Class 7: The 1905 Revolution . While all these political events happened, performances/ circuses/ literature/ poetry/ music occurred simultaneously . The revolution as the beginning of the end of tsarist rule . Lenin: 'a dress rehearsal' for the 1917 revolution (easily said with hindsight) · Russian society begins to exert itself · Zemstva became much more politically conscious of their situation, and started to become independent in their mind · Educated elite, and intelligentsia, was increasing in numbers due to the zemstva - a change of society o More and more people are educated and entering the intelligentsia, describing themselves and defining their identity in a different way . The political underground which had been underground, came to force . The peasants (80% of population) were still discontented, lots of rebellions occurred since 1861 · Inadequate response from the government about these issues . Lots of labour conflicts! · Problems: Politicisation of various segments of Russian society since cfi1890 o Feeling of abyss, crisis of value, after the revolution · The politicisation of society, cfi 1890 Linked with the failures of Nicholas II's personality as a ruler (succeeded in 1894) . Autocratic ruler, destroyed the little faith that Russian people had to change tradition " Hopes for reform were crushed as Nicholas came to the throne . Not to forget the massacre at his coronation - 1,300-1,400 casualties . Nicholas did not act in a humane manner, but went to a ball in the evening A student movement helped to focus attention on the political arbitrariness of aristocracy 8th Febfi 1899: anniversary celebration of the founding of the St Petersburg University . Studies should obey the law or they will be arrested · Student demonstrations led to a nationwide student strike, demanding freedom of speech etcfi Thousands arrested and exiled to Siberia for a year or two
. No open, but lots of inward, support for the students By 1902, the students were publically calling for an overthrow of the tsar and for reforms o Groups affiliated with radical parties were underground efigfi Socialist Revolutionaries and Social Democrats (split into Bolsheviks and Mensheviks) · Supposed to be achieved through tyranny efigfi assassinations . No rising up of the masses, no revolution . The vision of Catholicism between the SRs and SDs · Catholicism was positive for Marxists o Lack of capitalism, production, industrialisation which caused the famine of 1891-1892 ifiefi the backwardness of the country · SDs/ Marxists: capitalism was an essential, initial step towards socialism · Progressive ideology which would inevitably lead to social and political change · Scientific inevitably of a social revolution . By the end of the 1890s, everything came together efigfi growth of labour movement, industrialisation faster than USA and Germany - reality proved the Marxist right 1898 - the Social Democrat party founded 1901 - the Social Revolutionary party established Lenin stressed the need for established tactics and programmes, refuting Marxist's emphasis on naturally allowing a revolution to unfold - in 'What is to