancy of a farmer was 40 years of Age.
A lot of Russia’s land was Unsuitable, Farmers used Ancient techniques, There was a lot of Overcrowding
and the Population had increased by 50% from 1860 to 1897.
There was no basic Education for Russians and very few peasants could read and write; despite all their
hardships, they were still Loyal to the Tsar, a lot of their loyalty was due to them being religious as the
Church supported the Tsar as being an Autocrat. Some Peasants called The Socialist Revolutionaries
disliked the Tsar and thought he was Unfair.
The Aristocracy
The Aristocracy were only 1.5% of the population but owned 25% of the Land, their lives contrasted the
peasants as they flaunted their wealth and lived lives of Elegance like living in Rich Cities, they were also
a key part in The Tsars Government, often acting as local officials. They wanted to keep Russia as how it
was, the Rich stay Rich, and the Poor stay Poor.
Nicholas the Second as A leader
He was Loyal to his family and was willing to work, but as a Leader and Monarch he wasn’t, able, forceful
or imaginative like his predecessors’, he avoided many important tasks (tasks a leader of an empire
needed to do) instead he would partake in the most insignificant tasks to do with the Government. He
, managed his Officials just as poorly and he felt threatened by the talented ministers and sacked them
(including people like Stolypin), he hated confrontation with ministers as well and often gave family and
friends positions of power in court, many of whom were incompetent and corrupt.
The Tsars Control
Though in many ways he was incompetent, some of his regimes were strong. Resistance was limited, a lot
of peasants had their lives controlled by the mir (peasant councils). Russia was a Police state governed by
Tsar appointed Local Governors. The Governors could Order Police to arrest suspected opposition of the
Tsar, Ban Individuals from serving in Local assemblies, courts or any government organisation, make
suspects pay heavy fines and there was introduction of Censorship of Books, Leaflets and Newspapers.
The Growth of Revolutionary Opposition
There were 3 Main Opposers of the Tsar: The Middle-Class people who wanted Democracy, THE DUMA
The more Violent Opposers were THE SOCIALIST REVOLUTIONARIES, their main goal was to take from
Nobility and give back to Poor, the SR’s Killed 2 Government Officials and a lot of The OKHRANA. They had
a lot of support from towns and the countryside.
Then you had THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY, they were smaller but more disciplined and followed the
Idea of Karl Marx, In 1903 the part Split to Bolsheviks and Mensheviks. Bolsheviks were led by LENIN he
wanted revolution, but the Latter didn’t think they were ready. Both parties were illegal and exiled to
Siberia or had been Executed.
The 1905 Revolution and the October Manifesto
Despite the Tsar being powerful, his Opposition grew and as it grew, along came the 1905 revolution,
Russia during 1905 was overwhelmed by a wave of strikes and protests in lots of different cities which
turned into a full-scale Revolution.
In January 1905, about 200,000 peaceful protesters marched through St Petersburg to the Winter Palace,
led by Priest Father Gapon. Instead of being greeted by the Tsar, the troops opened fire and massacred
the crowd with at least 100 dead and more injured. This event was known as Bloody Sunday
This event led to the wave of strikes and rebellions all across cities in Russia. The Only way the Tsar
survived was THE OCTOBER MANIFESTO. It allowed an elected parliament (the Duma), the right to FREE
SPEECH, and the Right to Form Political Parties. For a little while it seemed Russia was at peace, but it
didn’t last. By 1914 there was still much Discontent and Unrest in Russia.
The Dumas
In 1906 the Duma had its first meeting in hopes of leading Russia to a new course but were disappointed
to find the Tsar continued to rule without taking notice of them. The First and Second Dumas were very
critical of the Tsars. They lasted less than a Year before the Tsar sent them home. In 1907 Tsar changed
the rules of the elections for Dumas so his opposition weren’t elected. A third Duma was created in 1912
but there was really no point as they to were critical of the Tsar and had realised they had no power
over the Tsar, so he continued to rule like before and continue his regime.
Stolypin’s Policies- The Use of Oppression
In 1906, Stolypin was appointed the role of Prime Minister. Stolypin was widely known for his ‘Carrot and
Stick’ approach to the people of Russia.
‘The Stick’ was Stolypin going down HARD on strikers, protesters and revolutionaries. By this I mean he
executed and Exiled people. Its estimated Over 20,000 People were exiled and 1,000 people were hung
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