Everything on Russia

Tsarist Russia

Russia and the USSR 1905-1941
* Russia industry was underdeveloped, it's people were poorly educated, and was ruled by a Tsar who had complete power which transformed into a modern superpower. 


The New Tsar 
* Nicholas II was crowned Tsar of Russia in 1894 -> the 'little Father of Russia' 
* 1894, Tsar Alexander II die, son of Nicholas of Romanov, inexperienced and ill-prepared for the task of governing the Russian Empire, became the Tsar. 
* Nicholas (Tsar Alexandra II son) was determines to rule as an autocrat- one who rules without accepting any limitations of his power.
* Nicholas would not willingly grant any concessions to those who wanted political reform and in this lay the seeds of destruction, for Russia as a monarchy and Nicholas as an individual. 
* Russia was a vast empire rather than a single country, and the Tsar was the supreme ruler. 
* Married to Alexandra of Hesse- Granddaughter of the Queen Victoria 
* Tsar and his wife were committed to autocracy

* He regularly rejected request to reform in order to maintain autocracy. He was not an effective ruler, unable to concentrate on the business of being a Tsar whom also did not understand the conditions and changes Russia was going through. 
* 1917 Had lost control of Russia and was abdicated 
* 1918 he and his family were shot by Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil war. 



Peasants/serfs and the Countryside 
* Around 80% of Russia's population were peasants who lived in communes. 
* Prosperous peasant communes were called Kulaks 
* Living and working conditions were dreadful and the life expectancy was around 40 years. 
* Much of Russia land was unsuitable for farming therefore there was a very short supply. 
* When the family had sons, the family plot was subdivided and shared between them. 
* Had to pay tax to the land lord not to the king




The Aristocracy 
* The passant living conditions contrasted with those of aristocracy. 
* The were a key part of the Tsars government, often acting as local officials 
* In the country side they dominated the local assemblies or zemstva, who were loyal to the Tsar and wanted to keep Russian society as it was. 
* The greatest fear of the aristocrats was that the peasants would rise up and take their lands. 



New Industries, cities and the working class
* The Tsars had been keen to see Russia become an industrial power
* The senior Minster Sergei Witte introduced policies that led to rapid industrial growth 
* Iron production grew extensively 
* Peasants began to move into the cities either for a new way of life or to earn some money before the next harvest. 
* No government regulations on child labour, hours, safety or education, trade unions were illegal, unguarded machinery and brutal discipline which soon made the peasants realise that working in the factories was no better than working on the land. 
* Agrarian revolution occurred before the industrial revolution as the agrarian revolution was needed whereas the industrial revolution wasn't. 
* Cities can't develop as the serfs are ties to the land
* Britain ect is industrialising whereas Russia is getting nowhere 



The Middle Classes 
* As a result of industrialisation, a new class began to emerge in Russia- The Capitalists
* They were landowners, bankers, traders and businessmen. 
* Until this time there was only small middle class which included shopkeepers, lawyers and university lecturer. 
* The Capitalists increased the size of the Russian middle class
* Capitalists were concerned about - economy and controlling the workforce. 
* Clashes between workers and capitalists were to play in an important role in Russia's history in the years up to 1917. 



The Tsar and his Government
* Tsar had absolute power over Russia, he believed God had placed him in that position and Russian church supported him in this view 
* Nicholas tended to avoid making important decisions. 
* He appointed family members and friends from the court to important positions, many of them incompetent or corrupt making huge fortunes form bribes. 


Control 
* Tsars regime was very strong, resistance was limited. Police were allowed to arrest suspected opponents of the regime, ban individuals from serving in zemstva, courts or any government organisation, make suspects pay heavy fines, introduce censorship books or leaflets or newspapers. 
* Okrana- Tsars secret police
* If outright did erupt, there was an army



Opposition to the Tsar 
* Tsars government faced opposition by three particular groups. 
1)Middle class- they wanted greater democracy. They were called the liberals or 'Cadets'

2) The socialist revolutionaries- Violently opposed to the Tsar. They believed that revolution was the answer to peoples troubles. Their main aim was to carve up the huge estates of the nobility and hand them over to the peasants. They had wide support in the countryside and towns. 

3) Social Democratic Party- smaller but more disciplined party which followed the ideas of Karl Marx. In 1903 the party split in two- Bolsheviks and Mensheviks. 
Bolsheviks believed it was the job of the party to create a revolution whereas the Mensheviks believed Russia was not ready for revolution. Both of these organisations were illegal and many of their members had been executed or sent in exile to Siberia. 

* Karl Marx: Middle classes taking control from the monarchy and aristocracy. There would then be a revolution in which the workers would overthrow the middle classes. For a short time the communist party would rule on behalf of the people, but as selfish desires disappeared there would be no need for any government. All would live in a peaceful, communist society.
- Theories of communism - master of communism- Das Capital. 
- Marxism 

The 1905 Revolution 
* Russian society in the early 20th century was becoming more educated, urban and complex. 
* This new literate generation was to provide many of the local activities who, when faced with the inflexible autocratic regime became more revolutionary as discontent increased. 
* Due to poor harvest, which intensified poverty for the peasants, seized land from landowners, destroyed property, strikes in the oil industry, threatened the economy. 
* A war with Japan (1904)- Russia expected a quick and cheap victory. Unexpected outcome; mobilised peasants which disrupted agriculture and food supplies. 
* The government attempts to deal with its problems failed dramatically 
* In 1903, relaxed censorship and other repressive measures resulted in an explosion of anti- government pamphlets, books and newspapers. Government approved trade unions were also tried to be establishes however, resulted in strikes and demands