Script: Simran: Nicholas the Second (NII) was the last Imperial Ruler of Russia he came at a point, when Russia desperately needed a great visionary to reform and industrialize her, while NII was known to be a poor leader who was not equipped with knowledge to handle a political reform. Born in 1868 to Alexander III, he was the heir to Russian throne which he attained 1894. Ewalina: It is important to note that NII was a poor leader but he was not a weak character. This means that he did have a vision for Russia, which was to maintain traditions of stardom, Nicholas was a firm believer in autocracy; he was virtually unmovable in this belief. -His stern faith in stardom stemmed from his upbringing, because he was brought up by Konstantin
Nicholas II became the tsar in 1894 and he wanted to maintain an autocratic government. By 1905, many events occurred which threatened him as tsar. Political unrest began to grow within Russia caused by events, ie. the assassination of Alexander II in 1881, tsardom under Alexander III which reversed any reforms, the great famine of 1891-1892 and Nicholas II inaugural speech. A 'short, swift, victorious war' against the Japanese was encouraged by Plehve, intended to unite the country and bring about a sense of patriotism.
According to Alan Wood, Lenin described the 1905 revolution as a ‘dress rehearsal’. Although he was not involved, Lenin saw the weaknesses of Tsardom and developed the Bolshevik party with a future plan to overthrow Nicholas II. Even though Lenin and most of the hierarchy of the Bolshevik party were exiled a majority of the time, they still had influence in Russia. As described by Anthony Wood, ever since 1905 Lenin had been talking and writing about the establishment of a ‘revolutionary democratic dictatorship of the proletariat and poor peasantry’ There are a number of historians who believe Lenin was not a threat as he was exiled for too long and was out of touch with the revolutionaries back
Explain why in the years 1906 to 1911, Stolypin attempted to reform agriculture. (12 marks) Stolypin attempted to reform agriculture for many reasons, one of the most important being to strengthen tsarist autocracy. He strongly believed that the future of Russia depended on building a prosperous peasantry. There was widespread rural poverty but an upper class of peasant that farmed efficiently and were wealthier, they were known as the Kulaks. Stolypin believed that the encouragement of a class such as the Kulaks would make them hostile to further change therefore more conservative and loyal to the Tsar as the Tsar had made them wealthy.
All Russian governments in this period faced strong opposition to their regime with the period as a whole punctuated by riots, disturbances and revolutions. Political change was expected in Russia during this period, particularly during the Tsarist regime where the growth of the revolutionary intelligentsia, ironically an effect of the Great Reforms, led many to question the need for a Tsar or a royal family at all. The first main success of political opposition is widely considered to be the assassination of Alexander II at the hands of the People’s Will in 1881. Although they assassinated their Tsar, it is very likely this did not actually lead to their desired outcome, it being greater political freedom/democracy. Many historians have said Alexander II was considering the formation of a parliament in Russia.
In this aspect the changes brought about by this policy were successful as it resulted in a Bolshevik victory in the war as it ‘...did the job of supplying towns and armies with just enough food and supplies to keep providing war material and to keep fighting. In this way it was successful.’ (David Christian, Power and Privilege) When focusing on its second goal, ‘to build a socialist society’ (David Christian) then the changes it brought about where highly ineffective. Although War Communism was successful in moving the country closer to Communistic ideology with the idea that everything is communal and each is given according to his needs, the socialist aim to have unity and peace amongst the
During the beginning of the 1900s, there were plenty of revolutions and violence that took place. The Chinese revolution in 1911 and Russian Revolution in 1917 shared similar goals, they wanted to end the power of their current leader and establish a new one. For Russia, it was Tsar Nicholas II and for China it was the Qing Dynasty, Russia wanting a functioning communist government and Chinese revolutionaries wanted a democratic government. The first outcome is different in that China relied on agriculture to maintain its economy and Russia relied on industry to fuel its economy. The second outcome of the revolutions was that the countries were dramatically changed, two great powers were stopped and communist leaders eventually took over in the two countries.
RUSSIA NOTES: OPPOSITION Themes: Division, strength of govt., disorganisation OR Intelligentsia, minorities, peasants The Russian Revolutionary Tradition Westerners Liberals (Intelligentsia etc.) look towards European ideas: Want Liberal democracies, Middle Classes, want industrialisation and technology, create a WC Socialism and Marxism led by intellectuals Russia is morally weak and outdated Humiliation in war (Crimea, RT, RJ). No longer “great power”. Modernisers (Libs, Marxists) Technocrats (With, Stolypin) support govt. and opponents Slavophils Looked towards Russian history Peasant communes (Mir) say socialisms already there (PC) Agricultural society (land) Religious purity/ racial purity of Russia Russia
Maria Theresa, like many other enlightened absolutists, decided that reform would be the best plan to improve the current nation. Among other policies like limiting the papacy’s political power and influence and administrative reform, Maria Theresa strongly affected the noble class due to her agricultural reorganizations. She cautiously took the power from tenant lords, in turn freeing the peasants once chained to these tenants. She also revamped the tax system, taxing even the noble’s land, which had never been done before. All in all, Maria Theresa strongly limited the nobility’s influence, both over the peasants and over the government.
These appointees greatly opposed significant or radical changes and reforms, giving Brezhnev the support in the side-lining or blocking of many of Kosygin’s attempts at economic reform. Thus resulting in Brezhnev ruling the Soviet Union for 18 years. Brezhnev’s system of ‘nomenklatura’ ensured this support was maintained all throughout his reign by providing those loyal to him with privileges, such as better medical care, chauffeur driven cars and access to better schools. Brezhnev also gave family members high official positions, this nepotism increasingly led to corruption, and also acts as a clear indicator that Brezhnev went to several extensive attempts to preserve his power. Even after the death of Stalin, and the ruling of Khrushchev,