Nicholas II Overview
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- Created by: LucyC
- Created on: 26-11-24 15:08
When did Nicholas II reign?
1894- 1905
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Intro to Nicholas II
• Romanov tercentenary in 1913.
• Different temperament from his father, Alexander III
• Even declared himself “wholly unfit to reign”.
• Disastrous accession to the throne
• Different temperament from his father, Alexander III
• Even declared himself “wholly unfit to reign”.
• Disastrous accession to the throne
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Strengths
• Well-educated
• Charming with small groups
• Committed to Russia's military
• Loving husband and father
• Deeply religious and moralistic
• Charming with small groups
• Committed to Russia's military
• Loving husband and father
• Deeply religious and moralistic
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Weaknesses
• Prejudiced against Jews and minorities
• Devoted to autocracy
• "Unfit to run a village post office"- one of his own ministers
• Devoted to autocracy
• "Unfit to run a village post office"- one of his own ministers
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Weaknesses contd.
• Indecisive and lacked organisation
• Lacked empathy for the struggles of the people
• Lacked empathy for the struggles of the people
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Even the strengths became weaknesses #1
• Nicholas’ keen interest in the army might have been good for the country if he had taken steps to ensure it was well-trained and well-equipped
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Even the strengths became weaknesses #1 contd.
• Instead, he came to see it as his own personal domain. He, alone, made decisions on funding and deployment in spite of the fact that he had no military experience
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Even the strengths became weaknesses #1 contd.
• Nicholas also appointed his own friends and relatives to positions of authority. They were there because of connections rather than on merit.
• In 1904-5, Russia suffered a humiliating loss in a war against Japan.
• In 1904-5, Russia suffered a humiliating loss in a war against Japan.
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Even the strengths became weaknesses #2
• Nicholas was devoted to his wife, Alexandra, and his children – particularly his son, Alexis.
• This became problematic for 2 reasons:
• This became problematic for 2 reasons:
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Reason #1
Alexandra was German.
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Reason #2
Alexei had haemophilia and suffered greatly. A small graze could prove fatal and the boy tired easily and was prone to infection. Alexandra became convinced that only one man had the powers and skill to care for him– a mystic named Rasputin.
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What was Alexandra like?
• Awkward & reserved
• Left in charge when Nicholas went to war
• Unpopular with the people due to German heritage
• Left in charge when Nicholas went to war
• Unpopular with the people due to German heritage
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When was the Russo-Japanese War?
1904-1905
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Causes of the Russo-Japanese War
• The war was over strategic territories in China.
• Plehve, the Minister of the Interior, advised the Tsar that a national victory would lessen the growing opposition to Tsarist rule and heighten patriotic fervour and national pride.
• Plehve, the Minister of the Interior, advised the Tsar that a national victory would lessen the growing opposition to Tsarist rule and heighten patriotic fervour and national pride.
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Causes of the Russo-Japanese War contd.
Japan threatened Russian interests in Asia. Russia benefited from economic expansion into the Far East and increased access to the Pacific coastline. Japan worried that Russia expanding the Trans-Siberian Railway into Chinese Manchuria could threaten Kore
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Causes of the Russo-Japanese War contd.
China was weak and Japan had an interest in acquiring land for herself. Japanese negotiations to avoid war were ignored by Tsarist officials and hence the war began.
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The course of the war
In January 1904, the Japanese besieged Port Arthur, a Russian naval base and attacked the Russian Pacific Fleet
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The course of the war contd.
Russian forces were left without supplies as the Trans-Siberian Railway was unfinished and there was no effective way of moving troops from the west.
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The course of the war contd.
Russian armies suffered heavy losses on the Yalu River and at Mukden as a result of the vastly superior Japanese forces.
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The course of the war contd.
The Russian Baltic fleet was sent to the Pacific in March 1905. and arrived in May. Over two days of battle, two thirds of the Russian fleet was destroyed by the Japanese navy and other ships were captured. Only a small number of Russian ships survived.
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Impact of the War
The embarrassment of defeat to an Asiatic power added to the view that Tsarist government was incompetent.
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Impact of the War contd.
The Tsar had to agree to a humiliating peace treaty with the Japanese after the destruction of the Baltic Fleet. Defeat in the war led to a mutiny on board the Potemkin battleship in June 1905.
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Impact of the War contd.
• Resources diverted to the war lessened the already limited supply of grain and fuel.
• In 1904 Plehve was assassinated in a terrorist bomb attack.
• In 1904 Plehve was assassinated in a terrorist bomb attack.
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Opposition Groups
• Populists
• Marxists
• Liberals
• Marxists
• Liberals
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Populists
• Believed that peasants could develop their own form of socialism
• Rejected when they tried to talk to the people in the country about their ideas, so turned to terrorism. They formed the People's Will.
