1. Russia

2. To what extent did Russia undergo political and economic reform between 1906-1914?

3. Political- Superficial
Political Reform
Political activity was now legal
Freedom of speech
Introduction of a state elected Duma-First time in nearly 300 years of Romanov rule, the tsar has a duma.
Alexander Guchkov-from he was the president of the duma. He publically criticised the tsar and Rasputin.

4. No Political Reform
After 1905 rev simmered down due to Oct manifesto- tsar published the Fundamental laws in April 1906 which gave the tsar “supreme autocratic power”. “Without (the tsar’s) approval no law can come into existence”
First 2 dumas lasted for a v short length of time.
Stolypin changed the electoral law in 1907 excluding national minorities (Poland, Siberia and central Asia) from voting. Also, excluded far left wing and revolutionary parties from the duma.
Okhrana was still active
Martial Law gave Stolypin firm control of the courts- ‘Stolypin’s neckties’
‘Stolypin’s wagon’

5. “I met every member of the Central Committee then in St Petersburg, and all the members of the military organization; I knew all the secret meeting places and passwords of the revolutionary army cells throughout Russia. I kept the archives of the revolutionary organization in the Army; I was present at all the district meetings, propaganda rallies, and party conferences; I was always in the know. All the information I gathered was conscientiously reported to the Okhrana.” -Shornikova was one of the secret agents planted by Stolypin and the Okhrana in the Social Democrat Party

6. Economic Reform Economic Reform
Stolypin’s Land reforms meant peasants no longer farmed their land in strips. Now they could buy areas of land which they owned and cultivated. At the end of the 19th century, Russia’s agricultural system as a whole was the worst in Europe. Agricultural sector employed 2/3 of the population but only produced approx. ½ of the national income.
This had repercussions for the industrial workers as the increased food production reformed and improved Russia’s economy. As a result, industrial workers productions drastically increased. Coal production doubled from By 1913, Russia had the second largest industrial growth rate in Europe, only behind Germany.
Agricultural cooperation experienced rapid growth during this time. Increase in the role of cooperatives in providing farm credit, marketing services, farm supplies and agronomic (study of soil management to increase crop production) advice to peasant farmers.
No. of strikes in ,800,000 / No. of strikes in ,ooo

7. What caused the fall of the Tsarist regime?

8. War
Poor conditions that the soldiers fought in- until 1915, ¼ of the men sent to the front were unarmed and were simply instructed to pick up what they could from the dead to use as weapons. Dead bodies lay rotting in the trenches- Diseases (cholera and typhus)
Medical shortages- hospitals were only built with a capacity of 200 with only 4 doctors present.
Clothes shortages- some soldiers were even forced to fight barefoot in all weather due to poorly distributed clothing and weak administration.
Despite having the largest army of all countries, Russia did not send defeats enough men in proportion to its entire population to the war effort.
Russian deaths totalled 1.7 million with 4.9 million wounded. 2nd highest death toll in ww1. Only behind Germany by 70,000. Nearly 4m Russian soldiers were held as POW. Brtiain, France & Germany had 1.3m combined)
Loss at the Battle of Tannenburg and Battle of Mansurian lakes.

9. Tsar
Tsar made himself commander in chief in Aug 1915leaving the governing of Russia to his wife and Rasputin. Loss of confidence as Tsarina was a Germany princess and Rasputin was believed to be a mad monk.
Because he made himself commander in chief, you could argue that the military failures post Aug 1915 were on his hands.

10. Russia’s was in no way ready for a World War
15mil farmers and industrial workers- Food shortages- Food prices quadrupled. Banks stored bread in vaults because it became more valuable than gold.
The trans-Siberian railway only went from west to east and east to west. Not north and south so it took too long from troops being deployed to arriving at the frontline.
It was the bread shortages that caused the Women to strike in February 1917 that catalysed a series of events that led to the abdication of the tsar in march 1917.