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Emancipation Edict of 1861
- First/most important liberal reforms passed during the reign of Tsar Alexander II.
- Freed all Russian serfs (1/3 of total population), all personal serfdom abolished, and peasants received land from landlords and pay them for it.
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Assassination of Alexander II (and 'Russification')
- Russification: a form of cultural assimilation process during which non-Russian communities give up their culture/language in favour of Russian culture.
- Assassination of Alexander II: 'People's Will' revolutionary group's attempt to overthrow Russia's tsarist autocracy.
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Famine of 1891-2
- A famine poorly handled by the Tsarist government, resulting in 375,000 - 500,000 deaths.
- Led to a reawakening of Russian Marxism and populism.
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Sergei Witte's Industrial Reforms
- Witte's reforms stabilised Russian economy, expand Russian industry and strengthen Russia's military leading up to WWI.
- However, they were only focused on industrialisation (failed to address backwardness of Russia's agricultural needs).
- Also led to undermining tension and radical opposition (especially among industrial working class) due to lack of matching political reform.
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Bolshevik/Menshevik split of SD Party
- Division of Russian socialist movement.
- Bolsheviks: favoured armed violence.
- Mensheviks: favoured legal methods and trade union work.
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Russo-Japanese War
- Tense war between Russia and Japan after crises in Asia.
- Russia was defeated, destroying their military identity and pride.
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1905 Revolution
- Series of rebellious events, including mutinies and strikes.
- Most significant: Trotsky's establishment of soviets.
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General strikes
- Paralysed the economy, forcing the Tsar to respond.
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Bloody Sunday Massacre
- Intended as a peaceful march for a respectful petition, resulted in a massacre.
- Resulted in loss of faith in the goodness of Tsar Nicholas (the divide between the Tsar and his people was never bridged).
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'October Manifesto'
- Tsar Nicholas granted a political body called the Duma.
- Meant that the people were granted representation and the Tsar agreed to share a portion of his absolute power.
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Prim Minister Stolypin
- His reforms limited the influence of the Dumas, strengthened the economy and eliminated revolutionary opposition.
- Restored a degree of faith in tsarism.
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Change in electoral laws (conservative Duma)
- Electoral system is illegally changed to ensure those elected to next Duma were more conservative.
- Meant that it had less influence over government decisions.
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Lena Goldfields Massacre
- Gold miners were massacred for striking for better working conditions.
- Reignited revolutionary sentiment.
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Russia enters WWI
- Russia's massive military machine suffered repeated defeats due to poor training/supplies after initial victories.
- Lowered morale of war/home fronts and devastated home economy through increased unemployment, inflation and food/fuel shortages.
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Tsar takes personal control of army
- He was not knowledgable to effectively take control of the army and he personally shouldered the blame for continued losses.
- Left the inexperienced Tsarina Alexandra in control of the Russian government.
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Influence of Rasputin
- His repeated ability to heal Tsarevich Alexi's haemophilia earned him the favour of Alexandra; he was able to suggest promotions/dismissals of government ministers and Alexandra adhered to them.
- He directly contributed to the loss of faith in the royal government and his own assassination.
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February Revolution
- Spontaneous and leaderless revolution.
- Resulted in formation of Provisional Government and Petrograd Soviet and the abdication of the Tsar.
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Soviet Order No. 1
- Severely weakened powers of Provisional Government by decreeing that military orders were only to be obeyed if approved by the Soviet.
- Affirmed that the Soviet had real authority/control of Petrograd.
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Abdication of Tsar Nicholas II
- Unintentionally ended 300-year Romanov Dynasty and hence tsarism.
- Power is given to Provisional Government, meaning hopes were raised of an immediate solution to the crises of the old regime.
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Lenin's return/speech at Finland Station
- Called to overthrow the Provisional Government.
- Immediately transformed political debate.
- His catch-cry of 'Peace, Land, Bread!' galvanised support.
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Lenin's 'April Thesis'
- Lenin's crucial blueprint for revolution proposed that: -- the February Revolution was merely a capitalist coup, not a genuine revolution. -- a second revolution was needed to overthrow the corrupt Provisional Government. -- the soviet, led by Bolsheviks, was the only possible form of government.
- Used by Lenin as his way to stamp his strong personal and ideological leadership over direction of Russia.
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June Offensive
- Kerensky's failed attack on Austrians and Germans dealt a final blow to war morale.
- Fuelled Lenin's arguments for withdrawing from imperialist war.
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July Days
- Failed revolt that signalled the end of the Bolshevik leadership/party, and the final victory of Kerensky and the Provisional Government.
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Kornilov Revolt
- Exposed Provisional Government's weakness and lack of military support.
- Trotsky earned great respect by forming the Red Guard to defend Petrograd against fear of Kerensky's attempt to establish military rule.
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Trotsky becomes Chairman of Petrograd Soviet
- Symbolised the Bolshevik's majority support in the Soviet for the first time.
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Secret return of Lenin
- The timing of, and support and strategies for, the October Revolution were implemented through Lenin's persuasion.
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October Revolution
- Bolshevik's military capture of key organisations and vantage points in Petrograd led by Trotsky's Red Guard.
- Fulfilment of April Thesis as Provisional Government was overthrown in a Bolshevik takeover.