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Summary Russia: Nicholas II
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His choice of Empress His values, abilities and beliefs Autocracy out of date The Early Years 1894-1904 German (important during WW1) World tour failed completely, proposed to Alexandra + Growing middle class Famine 1891-92: govt incompetence, asks public to
even more narrow-minded than before = more racist to E help (Alexander III
Zemstva want more autonomy + demand national
Asians
Very strong links with Victorian England, sees herself as Increasing literacy + urbanisation assembly: Nicholas rejects this as ‘senseless dreams’
Saw expanding empires + strong navies as key to success
better than Russian society
+ power as ruler
Before 1893 only attended one meeting of ministers, Increased spread of ideas 1896+97, 30k textile workers in St Petersburg go on
councillors or the civil service, when did go never strike (first sign proletariat can organise itself):
Socially awkward + shy due to dramatic childhood
working day restricted to 11 + ½ hours
prepared, often yawned or slept
Called representative govt ‘senseless dreams’ Khodynka - 1,400 people killed + 600 injured
Lost mother at 6 years old + several siblings due to Saw constitutions as ‘necessary and inappropriate to in crush at Khodynka Field during May 1896 Marxist SDs organising more strikes, e.g. 1899 –
epidemic Russia’ coronation. 100k workers: police repression, special factory
Not very prepared, drinking etc police force permanently established near large
Strong belief in autocracy + orthodoxy, influenced by Fact decides to go to French ambassador's industrial works in 1899
Personal possessions burnt to contain spread Student protests, e.g. 1891: police beat students
tutor Pobedonostev ball instead of visiting hospital persuades
with whips, arrested leaders + drafted some into
Very racist to E Asia, called them ‘animals, little better some people the Tsar is not the 'Little
army
One of her brothers died by laughing so hard fell out of than monkeys’ Father'. 1902-03, peasant violence (started in Poltava
window and 2 stories, dying soon after More concerned about banquets (small issues) than region) due to repression, taxes + high rates:
tackling major issues in Russia Repression, filled up prisons with political prisoners,
censorship
Little interest in studies
Openly disliked dowager Empress (centre of St 1901 onwards, unrest in towns + cities: Zubatov
Joined navy + guard school at 14, preferred military
Petersburg society) (head of Moscow Okhrana), sets up 3 Zubatov unions
matters in Moscow, submitted demands to their employers
who were then pressured by police representatives
Nicholas’ parents didn’t approve of her into making concessions (to try to convince workers
that their lives could be improved within the existing
system)
Long-term causes of the 1905 revolution Short-term causes of the 1905 revolution The Russo-Japanese War
Political (main factor, many Russians disliked govt + Political assassinations:
2000 political assassinations 1901-05
political system, found it repressive + unresponsive to Two minister of Internal Affairs: Sipyagin in 1902, Plehve 1904
needs) Industrial unrest:
Social: Industrial strikes escalated in towns, 17k 1904. E.g. 1901 Obukhov
factory in St Petersburg saw clashes between armed police + whip-
Peasants felt unfairly treated, especially by nobles
carrying Cossacks
Industrialisation expanded num industrial workers + 1900: Zubatov unions set up by Moscow chief of Okhrana, aiming
middle-class: both felt unfairly treated by Tsarist to provide ‘official’ channels for hearing complaints. Ended 1903
society after Zubatov dismissed after one of unions involved in General
Economic: Strike in Odessa
Peasants felt cheated out of land + unable to succeed 1904: Father Gapon set up Assembly of St Petersburg Factory
Workers on Zubatov model – approved by Plehve, had support of
due to economic policies
Orthodox church, 12 branches + 8k members
Workers felt exploited by poor wages + terrible Rural unrest:
living/working conditions 1902-07, widespread unrest. So many cases of arson years known
Repressive: as ‘The Years of the Red Cockerel’
Secret Police (Third Section until 1881 then Okhrana) Unrest worst in central Russia (landlord/peasant relationships still
very traditional), also spread into Ukraine, Georgia and Poland
Use of army against demonstrates, strikers etc
Peasants set fire to landlord’s homes + attacked them
Land Captains Stolypin (Tsar’s minister) dealt harshly with disturbances (e.g.
Zemstva powers eroded flogging and arrests). Gallows were in such constant use became
Russification known as ‘Stolypin’s necktie’
Lack of freedoms: Russo-Japanese War:
Series of defeat turned initial anti-Japanese patriotism into one of
No civil rights
opposition
Judicial reforms of Alexander II eroded Seen by crowds in Poland celebrating assassination of Plehve in
No constitution 1904
No national parliament Rise in prices + food shortages due to war
Led to rise of opposition groups: Nov 1904, Plehve’s modest replacement, Mirsky, agreed to invite
Populists Zemstva representatives to come to St Petersburg for talks.
SRs formed 1901 Nicholas refused to agree to idea, saying that ‘I will never agree to
the representative form of government because I consider it
Marxist groups (SDs formed 1898, 1903 splits into harmful to the people whom God has entrusted to me’
Mensheviks + Bolsheviks) Bloody Sunday:
Liberals 3rd January 1905: strike at Putilov Iron Works – 150k workers
9th Jan 1905: Father Gapon led peaceful march to Winter Palace to present
petition + request reform
12k troops used to break up march – 40 killed at Narva Gates, 150 at Troitskaya Squar
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