...Topics to Revise A. Russia before the First World War: i. The Nature of Russia as a State ii. Government and Politics under the Tsar iii. Economy and Society iv. Failures before WWI v. Opposition to the Tsar B. The First World War i. Russia’s involvement in WWI ii. Rasputin iii. Effects of WWI on Russia C. The Revolutions of 1917 and the Provisional Government i. The Fall of the Tsar (February / March Revolution – 1917) ii. Reasons for the fall of the Tsar iii. The Provisional Government iv. Bolshevik Revolution (October 1917) v. Reasons for Bolshevik Success D. After the Revolution: Bolshevik Government, Civil War, New Economic Policy i. A Marxist Dictatorship? ii. Making Peace with Germany iii. The Civil War iv. War Communism v. The New Economic Policy vi. The death of Lenin (1924). SECTION A) Russia before the First World War: i. The Nature of Russia as a State • Huge country, poor transport and communications (took a week to cross). • Russian land was hard to farm – much was infertile Tundra, Desert or Taiga (forest). • 44% of people were Russian – the rest were different nationalities, many of whom wanted to be free of Russian rule. • Over 80% of population = peasants. ii. Government and Politics under the Tsar • Tsar was an autocrat (absolute ruler). He relied on the army and Okhrana (secret police) to maintain control. • Tsar viewed by many as God’s representative on earth – he claimed he had ‘Divine Right’ to rule;...
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...Nicholas II and Alexandra were the last tsar and tsaress of the Russian Empire under Romanov rule. They ruled from 1894 to 1917, during WWI. Their early life, reign, and startlingly execution greatly shaped Russian history. Nicholas and Alexandra’s lives, before Nicholas’s inheritance of the Russian throne, determined the way they viewed an empire should be governed. It began in 1881, when Nicholas’s grandfather, Alexander II, was assassinated. Alexander III, Nicholas’s father, became the emperor of Russia while he, at the mere age of thirteen, became heir. Alexander III, furious with his father’s murder, led Russia in an autocratic government. Though he was an intimidating figure, Alexander was a strong and capable leader. While his father...
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...would be the introduction of NEP. He believed that “economically and politically speaking the New Economic Policy completely ensures to us the possibility of building the foundation of a socialist economy.” NEP was unpopular within the Bolshevik party and so the fact that Lenin went through with it, shows his impact as an individual. Similarly ,before Lenin, Witte had been significant by reforming the economic policies of the Tsars by improving the Russian currency aswell as making the Russian market for accessible for foreign enterprises. This had long term significance as investments were more likely to come to Russia and thereby strengthen the Russian economy. All Tsars attempted some form of economic reforms, however in comparison to Lenin and stalin they did not succeed. From this it can be argued that individuals did play a role in the shaping of Russia, however it was very much dependant on the time an d situation in which they found themselves. One factor that was more important than the individual was the political structure in Russia. Alexander II,...
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...“guide” for the life after Tsars. To understand why Marxism played such a major role in Russian history, we will discuss historic events that led to the end of Tsarist Russia and discuss both sides of the argument – for and against Marxism. By the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th, Russia was not a great Empire it used to be. Country was falling behind Europe in every aspect – economy, military and industrialization were not on par with the western world. Poverty and no glimpse of “brighter future” for lower class, or should we just say poor people, was working against Nicholas II and his reign. Throughout its history Russia was mostly an agricultural country, but with the need of industrialization and further development at the turn of the 20th century, the necessary for Marx’s ideas class was rising – proletariat, or working class. Working hours and conditions were unbearable across all industries and with work demand being way higher than available positions – pay was minimal, since there was the next guy who was willing to work for anything at all. Population was growing with anger and desire for change, but not necessarily overthrowing the Tsar. But since nothing was being done, and bourgeoisie was getting richer – landowners and later factory owners were seen as the enemy in a way. Humiliating loss in Russo-Japanese war, Bloody Sunday and World War I that followed were critical events that changed people’s mindset against Nicholas II. In “Communist Manifesto”...
