INTRODUCTION TO RUSSIAN HISTORY

Tsarist Russia

1871 - 1917

CLASS SYSTEM IN TSARIST RUSSIA

CLASS SYSTEM IN TSARIST RUSSIA

CLASS SYSTEM IN TSARIST RUSSIA

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pper classes: Royalty, nobility, higher clergy: 12.5 per cent.

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iddle classes: Merchants, bureaucrats, professionals: 1.5 per cent.

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orking classes: Factory workers, artisans, soldiers, sailors: 4 per

cent.

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easants: Landed and landless farmers: 82 per cent.

HISTORY OF THE TSAR

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n 1900 – Nicholas II was Tsar (emperor)

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is family, the Romanovs, had ruled the country for

300 years

NICHOLAS II

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PROBLEMS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE

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easants were very, very poor

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opulation increasing – lack of space

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arming organised on a village basis (mir) – individials could not improve techniques without

support of mir

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ost peasants were loyal to Tsar and Romanovs

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hey did not blame him for problems – instead – blamed nobles• From 1900, violent disturbances broke out. Land belonging to nobles and occupied by peasants

PROBLEMS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE

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olution• Stolypin (Chief Minister) introduced reforms

• Peasants could set up own farms outside mir• Hope that would increase numbers of kulaks

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y 1914• Limited success• 90% peasants still under control of mir – many moved to

cities to find work

PROBLEMS IN CITIES

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ndustrialisation in 1900s• Foreign investment• Thousands of kilometres of railways• Most factory workers were unhappy

• No political power – frequent strikes• Tsar could not help much

• Many foreign owned companies (came to Russia for cheap labour) – out of Russian control

• Larger factories owned by Tsar – paid for with borrowed money – could not afford to pay more

• Hard lives – long hours and dangerous conditions for low pay• Overcrowding – slept in factories or uncomfortable barracks or

small flats with several families

WHY DID RUSSIA NEED INDUSTRY?

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o compete with USA, Britain and Germany

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eeded to strengthen Russia’s ability to defend herself• Part of problem in loss of Crimean War (1854 – 6)

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rms race – after 1900

OPPOSITION TO THE TSAR

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he Kadets (Constitutional Democrats)• Middle-class liberals• Wanted peaceful change handed to a duma (elected

parliament)• Operated among small, well-educated, wealthy

population in towns• Did not offer anything for workers and peasants• Divided

• Willing to work with Tsar• Wanted a republic

OPPOSITION TO THE TSAR

T

he Social Revolutionaries (the SRs)• Support among small section of peasantry• Power through revolution• Once in power, they would change system of land

ownership and make life easier for peasants• Should have been HUGE (so many peasants), but

divided in aims & methods• Some wanted shared land among peasants, others wanted

land owned by entire community• Some wanted peaceful change, others wanted violence

OPPOSITION TO THE TSAR

T

he Social Democrats• Supported by many factory workers – followed ‘Marx’

teachings• 1903 – SPLIT

• Mensheviks• Win power through middle class – widespread support • Gradually work towards Communist society

• Bolsheviks• Thought Tsar would make that impossible• Instead – remain as small group of revolutionaries. Plot in

secret and stage revolution as soon as possible

TSAR’S RESPONSE TO OPPOSITION

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uthless• Army used against protest

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ecret police – Okhrana• Very effective – spied on every area of Russian life• Could arrest and torture people, imprison them or

send them into exile• Kept illegal opposition groups weak

SUPPORT FOR TSAR

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obles

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opular among wealthiest middle-class – happy he kept peasants

under check

P

easants – Church taught them to be loyal to Tsar and God (same

thing)• Directed anger at nobles and factory owners – believed Tsar was a

good man who was misled by bad advisors

OKHRANA

EVENTS OF 1905 THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR

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904

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sar believed – quick victory

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acific fleet was smashed at Port Arthur and Mukden

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altic Fleet sailed to help – crushed at Battle of Tsushima

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sar had to take the blame – embarrassing for Russia

THE EVENTS OF 19051905 REVOLUTION

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he war disrupted economy – eg. Railway system used to

supply army in east• Led to food shortages and price rises• Factories closed or laid off workers (shortage of raw

materials)

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orkers were originally enthusuastic about war – not anymore• Strikes – demanding higher wages, right to form trade unions

and abolish unpopular laws

THE EVENTS OF 19051905 REVOLUTION – BLOODY SUNDAY

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2nd January 1905• Father Gapon led 200,000 peaceful workers to Tsar’s

winter palace in St Petersburg to present petition• Soldiers fired killing hundreds

THE EVENTS OF 19051905 REVOLUTION - BLOODY SUNDAY

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esponse• Millions of workers joined general strike – paralysed the country• Loss of support for Moderates• Social Democrats (like Trotsky) demanded workers’ government

• In St Petersburg and other cities – organised themselves into ‘soviets’ (councils) to lead protests – Trotsky head of soviet in St P

• He persuaded Mensheviks and Bolsheviks to co-operate

• Countryside – unrest• Military – Tsar seemed to be losing control

• June 1905 – Potemkin mutinied and murdered officers

POTEMKIN

1905 – THE AFTERMATHCONCESSIONS

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ctober Manifesto• Witte (Chief Minister)• Wanted to break link between middle-class protesters and working-

class revolutionaries – middle class opposed, Trotsky and demands for 8-hour working day in factories

• Persuaded Tsar – ‘October Manifesto’• Laws allowed more freedom for individual• Called a ‘duma’ to share power with Tsar

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esult• Middle-class opposition ended