Question Plans

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Russian Themes2591

• Question Plans

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There was more change than continuity in the
ways Russia was ruled in the period from 1855 to
1956. To what extent do you support this view?
Key Phrase is More change than continuity
Good starting point would be 1917 and the
overthrow of the Tsarist system
This would suggest a complete break with the past
Autocracy overthrown, landed gentry lost power,
the Church reduced in status
Elections organised in 1917 which would give
Russia a truly representative parliament for the
first time
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But how much change was there?

• Constitutional Assembly dissolved
• Lenin instituted One Party state
• Forbade criticism of the Party
• Lenin re-created secret police the CHEKA
• Introduced centralised economic control
• Under Stalin growth of elite class
• Leadership cult and use of propaganda
• The Great Purges

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Change or continuity under the Tsars?
Alexander II made fundamental changes to Russian
society and made the first steps towards a more
democratic/liberal society
It is important to question his motives
Some changes forced upon him as the result of
Edict of Emancipation
Dismayed at reaction to the Edict Alexander II
fell back on repression
Repression continued under Alexander III who
aimed to undo previous reforms
Status of gentry re-established Land Captains
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Change or continuity under the Tsars?
Nicholas II introduced national Duma first in
Russian history
Technically Russia now no longer an autocracy
Harsh methods used against demonstrators/protester
s eg Bloody Sunday 1905 and Lena Goldfields 1912
Policy of Russification forcing uniformity onto
citizens in Empire
Persecution of specific groups eg Jews under all
Tsars
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Change or Continuity?

• Weak Duma
• Secret Police
• Autocrat supported by small elite
• Autocracy
• Persecution of minorities
• Tsar worshipped

• Dissolution of Constit Assembly
• Cheka/OGPU/NKVD
• Stalin supported by small elite
• Dictatorship of the Proletariat
• Persecution of minorities
• Cult of Lenin

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Turning points in Russian History 1855-1955

1. Assassination of Alexander II
2. The 1905 Revolution
3. The abdication of Nicholas II
4. The Bolshevik take-over in 1917
5. Stalins accession to power

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1. Death of Alexander II

• Reign had given hope of new attitude towards
  reform
• Emancipation marked greatest change for centuries
• Death saw return to repression as tool of
  government

• Aim was to strengthen the autocracy
• Reforms were pragmatic
• Reign showed more repression than reform

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2. 1905 Revolution

• Duma established autocracy ended
• Stolypins reforms saw change in tack for peasants

• Dumas's power very limited
• Stolypin used force to regain control
• Small percentage of peasants benefited
• Consider reasons for reform
• How much change had occurred?

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3. Abdication of Nicholas II

• Marked change in government end of 300 years of
  Tsardom
• Introduced liberal govt under PG
• This led to Bolshevism Dictatorship of the
  Proletariat

• One form of autocracy replaced by another
• Peasants still being exploited
• Persecution of minority groups continued
• Lack of freedom continued
• Better life for some

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4. Bolshevik take-over

• Nicholas IIs abdication led to first truly
  democratic govt
• Ended War for Russia
• Lenin ended Constit Assembly
• Decree on Land
• Success in Civil War cemented control
• DoP established

• Little real change in the nature of Prov govt
• DoP new autocracy
• Centralised control of economy
• Peasant suffering continued in long term

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5. Stalins accession to power

• Accession saw imposition of personal control
• Huge changes for peasants
• Impact of 5 Year Plans
• Change in Russias status

• Link with Lenin
• Stalin Red Tsar
• Exploitation of peasants not new
• 5 Year Plans Wittes Great Spurt
• Party bureaucracy gentry

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Historical Themes

• Factors of change

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Reasons why change occurred

• Trotsky described war as the locomotive of
  history. How far can it be argued that change in
  Russia in the period 1855 to 1956 was caused only
  by involvement in wars?
•  Military needs were always the main reason for
  Russias economic development. To what extent do
  you agree with this judgement?
•  The need to modernise their backward economy
  was the most important why the rulers of Russia
  introduced reforms. How far do you agree with
  this assessment of the period from 1855 to 1956?
•  

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War as a Factor of Change(1)
War caused collapse of the economy and of the
political system
Impact of First World War
Gave opportunity to enemies of the tsarist system
1914 Tsarist state still quite strong
Counter-argument
Russia in 1914 on verge of collapse still far
behind western powers in economic/social/political
development
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War as a Factor of Change(2)
Impact of Russo-Jap War
Direct link with 1905 Revolution
Tsar forced to make concessions via the October
Manifesto
Attempt at social engineering by Stolypin
BUT political changes limited pragmatic? How
likely without pressures of revolution?
Agrarian reforms were limited in scope attempt
to redress balance of industrial expansion?
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War as a Factor of Change(3)
Civil War 1918-20
Factories nationalised, small businesses seized,
food supplies requisitioned War Communism
War brought famine and suffering to millions
Kronstadt Revolt forced change of direction
introduction of the NEP
How significant was this?
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War as a Factor of Change(4)
Huge social change Edict of Emancip
Political changes Eg local govt
Crimean War
Change to judicial system
Serfdom had already been recognised as a weakness
Education and Army reform
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Other factors of change?

• Military needs
• Defeat in Crimean War triggered reform Edict
  of Emancipation
• Under Witte economic expansion to strengthen
  Russia as Great Power
• Stalins Socialism in One Country designed to
  defend new communist state

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Other factors of change?(2)

• Serfdom already identified as major problem
  holding Russia back
• Alexander II looking to strengthen autocracy
• Industrial expansion under Alexander III
  Nicholas II result of wanting to close gap with
  West- not as result of defeat
• Stalin (as above) expansion during time of
  peace Lenin had left behind problem of NEP

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2. Economic considerations

• Crimean War demonstrated backwardness of Russian
  economy
• Emancipation of Serfs pre-requisite of changing
  economic base
• Local government, legal and Army reforms have no
  link with this

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2. Economic considerations(2)

• Wittes Great Spurt
• Argued that State must play major role in
  promoting industrial development in order to
  compete with other GPs
• Only effected transport and the peasants did not
  lead to political or social changes

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2. Economic considerations(3)

• Political changes introduced by Nicholas II NOT
  result of economic considerations
• Changes in regime in 1917 political not economic
• NEP introduced to save the regime?
• Stalins reforms linked with need to strengthen
  the state (like Witte?)