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...some people blamed Jews for the outbreak because Jews were less affected in some areas, This was simply due to the isolation of many Jewish ghettos. In 1929, Jews were chosen as the scapegoat for the Great Depression. 21. In 1521, Martin Luther formalized his beliefs, creating Lutheranism. Between 1521-36, other Protestant beliefs, like Calvinism and Anabaptism, emerged. 22. The Age of Exploration brought slavery to the New World. Disputes over slavery would be the main cause for the American Civil War. 23. In 1648, a French rebellion called the Fronde began. The peasants rebelled due to excessive taxes. In 1765, American colonists would rebel against England for the same reason. 24. In 1613, Michael Romanov was elected tsar of Russia. . In 1917, Tsar Nicholas II abdicated the throne, ending the Romanov dynasty. 25. After the Renaissance, realistic art fell out of popularity. During the 19th and 2oth century, it would come back as the dominant art form, and became its own movement-Realism. 1648-1815 1. In 1812, Napoleon attempted to invade Russia with his Grand Armee. His men were woefully unprepared for the brutal cold. In 1941, when Hitler invaded Russia, his men were better prepared, but still devastated by the cold. 2. In 1765, the American Revolution began. The revolution inspired the French Revolution in 1789. 3. Britain wanted an empire the sun never set on. The Japanese flag displayed the image of a rising sun. 4. In 1815, Napoleon’s reign ended. The breakup of...
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...Home Learning: Russia and World War 1 Big question – Did World War One bring about the downfall of the Tsar in February 1917? Deadline: Hand this cover sheet in with your Home Learning Date handed in to teacher: Insert date Minimal effort - repeat More effort required for next time Excellent effort Teacher comments if appropriate 1. How well did Russia perform militarily in the war? * Initial patriotism. At the beginning of the war, all forms of patriotic material emphasised caricatures of the enemy and heroic interpretations of Russian exploits.Wilhelm II with his distinctive moustache and inevitable spike helmet was the overwhelming favorite for abuse in all media. All Germans, led by their Kaiser, were gross beer-drinkers and sausage-eaters as well as rapacious aggressors. The other two enemies, Austria and even Russia's historic foe Turkey, usually appeared as contemptible puppets of the Germans. Hubertus Jahn in Patriotic Culture in Russia during World War I, "Russian patriotism quickly became more differentiated, simultaneously reflecting separate and even disparate loyalties within society". http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=488 * Early successes against Austro-Hungarian Empire battle of galicia- a major battle between Russia and Austria-Hungary during the early stages of World War I in 1914. In the course of the battle, the Austro-Hungarian armies were severely defeated and forced out of Galicia, while the Russians captured Lemberg and, for approximately...
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...reluctant bystanders to the change in leadership. The Indian people also resented the constant racism that the British expressed towards them (Roda, 2013). As the British continued to expand their ideas and power over the Indians, they were insensitive to the native traditions and customs. As an example of this, the Sepoy Indian army, which consists mostly of Muslims and Hindus, were supplied with bullet cartridges greased with pork and beef fat. Both animals are regarded as sacred or forbidden in Hindu and Islamic culture. This caused a revolt on May 10, 1857. In 1877 British parliament stepped in, claiming the entire subcontinent under British rule and proclaimed Queen Victoria as the Empress of India. The last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah II, was sent into exile. B. The causative factors and goals: The Russian Revolution in 1917. (violent) The Russian Revolution refers to two revolutions. The Russian people were frustrated, dealing...
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...Russia Timeline: X-XX Century 1. Late 10th C. – Vikings land of the Rus! 2. 1015-1036- Sviatapol, Boris, Glev 3. 1240-1480- Golden Horde rules, Iron I “Kalitas”, Ivan II * Ivan the II Home Work 4. 1480-1505- Ivan III Tzar? 5. 1505-1533- Vasily Ivanovich * The time of Juana La loca y Felipe “El Hermoso” * Ivanovich needed an heir to the throne and he sent his wife to a convent and got married to another woman * The highest leader of the orthodox church accused his deeds as an abomination and told him that this new marriage was a curse (his son will be born a monster) * Cuando nace el hijo nace con una anormalidad * “a monster has benn born with two teeth he will dovour our people and with one he will devour you” * Ivan Grosny 6. 1547-1584-Ivan Grosny (Ivan IV) rules at 16 years old * Grosny was given to him because it means “awesome”, (all inspiring) * If you stand beside him you will be disintegrated * “A flock needs a shepherd” * Was taken out of power because of his terrible deeds * When he was persuaded to come back into ruling Russia he told them that he would, but under his conditions * Worst failure: (failed to protect Russia) * Was so focused on his outer enemies that he didn’t see the Tzar Mongols invade Moscu (the Tzars ended up burning Moscu) * They prophesized that he was gonna die in a specific day and month (***and he did *** when he...