• Rejected when they tried to talk to the people in the country about their ideas, so turned to terrorism. They formed the People's Will.
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Populists contd.
• The People's Will was responsible for the assassination of Alexander II. This prompted a fierce reaction from Alexander III- period of regression.
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Social revolutionaries
• Socialist revolutionaries were like populists, but recognised that the development of capitalism was fact. Peasants could read their leaflets.
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Marxists- difference between Bolsheviks and Mensheviks
• Bolsheviks operated under centralised leadership and wanted revolution now.
• Mensheviks believed the party should be broadly based and let in anyone who wanted to join. They didn't think Russia was ready for revolution.
• Mensheviks believed the party should be broadly based and let in anyone who wanted to join. They didn't think Russia was ready for revolution.
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Marxists contd.
• Marxists formed the Russian Social Democratic Party in 1898
• Methods included agitation & terrorism, including assassination of officials.
• Methods included agitation & terrorism, including assassination of officials.
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Marxists contd.
• Marxism also attracted individuals who wanted to take control of the population (revolutionaries).
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Liberals
• Liberal movement increased after 1864 reforms of Alexander II. Set up town & district councils (zemstvas).
• Main beliefs: Civil rights, individual freedom, rule of law, free elections, parliamentary democracy, limitation of Tsar's powers, self-determi
• Main beliefs: Civil rights, individual freedom, rule of law, free elections, parliamentary democracy, limitation of Tsar's powers, self-determi
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Liberals: Main beliefs
• Civil rights
• Individual freedom,
• Rule of law
• Free elections
• Parliamentary democracy,
• Limitation of Tsar's powers
• Self-determination for national minorities.
• Individual freedom,
• Rule of law
• Free elections
• Parliamentary democracy,
• Limitation of Tsar's powers
• Self-determination for national minorities.
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Liberals: Main beliefs contd.
• Some thought Zemstva should be extended to regional/national level.
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Liberal Methods
• Reforms & violence
• Political channels through Zemstva
• Articles in newspapers
• Meetings
• Reform banquets
• Political channels through Zemstva
• Articles in newspapers
• Meetings
• Reform banquets
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Were the liberals popular?
No- they were unpopular and their main support was middle-class intelligentsia.
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1905 Revolution: Causes
• 1904 in Plehve: Minister of the Interior was assassinated by revolutionaries. Workers started to see change was possible & criticise the government.
• Towards the end of 1904, the Tsar was becoming increasingly unpopular due to the Russo-Japanese War.
• Towards the end of 1904, the Tsar was becoming increasingly unpopular due to the Russo-Japanese War.
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1905 Revolution: Causes contd.
• Jan 9th 1905: Bloody Sunday. March led by Father Gapon requesting an 8-hour working day and minimum wage.
• Met by police gunfire. Nearly 200 killed. Led to outrage from the population of Russia.
• Met by police gunfire. Nearly 200 killed. Led to outrage from the population of Russia.
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1905 Revolution: Consequences
• A wave of political and social unrest spread across the Empire.
• Sergei Witte gained power and convinced the Tsar to pass the October Manifesto
• Sergei Witte gained power and convinced the Tsar to pass the October Manifesto
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1905 Revolution: Consequences
• The population was divided over this- some were satisfied, some weren't, which allowed the Tsar to remain in power.
• Despite the construction of a parliament, the Tsar passed the fundamental laws in 1906, restricting the Duma's power.
• Despite the construction of a parliament, the Tsar passed the fundamental laws in 1906, restricting the Duma's power.
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Why was Nicholas a poor Tsar: Personality
The Romanovs had been in power for 300 years by 1913, but Nicholas was weak, indecisive and lacking in organisational skills. He was convinced that the ability to rule as an autocrat was his birth-right. He was always likely to be a poor Tsar.
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Why was Nicholas a poor Tsar: The People
Nicholas’s disinterest in the fact that 1,400 people were killed during the celebrations of his accession to the throne indicates a lack of empathy. He was anti-Semitic and prejudiced against anyone who wasn’t Russian.
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Why was Nicholas a poor Tsar: The Military
His fascination with the military meant that he appointed himself sole commander of Russia’s army. He had no experience and did little to enhance the nation’s forces. He made poor appointments and was devastated when Russia lost a war to Japan in 1904-5.
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Why was Nicholas a poor Tsar: Family
Nicholas made an unpopular marriage to Alexandra, who was a German. He also lost support from key allies when he failed to curb the status of Rasputin, a mystic who claimed to have healing power over his son, Alexei. Many felt the so-called monk influence
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
Intro to Nicholas II
Back
• Romanov tercentenary in 1913.
• Different temperament from his father, Alexander III
• Even declared himself “wholly unfit to reign”.
• Disastrous accession to the throne
• Different temperament from his father, Alexander III
• Even declared himself “wholly unfit to reign”.
• Disastrous accession to the throne
Card 3
Front
Strengths
Back

Card 4
Front
Weaknesses
Back

Card 5
Front
Weaknesses contd.
Back

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