DBQ
Analyze the political and social impact Grigori Rasputin (1869-1916 CE) had on Russia under the rule of Tsar Nicholas I.
In1903, Grigori Rasputin was known in Saint Petersburg, where he was known as a holy man with healing and prophetic powers. There, he is claimed to have healed Alexi Romanov of the genetic disease hemophilia. He then gained influence among the royal family and royal court up until his brutal murder in 1916.
Document 1
The royal family was at the top of a small but immensely powerful layer of wealthy nobles, who owned most of the land. The nobility maintained itself in luxury at the expense of the great majority of the people, who were impoverished peasants. The peasants made up about 80 percent of the population in 1917.
There were other social classes in Russia in addition to the landed nobles and poor peasants. These other classes included capitalists, workers, and professionals, and they became an increasingly important part of Russian society in the 19th century. To keep up economically and militarily with the other major world powers, the tsarist regime encouraged the development of industry in the later 19th century. One new class that resulted from the development of industry was the capitalists, or big-business men. These were the people who put up the capital, or money resources, needed to develop industry. They played a key role in the building and operation of many large factories. The capitalists (sometimes known as the bourgeoisie, or middle class) were essential to Russian economic development. Yet they were little more than junior partners in the tsarist system.
Source: “Russian Revolutions of 1917." MSN Encarta Encyclopedia. 2008. Bradley University. 21 May 2008. <.http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761569348/Russian_Revolutions_of_1917.html>.
Document 2:
Rasputin was an unusual man who appears to have had genuine healing talents. He came to the attention to Tsar Nicholas II and the Tsarina Alexandria when he successfully healed the favorite hunting dog of a member of the royal family. They were interested in his reputation as a healer, because of the illness of their son Alexis. After having 5 daughters, Nicholas and his wife had finally had a much beloved son and heir to the throne. Unfortunately, the young Tsarevich suffered from hemophilia, a painful malady which usually resulted in death at a young age at that time. When they heard of Rasputin the Tsarina called him in to heal the apparently dying Alexis. After Rasputin laid his hands on the boy, he began to improve and finally recovered. His influence with the royal family remained strong after that. In fact his growing influence, and the envy this caused, led to his death.
Source: Brainard, Jennifer. "The Monk Who Brought Down a Dynasty." Historywhiz. 2005. Historywhiz. 21 May, 2008. .
Document 3:
Stanislaus de Lazovert on the Assassination of Rasputin, 29 December 1916
The shot that ended the career of the blackest devil in Russian history was fired by my close and beloved friend, Vladimir Purishkevich, Reactionary Deputy of the Duma. Five of us had been arranging for this event for many months. On the night of the killing, after all details had been arranged, I drove to the Imperial Palace in an automobile and persuaded this black devil to accompany me to the home of Prince Yusupov, in Petrograd. Later that night M. Purishkevich followed him into the gardens adjoining Yusupov's house and shot him to death with an automatic revolver. We then carried his riddled body in a sheet to the River Neva, broke the ice and cast him in. The story of Rasputin and his clique is well known. They sent the army to the trenches without food or arms, they left them there to be slaughtered, they betrayed Rumania and deceived the Allies, they almost succeeded in delivering Russia bodily to the Germans. Rasputin, as a secret member of the Austrian Green Hand, had absolute power in Court. The Tsar was a nonentity, a kind of Hamlet, his only desire being to abdicate and escape the whole vile business.
Rasputin continued his life of vice, carousing and passion. The Grand Duchess reported these things to the Tsarina and was banished from Court for her pains. Rasputin was in a gay mood. We drove rapidly to the home of the Prince and descended to the library, lighted only by a blazing log in the huge chimney-place. A small table was spread with cakes and rare wines - three kinds of the wine were poisoned and so were the cakes. The monk threw himself into a chair, his humour expanding with the warmth of the room. He told of his successes, his plots, of the imminent success of the German arms and that the Kaiser would soon be seen in Petrograd. At a proper moment he was offered the wine and the cakes. He drank the wine and devoured the cakes. Hours slipped by, but there was no sign that the poison had taken effect. The monk was even merrier than before.
We were seized with an insane dread that this man was inviolable, that he was superhuman, that he couldn't be killed. It was a frightful sensation. He glared at us with his black, black eyes as though he read our minds and would fool us. And then after a time he rose and walked to the door. We were afraid that our work had been in vain. Suddenly, as he turned at the door, some one shot at him quickly. With a frightful scream Rasputin whirled and fell, face down, on the floor. The others came bounding over to him and stood over his prostrate, writhing body.
