1861 The Emancipation Decree - abolition of serfdom, installed by Alexander II
1892 Franco-Russian convention, to avoid isolation and unify under common fear of
Germany promising military aid, France also was a major investor
1894 (1 Nov) Nicholas II becomes tsar of Russia 👑
(26 Nov) Marries Tsarina Alexander - unliked by the Russian people as she was painted as
a Russian spy
The people Economy Geography The regime
● Nobility (1%) ● Underdeveloped ● 8 million ● Autocratic
● Middle class agrarian square miles government
● Urban economy ● Size gives ● Reactionary
workers ● Backward the illusion of Church
● Peasants agriculture great ● Corrupt
(77%) ● 40% of foreign strength bureaucracy
● Many trade through the ● Oppressive
nationalities Straits army
with own
beliefs and
languages
● 5 million
Jews
Liberals Wanted a peaceful reform with support from the middle class. Wanted
to limit the Tsar’s rights and obtain basic freedoms
Revolutionaries Wanted small scale socialism
Socialist Created a split between the radicals and the moderates. Wanted full
Revolutionaries democracy
Marxist Encouraged revolution
Bolsheviks Centralised leadership, created fear of dictation. Lenin wanted
conditions to worsen to develop the worker’s bitterness and drive to
revolution
Mensheviks Broad leadership and believed revolution was a long way off. All
members had a say, encouraged trade unions
1896 Witte puts the Russian rouble on the gold standard, increased investment activity and
foreign capital by promoting a stable economy for Russia
1898 Social Democrats formed following Marxist ideals
, 1903 Bolshevik-Menshevik split
Bolshevik Menshevik
● Led by Lenin ● Led by Martov
● Small, tightly organised, disciplined, ● Wanted a large, democratic party
full-time party that followed the party ● Prepared to work with Russian liberals
line on every policy - making Tsarist ● Scrupulous about using violence
police hard to infiltrate
1904 Russo-Japanese War (Feb - Sep 1905)
Motives Reason for defeat
● Expansionist policy into the Far East ● Underestimated Japanese strength -
(Port Arthur) disproves Russification
● Obtaining ice-free port ● Inadequate military planning -
● Distract the population from domestic humiliating
problems by rallying nation in patriotic
struggle
- Russia became increasingly bankrupt due to the loss
- Was a humiliating loss, especially due to their confidence in their victory and swift loss
of Port Arthur
Union of Liberation - tried to unify liberal groups, helped prepare for the revolution
(indicated the anti-tsarist sentiment in Russia)
1905 the Revolution
9th Jan Bloody Sunday - protest fired on (killing 200) and 400,000 went on strike
Jan Censorship collapses
4th Feb Grand Sergi assassinated
Feb The ‘black hundreds’ began to attack
May Union of Unions formed
14th Jun Potemkin mutiny - showed how tsarist faith diminished in the army
Sep Major strikes broke out in cities across the country
17th Oct October Manifesto (liberalists satisfied but socialists wanted more reform,
splitting his opposition)
- Civil rights of all people
- Elections for a state Duma
- All state laws to pass through Duma
Dec Army sent to regain control (their loyalty crucial to Tsar’s survival at this
time)
1892 Franco-Russian convention, to avoid isolation and unify under common fear of
Germany promising military aid, France also was a major investor
1894 (1 Nov) Nicholas II becomes tsar of Russia 👑
(26 Nov) Marries Tsarina Alexander - unliked by the Russian people as she was painted as
a Russian spy
The people Economy Geography The regime
● Nobility (1%) ● Underdeveloped ● 8 million ● Autocratic
● Middle class agrarian square miles government
● Urban economy ● Size gives ● Reactionary
workers ● Backward the illusion of Church
● Peasants agriculture great ● Corrupt
(77%) ● 40% of foreign strength bureaucracy
● Many trade through the ● Oppressive
nationalities Straits army
with own
beliefs and
languages
● 5 million
Jews
Liberals Wanted a peaceful reform with support from the middle class. Wanted
to limit the Tsar’s rights and obtain basic freedoms
Revolutionaries Wanted small scale socialism
Socialist Created a split between the radicals and the moderates. Wanted full
Revolutionaries democracy
Marxist Encouraged revolution
Bolsheviks Centralised leadership, created fear of dictation. Lenin wanted
conditions to worsen to develop the worker’s bitterness and drive to
revolution
Mensheviks Broad leadership and believed revolution was a long way off. All
members had a say, encouraged trade unions
1896 Witte puts the Russian rouble on the gold standard, increased investment activity and
foreign capital by promoting a stable economy for Russia
1898 Social Democrats formed following Marxist ideals
, 1903 Bolshevik-Menshevik split
Bolshevik Menshevik
● Led by Lenin ● Led by Martov
● Small, tightly organised, disciplined, ● Wanted a large, democratic party
full-time party that followed the party ● Prepared to work with Russian liberals
line on every policy - making Tsarist ● Scrupulous about using violence
police hard to infiltrate
1904 Russo-Japanese War (Feb - Sep 1905)
Motives Reason for defeat
● Expansionist policy into the Far East ● Underestimated Japanese strength -
(Port Arthur) disproves Russification
● Obtaining ice-free port ● Inadequate military planning -
● Distract the population from domestic humiliating
problems by rallying nation in patriotic
struggle
- Russia became increasingly bankrupt due to the loss
- Was a humiliating loss, especially due to their confidence in their victory and swift loss
of Port Arthur
Union of Liberation - tried to unify liberal groups, helped prepare for the revolution
(indicated the anti-tsarist sentiment in Russia)
1905 the Revolution
9th Jan Bloody Sunday - protest fired on (killing 200) and 400,000 went on strike
Jan Censorship collapses
4th Feb Grand Sergi assassinated
Feb The ‘black hundreds’ began to attack
May Union of Unions formed
14th Jun Potemkin mutiny - showed how tsarist faith diminished in the army
Sep Major strikes broke out in cities across the country
17th Oct October Manifesto (liberalists satisfied but socialists wanted more reform,
splitting his opposition)
- Civil rights of all people
- Elections for a state Duma
- All state laws to pass through Duma
Dec Army sent to regain control (their loyalty crucial to Tsar’s survival at this
time)
