RI Y3 History Notes – Russian under Tsar 2021

1 Introduction What is a Revolution? What causes a revolution? • Different ideology • Change and overhaul to current system • Eradication to old system usually through violent means Why can a revolution happen? • Unhappiness towards old system, flawed system • Unhappiness with living conditions o Govt not supporting peasants • Inequality • Economic strain o War o Excessive government spending o Accidents/natural disasters o Military blunders, govt is seen as incapable • Ineffective old leader that is not inclusive of entire population • Better system proposed How can a revolution happen? • Protests by few (demonstration) • Revoult, riots o Overthrowing of current system (including government, monarch and everyone on the succession) What is an uprising rebellion? • Not about oppressing old order • Changing of conditions for the better • Old order still remains Causes of 1905 Revolution 1. Socio-economic grievances and challenges posed by social groups - Peasantry ❏ Made up almost 80% of the population ❏ Many slogged out their lives on small patches of land that they owned and worked on estates of the elite ❏ Lived in poverty as they could not afford to pay for the yearly redemption payments and taxes that the government had demanded from them. (Exacerbated by Witte; see below) ❏ Although 23 million serfs were emancipated (i.e. given the right to

2 marry without consent , own property, own businesses ) in 1861, the peasants were subject to restrictions on the freedom placed by their village commune (mir) that they lived in. Punishments for breaking the mir’s rules included conscription of young males in the village. ❏ Backward nature of agricultural methods (outdated strip system of farming; outdated tools like wooden ploughs and sickles with a lack of modern fertilisers and machinery) This led to poor harvests and thus widespread starvation. In part caused by communalism which discouraged peasants from innovating. ❏ 375,000 -500,000 died in the Russian Famine of 1891-92, causing a reawakening of Russian Marxism and populism and fomenting discontent against the Tsar, because grain exports were not stopped until mid-August during the famine and merchants had a months’ warning so they could export their reserves. ❏ Poor living and working conditions, disease was widespread, with regular epidemics of typhus and diphtheria ❏ Huge debt (forced labour for landlords) ❏ Therefore, increased resentment. (Posed threat due to sheer population size)

3 - Middle classes ❏ Comprised of skilled workers (doctors, lawyers, teachers), business owners ❏ Desired a say in the government to push policies that would bring them benefit, as they were not a part of the nobility ❏ Some already held significant positions in local government ❏ Therefore, yearned to actively participate in politics (Posed threat of political awakening) - Urban workers ❏ By 1900, urban workers