INTRODUCTION TO RUSSIAN HISTORY Tsarist Russia

CLASS SYSTEM IN TSARIST RUSSIA

 Upper classes: Royalty, nobility, higher clergy: 12.5 per cent.  Middle classes: Merchants, bureaucrats, professionals: 1.5 per cent.  Working classes: Factory workers, artisans, soldiers, sailors: 4 per cent.  Peasants: Landed and landless farmers: 82 per cent.

HISTORY OF THE TSAR  In 1900 – Nicholas II was Tsar (emperor)  His family, the Romanovs, had ruled the country for 300 years

NICHOLAS II 

PROBLEMS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE  Peasants were very, very poor  Population increasing – lack of space  Farming organised on a village basis (mir) – individials could not improve techniques without support of mir  Most peasants were loyal to Tsar and Romanovs  They 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  Solution Stolypin (Chief Minister) introduced reforms Peasants could set up own farms outside mir Hope that would increase numbers of kulaks  By 1914 Limited success 90% peasants still under control of mir – many moved to cities to find work

PROBLEMS IN CITIES  Industrialisation 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?  To compete with USA, Britain and Germany  Needed to strengthen Russia’s ability to defend herself Part of problem in loss of Crimean War (1854 – 6)  Arms race – after 1900

OPPOSITION TO THE TSAR  The 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  The 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  The 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  Ruthless Army used against protest  Secret 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  Nobles  Popular among wealthiest middle-class – happy he kept peasants under check  Peasants – 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  1904  Tsar believed – quick victory  Pacific fleet was smashed at Port Arthur and Mukden  Baltic Fleet sailed to help – crushed at Battle of Tsushima  Tsar had to take the blame – embarrassing for Russia

THE EVENTS OF REVOLUTION  The 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)  Workers were originally enthusuastic about war – not anymore Strikes – demanding higher wages, right to form trade unions and abolish unpopular laws

THE EVENTS OF REVOLUTION – BLOODY SUNDAY   22nd 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 REVOLUTION - BLOODY SUNDAY  Response 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 AFTERMATH CONCESSIONS  October 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  Result Middle-class opposition ended