Russian History Glossary: Revolution and Imperial Era

Key Terms and Concepts of Russian History

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk ended World War I for Russia. Russia was treated very harshly, being forced to give up significant western lands, including 26% of its railways and population, and 74% of its iron and coal resources.

Fundamental Laws of 1906

Introduced by the Tsar in 1906, these laws backtracked on promises made in the October Manifesto, significantly limiting the powers of the Duma.

Kadets (Constitutional Democrats)

The Constitutional Democrats, founded at the beginning of the 20th century, advocated for a limited form of representative democracy in Russia.

Alexander Kerensky

A prominent member of the Socialist Revolutionaries (SRs) and the Provisional Government, Alexander Kerensky was exiled after the October Revolution.

General Lavr Kornilov

A general who attempted a coup d'état in September 1917 against the Provisional Government. His failed rebellion inadvertently strengthened the influence of the Bolsheviks.

Kulaks

Wealthier peasants who benefited from Stolypin's agricultural reforms, often accumulating more land and resources.

October Manifesto

A declaration issued by Emperor Nicholas II in October 1905, promising significant political reforms following the 1905 Revolution.

Okhrana (Tsarist Secret Police)

The secret police force of the Russian Empire, responsible for political surveillance and suppression of dissent.

Order No. 1 (March 1917)

Issued in March 1917, this order directed soldiers to send representatives to the Soviet, effectively transferring authority over the army to the Petrograd Soviet.

Grigori Rasputin

Grigori Rasputin, a Siberian mystic who claimed to perform miracles and sought to cure the Tsar's son, exerted significant influence over Tsarina Alexandra. His controversial presence and alleged scandalous behavior with women of the Russian royal court were blamed for undermining support for the Tsarist regime. He was assassinated in 1916.

Redemption Payments

Annual payments made by peasants to the state to 'redeem' the land they received after the emancipation of serfs in 1861. These payments were finally cancelled in 1907.

Serfs

Agricultural laborers in a feudal system, bound to the land and subject to the will of their landlord, possessing no rights, freedoms, or land of their own.

Socialism

A political and economic ideology advocating that a country's land, transport, natural resources, and major industries should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole, with wealth distributed more equally.

Soviets (Workers' Councils)

Workers' councils composed of representatives from factories and other workplaces, which coordinated strikes and anti-government protests, notably during the 1905 Revolution.

Pyotr Stolypin

Pyotr Stolypin served as Prime Minister from 1906 until his assassination in 1911. He introduced significant agricultural reforms aimed at modernizing Russia but also dealt harshly with political opponents.

Leon Trotsky

Initially a Menshevik, Leon Trotsky joined the Bolsheviks in July 1917 and played a pivotal role in the October Revolution. In 1918, he became Commissar for War, leading the Red Army to victory in the Russian Civil War. He was later assassinated by agents of Stalin.

Zemstvos (Local Councils)

Local self-government bodies established in the Russian Empire in the 19th century to administer social services like schools and hospitals. They possessed limited powers.