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...Wars and Revolutions of Western Civilizations Bobby Linnane HIS 102- OL012 Jan 2013 War and Revolutions have happened all over the world for many different reasons. Some were for social and cultural change, others for political change and most of them for nation dominance. The Wars and Revolutions in Europe had an everlasting impact and either heightened or hindered the area in which it took place. Yet through the masses of all the social and political upheaval, we see arise an alliance where the nation finally came together to turn any ones state strength or weakness to offset another. Revolutions 1830-1832 The revolutions of 1830 through 1832 were the breakthrough of liberalism in many areas of Western Europe. The July revolution in France from 1824-1830 was the pivotal point of liberalism. Charles X proclaimed four ordinances 1) dissolving the new Chamber 2) impose censorship on the press 3) reduce voting power to bankers, merchants, etc. and 4) election of the new basis. This produced the July Revolution and the upper class took action as to not be outcastes from political life. The workers and students in Paris put barricades in the city to fight away the army and police. These leaders wanted a democratic republic and workers wanted better conditions for employment. All these people simply wanted a king they could trust. When Charles X fled to England, Louis Philippe was offered the throne. He knew that he had received the throne through the insurrection...
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...Byzantium came a wave of conquest from the East, the Mongols until the 15th century (Tatars). To a large extent, the Mongols allowed Russians to maintain their way of life: - Slavic based languages including writing system (Cyrillic) - Orthodox religion The Russians adopted much from Asian culture and this led western Europeans to think less of the Russians Geographically Russia was isolated from the rest of Europe: - Entirely land locked (mostly) - Huge Plains of Eastern Europe prevented overland travel During these early years there were a series of muscovite princes based in Moscow and called themselves Tsars. By the 17th century the Romanov family became the ruling dynasty: - Alexander I (1801-1825) - Nicholas I (1825-1855) - Alexander II (1855-1881) - Alexander III (1881-1894) - Nicholas II (1894-1917) Under the rule of Peter the Great (1689-1728) Russia grew greatly in size and entered the European World www.ibscrewed.org The Russia of 1800 was one of the greatest autocracies in Europe where: - The Tsar’s rule was absolute - There was a small, but powerful landowning elite - The vast majority of the population existed in a state called serfdom Serfdom: refers to the legal and economic status of peasants (serf). In Russia Serfdom practically equaled slavery - In 1646, landowners registered peasants living on their land. From then they are considered property of the estate. - Serfs...
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...New economic policy (NEP) NEP era advertizement It was an idea based on ambition and imagination; an idea that worked so well, it managed to drag an entire country out of starvation and chaos and drive it onto the road to quick economic and industrial recovery. It created capitalism in a socialist state and cabaret-style debauchery under a military-communist regime. And like many other great yet paradoxical projects, perhaps, the Soviet Union’s New Economic Policy of the 1920s was too visionary to remain sustainable for long. Preconditions The year is 1921. Russia has just survived two revolutions, WWI and the Civil War. Not only the last royal family but the entire empire is gone, executed and left to deteriorate. Significant territories including Poland, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, parts of Ukraine, Belarus and more lands have either broken away or been taken away, while the population has diminished by at least twenty five million people. Production has fallen to the levels of the times of Peter the Great, hunger and devastation are the general picture all around. In fact, things are going so bad, even the revolutionary leadership, backed fearlessly by millions of people just a few years before, is itself becoming a target of mass anger. Fresh uprisings grip Siberia, the southern and western regions and even spread to the Red Army. The new communist regime headed by Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky realizes something needs to be done quickly to prevent the country...
