Who are the characters in this cartoon? What message is the artist trying to convey? Clue – focus on the eyes.

starter activity

Who was Rasputin?Who was Rasputin?

Grigory Efimovitch Grigory Efimovitch aka Rasputin aka Rasputin (name means (name means ‘disreputable one’)‘disreputable one’)

StaretsStarets (holy man) (holy man) & suspected & suspected member of Kylysty member of Kylysty sect (religious sect (religious fulfilment through fulfilment through sexual experiences)sexual experiences)

Rasputin. Why did so many people have such respect for Rasputin?

What was he like?What was he like?

Eyewitness reports Eyewitness reports refer to transfixing refer to transfixing gazegaze

Lack of hygieneLack of hygiene Insatiable sexual Insatiable sexual

appetite (involving appetite (involving actresses & actresses & prostitutes)prostitutes)

Why are historians sceptical about some of the

comments on Rasputin’s character & appearance?

Why was he so popular?Why was he so popular? Healing powersHealing powers Tsarina thought Tsarina thought

Rasputin could cure Rasputin could cure Alexis of haemophiliaAlexis of haemophilia

1907 Rasputin first 1907 Rasputin first helped Alexis to helped Alexis to recover from bout of recover from bout of illnessillness

1912 ‘cured’ Alexis 1912 ‘cured’ Alexis via telegram from via telegram from outside St Petersburgoutside St Petersburg

Alexis

Why was he so Why was he so unpopular?unpopular?

Immorality shocked Immorality shocked conservativesconservatives

Professional jealousy Professional jealousy amongst senior amongst senior ministers, e.g. ministers, e.g. StolypinStolypin

Resentment over his Resentment over his influence over influence over Tsarina, especially Tsarina, especially during WWIduring WWI

Tsar censored critical Tsar censored critical reports in the Pressreports in the Press

Chief Minister, Stolypin. Why was he

among Rasputin’s harshest critics?

Why was the Tsar Why was the Tsar overthrown in overthrown in

February 1917?February 1917?

To identify the reasons for To identify the reasons for growing hostility to Tsarist growing hostility to Tsarist

governmentgovernment

To examine the role of To examine the role of Rasputin in the Tsar’s Rasputin in the Tsar’s

downfalldownfall

Aims

Your taskYour task

Read Oxley, p.80-1 and list reasons Read Oxley, p.80-1 and list reasons why opposition to Tsar intensified in why opposition to Tsar intensified in this period.this period.

Growing oppositionGrowing opposition Russian military defeats (e.g. Russian military defeats (e.g.

Tannenburg, Masurian Lakes)Tannenburg, Masurian Lakes) Poor organisation, e.g. shortages of Poor organisation, e.g. shortages of

munitionsmunitions Growing criticism from political groups & Growing criticism from political groups &

leaders, e.g. Guchkov, Octobrist leader of leaders, e.g. Guchkov, Octobrist leader of Central War Industries Committee, as Central War Industries Committee, as well as All Russian Unions of Towns and well as All Russian Unions of Towns and ZemstvaZemstva

Miliukov & Progressive Bloc – 2/3 of Miliukov & Progressive Bloc – 2/3 of members of Dumamembers of Duma

Economic problemsEconomic problems

Inflation: govt. increased circulation of Inflation: govt. increased circulation of money, wages increased at half pace of money, wages increased at half pace of inflationinflation

Food shortages: food not reaching Food shortages: food not reaching cities, grain hoarding, poor cities, grain hoarding, poor infrastructureinfrastructure

Fuel shortages: coal rationed, factories Fuel shortages: coal rationed, factories closed, winter 1916-17 v. harsh, no closed, winter 1916-17 v. harsh, no fuel for bakeries in Petrograd, 1917fuel for bakeries in Petrograd, 1917

Your taskYour task

Read Oxley, p.81 and list reasons Read Oxley, p.81 and list reasons why Tsar Nicholas & Tsarina why Tsar Nicholas & Tsarina Alexandra were unpopularAlexandra were unpopular

What clues does this cartoon provide?

Unpopularity of Nicholas & Unpopularity of Nicholas & AlexandraAlexandra

Supported Tsar’s divine right to Supported Tsar’s divine right to govern as an autocratgovern as an autocrat

Remote – lived at Tsarskoye SeloRemote – lived at Tsarskoye Selo German backgroundGerman background Influenced by ministers, esp. Influenced by ministers, esp.

Rasputin whilst Nicholas was at Rasputin whilst Nicholas was at frontfront

Source investigationSource investigation

In pairs, study the sources on p.82-3 In pairs, study the sources on p.82-3 and complete questions 1-5and complete questions 1-5