Nicholas 2 - Dumas, 1905 revolution, stolypins reforms

• When was Nicholas II in reign for?

  - 1894-1917
• When did Russia adopt gold standard?

  - 1897
• When was the tercentenary celebrations and what occurred?

  - 1913

  - Great show of power at St.P - Pilgrimage of route by Mikhail I when elected Tsar in 1613
• What was the tercentenary described as?

  - 'Extravaganza of pageantry'

  - Huge propaganda in order to try and persuade peasants of Tsarist rule continuation
• Reasons to show Nicholas II was concerned about revolution in 1913

  - Accompanied by 2 squadrons of guards at the tercentenary

  - First time in open since 1905
• Reasons to show Nicholas II not concerned about revolution in 1913

  - Not stand for opposition - Violent against

  - Did not visit the peasants
• What did one of Nicholas' II own minister say about him

  - 'Not fit to run a village post office
• What did some say Nicholas II's poor ruiling was down to?

  - Poor preparation from his father

  - He was trained as a soldier not a leader
• What did Nicholas II believe about democracy in Russia?

  - Wholeheartedly in autocracy

  - Democracy would bring down Russia
• Nicholas II's divide between family and ruiling

  - More time spent with family

  - No time on government affairs
• Was the tercentenary celebrations heightened by Russian empire?

  - Many ministers say him as a poor leader and weak

  - The first mass gatherings since 1905 lead to Nicholas being fearful of revolution

  - Purpose to show good side of Empire however was repressive
• What did Witte say about Nicholas?

  - 'Far superior to father'

  - 'Quick mind and learns quickly
• What was the tragedy that occurred under Nicholas , when was it and what occured?

  - Khodynka Tragedy

  - May 1896

  - Stampede occurred during coronation of Nicholas II

  --> 1389 deaths

  - Police force of 1800 failed to keep order as gifts were promised form Tsar but never came (500,000 people)

  - Nicholas and Wife attend the coronation ball even though knew about the tragedy

  --> Resented for years to come from the people
• What was wrong with Nicholas' son?

  - Alexei

  - Haemophilia

  - Unable to blood clot

  - Not public to citizens

  --> Saw his wife as a cold and unfriendly Women
• What was Nicholas called by his father?

  - 'Girlie
• How was Nicholas like his father?

  - Very reactionary

  - Not consider constitutional reform
• What happened in 1891 to do with Nicholas and Japanese?

  - Went to far eastern Russia to see Trans Siberian railway built

  - Then went to Japan

  - One of the policemen escorting Nicholas tired to kill him

  - Left with scar and resented the Japanese for ever
• What was Nicholas II's wife called and what did she feel about Russia?

  - Alexandra - German

  - Strongly in autocracy

  - Urged Nicholas to resist demands for Political reform
• In 1895 what speech did Nicholas do and what was it called?

  - 'The senseless dreams'

  - About those who favoured democratic reform
• Who did Nicholas appoint as Minister of interior who was Semitic and when?

  - 1902

  - Plehve

  - Very reactionary and said to be behind the pogroms
• Who formed a TU under Nicholas, what was it called and how many members?

  - 1903

  - Father Gapon

  - Assembly of Russian Workers

  - 9000 in first year
• Where was Nicholas keen to expand Russia to?

  - Constantinople and Manchuria
• When was the student strike in Russia and what did it do?

  - 1899

  - Restrictions in St P of Uni students

  --> No meetings allowed

  - Led to strikes In Moscow and St P

  --> 100's arrested

  - Led to St P uni closed and all students suspended + disruptive students conscripted into army
• What port did Japan invade which started the Russo-Japanese war?

  - Port Arthur in 1904
• Who encouraged Nicholas to embark on the Russo-Japanese war and what they say?

  - Plehve

  - 'Short swift victorious war
• Why did Russo-Japanese war occur?

  - Both wanted expansion into China

  - Resentment by Nicholas to Japanese
• Causes of why Russia lost the war vs Japan

  - Far away from the capital - 6000 miles

  --> Had short lines of supply - Ammo

  - Underestimated Japan

  --> Better army, navy and better intelligence

  - Tsar leadership very poor

  --> Advisors left and kept changing it's strategy

  --> Port Arthur surrendered by commander without asking
• Consequences of Russia's defeat in war vs Japan

  - Navy humiliated and prestige of Tsar compromised

  - Economic impact onto Russia

  --> Flamed to 1905 revolution

  - Loss of territory

  --> Port Arthur

  - Japan now became a regional Great power

  - Witte stepped down as top advisor
• What was the treaty which Nicholas signed to give away Port Arthur and when?

  - Treaty of Portsmouth

  - September 1905
• What did the weakened Russia after Japan war be more inclined to sign?

  - Anglo-Russian Convention 1907

  - Established Triple Entente

  - As Russia very weak
• Which high ranking minister assassinated and when under Nicholas?

  - Plehve

  - 1904
• In 1904 what did the value of wages decrease by?

  - 20%
• What did Gapon call for when 4 members sacked at Putilov works and what lead to?

  - 'Industrial action'

  - 110,000 in St P went on strike
• What did Gapon's petition demand from the Tsar and what called?

  - 'Petition of workers demand'

  - Reduction of working day to 8 hours

  - Increased wages

  - Improved working conditions

  - End to Japan war
• What did the striking protesters do under Gapon and what lead to?

  - Procession to winter palace

  - 150,000 people

  - Attacked by police + cossacks - 100 + killed

  - Bloody Sunday - started events that led to 1905 revolution
• 1905 revolution influences


  - Lawyers + doctors established Union of Unions and wanted constituent assembly

  - Industrial workers on railways on strike in 1905

  - Uni's closed as students did walkouts on lack of civil rights

  - Potemkin mutiny - Overthrew captain as complained

  - Russo-Japanese war
• What battleship was a mutiny on?

  - 1905

  - Potemkin
• Short term causes of 1905 revolution

  - Political:

  --> Russo-Japanese war - Internal weakness

  --> Bloody Sunday - Police killed protesters

  - Social:

  --> - Opposition in the Russian educated elite

  - Economic:

  --> Strikes in Odessa, Kiev and Baku 1904 - led to strikes in St Petersburg and Moscow
• Long term causes of 1905 revolution

  - Economic:

  --> Backward farming techniques and poor agriculture

  --> Emancipated peasants earned too little

  - Social:

  --> Russification

  -Political:

  --> Banning of strikes and unions
• Who was related to Tsar Nicholas that got killed , when and what impact?

  - Grand Duke Sergei - Tsar uncle

  - Assassinated 1904

  - Nicholas Promised an elected Constituent assembly