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...Within the context of the period 1801-1917, to what extent was the fall of Tsarism a consequence of significant social development in Russian society? Tsar Nicholas II’s abdication on 2nd March 1917 marked the end of Tsarism’s iron grip on Russia and the subsequent revolution was the clearest possible sign of political and social upheaval. Finally, its people had tired of their nation’s own backwardness and were looking for improvements to an archaic system which they had endured for hundreds of years. Seldom does a revolution succeed without violence being an integral part of its development, and the Russian revolution was no exception. However, there are economic and political factors that helped contribute to the outbreak of this civil disobedience, which must be considered. Underpinning these issues is the stark difference in the social dynamics of Russia between the early 19th century and the early 20th century. The social dichotomy that had presented itself was one that no other European power had experienced. Russia was the only European super-power to still employ serfdom by the time of its termination, for its roots had been deeply embedded in Russian culture. Historian Jonathon Bromley believes the longevity of serfdom was because it “served the economic interests of the nobility and the political interests of the Tsarist state.” This implies that the economic policy and political foundations of the country were predicated on its social structure; therefore social stability...
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...Europe Before 1914: the Main Powers Triple Entente | Name | Head of State | Allies | Disputes | Britain | King George V (1901-1936) Constitutional Monarchy | France, Russia | Naval arms race economic rivalry with Germany | France | President Raymond Poincaire Parliamentary Democracy | Britain, Russia | Wanted the return of the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine from Germany | Russia | Tsar Nicholas II (1894-1917) Monarchy | Britain, France | Rivals with Austria for control of the Balkans Strained relations with Britain. | Triple Alliance | Germany | Kaiser William II (1888-1918) Constitutional Monarchy | Italy, Austria- Hungary. | Rivals with France over Alsace, Britain over her navy. | Austria- Hungary | Kaiser Franz Joseph (1848-1916) Constitutional Monarchy | Italy, Germany | Rivalry with Russia over the Balkans, Territorial disputes with her ally, Italy | Italy | King Victor Emmanuel III (1900-1946) Constitutional Monarchy | Austria, Germany | Disputes with France in North Africa large Italian communities lived in the Austrian Empire. | The direct cause of WWI was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand at Sarajevo on 28 June 1914. However historians feel that a number of factors contributed to the rivalry between the Great powers that allowed war on such a wide-scale to break out. A major historical debate still rages about who has the ultimate responsibility for the outbreak of war. Germany and Austria are usually regarded as the main culprits...
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...* “Sick Man” of Europe: 1914 This was a name given to the Ottoman's from the Europeans. It was based on the Ottoman's sultans inability to control the takeover of many states. It fails to recognize reform in the Ottoman's * “Stabbed in the Back”(1918): After germany lost the war the german people wanted someone to blame. Rhe german army believe they had been stabbed in the back by the Weimar Republic. This is because they were the politicians who signed the Armistice. Which made the known as the November ciminals. * “The White Man’s Burden” : The idea that Europeans have a duty/responsibility to help uncivilized nations. They thought that they were genetically superior to other races. They believed they were superior to the rest of the world previous to the idea of social Darwinism, but this new idea backed their thought. Since they believed themselves to be superior, they saw it as their right as Christians and superior humans to spread their modern and advanced ways with "inferior" races. * 14 Points: A detailed list of war aims presented by President Wilson: 1) Recognition of freedom of the seas 2) An end to the practice of making secret treaties 3) Reduction of national armaments 4) An "impartial adjustment of all colonial claims" 5) Self-determination for the various nationalities within the Austro-Hungarian empire. 6) "A general association of nations..for the purpose of affording mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity...
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...Russia 1. General Information: St. Petersburg, Russia is the country’s second largest city and is located in the Northwest Federal District. It is approximately 1400 square kilometers in size and has a population of 4.6 million people (as of 2005). The time zone is +3 GMT and +8 from the east coast of the United States. The government of St. Petersburg includes a governor, a city administration and a single-chamber legislative body, the City Legislative Assembly. In 2006, the governorship became an appointed position. The current governor, Valentina Matviyenko, was elected to the position in 2003, and then appointed by the President of the Russian Federation in 2006. The main airport servicing St. Petersburg is Pulkovo International Airport. If traveling by train, St Petersburg has five railway terminals – Baltiysky, Finlyandsky, Ladozhsky, Moskovsky and Vitebsky – within its borders. St. Petersburg features an extensive public transportation system consisting of an underground metro, trams and buses. The underground metro system, the most efficient of the options, opened in 1955 and features five color-coded lines. The fare for the underground transport system is always the same, no matter the distance traveled, and can be paid by token or metro pass. 2. Recent foreign investment: In 2009, the top five countries investing in St. Petersburg (categorized by percentage of total investment volume) were Belarus (15.8 percent), Switzerland (14.7...
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