Russian Empire: Origins & Nature
What is the name of the ruling family of the Russian Empire?
The Romanov dynasty
Name one social group that struggled under Nicholas II.
Peasants
What year did Bloody Sunday occur?
1905
Who was Rasputin?
A Siberian peasant and mystic who advised the royal family
What does the term "Black Ships" refer to?
American steamships that arrived in Japan in 1853
What was the size of the Russian Empire by 1900? (roughly)
Over 22 million km²
What was one economic issue peasants faced?
Land hunger and high taxes
What was the main demand of protesters on Bloody Sunday?
Better working conditions and political reform
Why was Rasputin unpopular with the nobility?
He was seen as corrupt and manipulative
Who was Commodore Perry?
An American naval officer who demanded Japan open trade
Name two features that made ruling the Russian Empire difficult.
Huge size, poor infrastructure, language barriers
Name a grievance urban workers had during Nicholas II’s reign.
Long hours, low wages, unsafe conditions
What did Bloody Sunday show about the Tsar’s relationship with the people?
It damaged the Tsar's image as the "father of the people"
What was Rasputin’s role in the royal family?
Claimed to heal Tsarevich Alexei, gaining Alexandra’s trust
What was the bakufu, and why did it decline?
The Tokugawa military government/shogunate that lost control due to internal unrest and foreign pressure
What was autocracy, and how did it shape the Tsar’s rule?
Autocracy meant total power held by the Tsar, limiting reforms
How did poor working conditions influence revolutionary thought?
The Tsar often responded with violence or censorship
Name one group that formed in opposition to the Tsarist regime.
Socialist Revolutionaries or the Social Democrats
How did Rasputin damage the monarchy’s reputation publicly?
Rumours of his influence and behaviour caused public outrage
How did the arrival of the Black Ships change Japan’s isolation?
It forced Japan to open its ports and engage with Western powers
Explain how geography made unity across the empire difficult.
Vast distances, lack of railways, extreme climates
Why was the Tsar’s response to social unrest often ineffective?
Reforms failed to improve living standards for most people
Explain how Bloody Sunday acted as a turning point for revolutionary action.
It led to widespread protests and the 1905 Revolution, the Duma's as well as the later 1917 revolution
How did Rasputin gain so much influence over Alexandra during WWI?
Alexandra relied heavily on him while Nicholas was at war, worsening public confidence
Why were merchants considered low in Tokugawa Japan’s social hierarchy?
Merchants were ranked low in Tokugawa society because they did not produce goods but profited from the labour of others, which Confucian ideals saw as dishonourable.
Describe how Russia’s multi-ethnic makeup created challenges for the Tsar.
Multiple ethnic groups demanded independence and resisted Russification
How did the Tsar’s economic reforms fall short of meeting the people's needs?
Industrialisation caused poverty and unrest in urban areas
Compare the short- and long-term consequences of Bloody Sunday.
Short-term: strikes and revolution; long-term: loss of trust in Tsarism, fall and decline of Romanov Dynasty, dismantles tsarist autocracy in Russia
How did economic and military weaknesses under the Tokugawa bakufu contribute to the success of the Meiji Restoration?
Years of economic mismanagement, famines, and a weak military exposed Japan to foreign threats. The bakufu’s failure to resist Western powers led many to support the Emperor and reformers during the Meiji Restoration.