The Romanov Family
Who was the last Tsar of Russia and head of the Romanov family before 1917?
Nicholas II
Which social group made up the vast majority of the Russian population before 1905?
The peasantry, who made up around 80–85% of the population.
What term was used to describe the Tsar’s system of unlimited political power in Russia?
Autocracy, a system in which the ruler holds absolute power without constitutional limits.
Who was the Minister of Finance responsible for driving industrialisation in Russia during the 1890s?
Sergei Witte
Which dynasty ruled Russia from 1613 until 1917?
The Romanov Dynasty.
Which Romanov Tsar was assassinated in 1881, and why was he targeted?
Alexander II was assassinated by revolutionary terrorists because his reforms, including the emancipation of the serfs, did not go far enough and he was still seen as an autocratic ruler.
What was meant by the term “land hunger” in Imperial Russia?
Land hunger referred to the shortage of farmland available to peasants, caused by population growth, poor soil, and inefficient communal farming, leaving many unable to produce enough food to survive.
What belief did the Tsar hold about the source of his authority to rule Russia?
The Tsar believed his authority came from God, meaning his rule was divinely ordained and should not be questioned.
What major railway project symbolised Russia’s push towards industrial and economic modernisation?
The Trans-Siberian Railway, which linked western Russia to Siberia and the Pacific coast.
What period of instability preceded the rise of the Romanovs and led to their selection as rulers?
The Time of Troubles, a period marked by famine, civil war, foreign invasion, and political chaos.
Who was the son and heir of Nicholas II, and what serious medical condition did he suffer from?
The Tsar’s son was Alexei Nikolaevich, and he suffered from haemophilia, a genetic disorder that prevented normal blood clotting.
Describe living and working conditions for industrial workers in Russian cities.
Workers faced long hours, low wages, overcrowded and unsanitary housing, dangerous factory conditions, and little to no legal protection or workers’ rights.
How did the absence of a constitution strengthen Tsarist autocracy?
Without a constitution, there were no legal limits on the Tsar’s power. Laws were created by the Tsar alone, and there were no guaranteed political rights or representative institutions to challenge his authority.
Why did Sergei Witte rely heavily on foreign investment and loans to fund industrialisation?
Russia lacked sufficient domestic capital to fund industrial growth, so Witte relied on foreign loans and investment to accelerate industrialisation and modernise the economy.
Why did autocracy become a dominant feature of Russian political culture after 1613?
Autocracy developed as a response to instability, with strong central authority seen as necessary to restore order, prevent foreign interference, and maintain control over a vast and diverse empire.
Who was Nicholas II’s wife, and why did much of the Russian population grow to distrust her?
Nicholas II’s wife was Alexandra Feodorovna. She was distrusted because she was German-born during wartime, relied heavily on Rasputin, and was believed to interfere in political decision-making.
How did Russia’s social hierarchy promote privilege rather than merit?
Russian society was based on birth and status rather than ability. The nobility and ruling classes enjoyed wealth and power regardless of merit, while peasants and workers had limited opportunities for social mobility.
Describe two methods used by the Tsarist regime to maintain autocratic control.
The regime used censorship, surveillance, and repression through the secret police, as well as loyalty from the army and bureaucracy, to suppress opposition and enforce obedience.
How did Witte’s economic policies place pressure on peasants and workers?
High taxes, indirect taxation, and low wages placed heavy pressure on peasants and workers, while industrial growth prioritised heavy industry and infrastructure over living conditions and social reform.
How did the size and diversity of the Russian Empire create challenges for governance?
The empire covered vast distances and included many ethnic groups, languages, and religions, making communication, administration, and control difficult and encouraging reliance on centralised authority and repression.
Who was Nicholas II’s father, and what methods did he use to control the Russian Empire?
Nicholas II’s father was Alexander III. He ruled through strict autocracy, censorship, repression, and the use of the secret police. He strengthened central authority, promoted Russification, and resisted political reform in order to maintain control over the empire.
Explain how everyday life for peasants and workers contributed to instability in Imperial Russia.
Harsh living and working conditions, poverty, land shortages, and lack of political rights created widespread dissatisfaction. These conditions undermined loyalty to the Tsar and made large sections of society receptive to protest, reform, and later revolutionary ideas.
To what extent did Tsarism make political reform difficult in Russia before 1905?
Tsarism made reform extremely difficult because power was concentrated entirely in the Tsar’s hands. The belief in divine authority, reliance on repression, and resistance to sharing power meant that peaceful reform was slow, limited, or rejected, increasing frustration and instability.
To what extent did economic growth under Witte strengthen or weaken Tsarist Russia?
While economic growth strengthened Russia’s industrial base and international standing, it also weakened Tsarist stability by increasing inequality, worsening conditions for workers and peasants, and creating social tension that the political system was unable to manage.
To what extent did the origins of the Russian Empire contribute to its political weaknesses by the early twentieth century?
The empire’s origins encouraged strong autocracy and resistance to reform. While effective for maintaining control in earlier centuries, this system failed to adapt to modern social, economic, and political change, contributing to instability and weakening the Romanov regime by 1900.