It was suggested that two more shots be fired to make certain of his death, but one of those present said, "No, no; it is his last agony now." We left the room to let him die alone, and to plan for his removal and obliteration. Suddenly we heard a strange and unearthly sound behind the huge door that led into the library. The door was slowly pushed open, and there was Rasputin on his hands and knees, the bloody froth gushing from his mouth, his terrible eyes bulging from their sockets. With an amazing strength he sprang toward the door that led into the gardens, wrenched it open and passed out. As he seemed to be disappearing in the darkness, F. Purishkevich, who had been standing by, reached over and picked up an American-made automatic revolver and fired two shots swiftly into his retreating figure. We heard him fall with a groan, and later when we approached the body he was very still and cold and - dead.
We bundled him up in a sheet and carried him to the river's edge. Ice had formed, but we broke it and threw him in. The next day search was made for Rasputin, but no trace was found. Urged on by the Tsarina, the police made frantic efforts, and finally a rubber was found which was identified as his. The river was dragged and the body recovered. I escaped from the country. Purishkevich also escaped. But Prince Yusupov was arrested and confined to the boundaries of his estate. He was later released because of the popular approval of our act. Russia had been freed from the vilest tyrant in her history; and that is all.
Source: Source Records of the Great War, Vol. V, ed. Charles F. Horne, National Alumni 1923
Document 4:
Russian cartoon (1916)
Source: Reprinted. "Grigori Rasputin." Primary Documents. Schoolnet. 21 Mat, 2008. .
Document 5:
Profiting by the Tsar's arrival at Tsarskoe I asked for an audience and was received by him on March 8th. "I must tell Your Majesty that this cannot continue much longer. No one opens your eyes to the true role which this man (Rasputin) is playing. His presence in Your Majesty's Court undermines confidence in the Supreme Power and may have an evil effect on the fate of the dynasty and turn the hearts of the people from their Emperor". My report did some good. On March 11th an order was issued sending Rasputin to Tobolsk; but a few days later, at the demand of the Empress, the order was cancelled.
Source: Rodzainko, Michael, President of Duma. The Fall of the Empire. 20th century. Retrieved on May 21, 2008: .
Document 6:
The Tsarina's blind faith in Rasputin led her to seek his counsel not only in personal matters but also on questions of state policy. General Alekseyev, held in high esteem by Nicholas II, tried to talk to the Tsarina about Rasputin, but only succeeded in making an implacable enemy of her. General Alexseyev told me later about his profound concern on learning that a secret map of military operations had found its way into the Tsarina's hands. But like many others, he was powerless to take any action.
On January 19, Goremykin was replaced by Sturmer, an extreme reactionary who hated the very idea of any form of popular representation or local self-government. Even more important, he was undoubtedly a believer in the need for an immediate cessation of the war with Germany.
During his first few months in office, Sturmer was also Minister of Interior, but the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs was still held by Sazonov, who firmly advocated honouring the alliance with Britain and France and carrying on the war to the bitter end, and who recognized the Cabinet's obligation to pursue a policy in tune with the sentiments of the majority in the Duma.
On August 9, however, Sazonov was suddenly dismissed. His portfolio was taken over by Sturmer, and on September 16, Protopopov was appointed acting Minister of the Interior. The official government of the Russian Empire was now entirely in the hands of the Tsarina and her advisers.
Source: Kerensky, Alexander. Russia and History’s Turning Point. 1965. Retrieved on May 21, 2008: .
Document 7:
The aristocrats can't get used to the idea that a humble peasant should be welcome at the Imperial Palace. They are consumed with envy and fury. But I'm not afraid of them. They can't do anything to me. I'm protected against ill fortune. There have been several attempts on my life but the Lord has always frustrated these plots. Disaster will come to anyone who lifts a finger against me.
Source: Gregory Rasputin, in conversation with Felix Yusupov (29th December, 1916) Retrieved on May 21, 2008: .
Document 8:
Source: Photograph of Grigori Rasputin with Tsar Nicholas I and a Russian General. Retrieved from: http://www.omolenko.com/novomucheniki/photo-rasputin.htm
Expected Response:
The impact of Rasputin on the Russian Tsar family was a great one- he held more influence than any other person in the country. After curing the Tsarina’s son of Hemophilia (a genetic disorder of the blood), he gained a powerful place in the Russian hierarchy. He was second only to the Tsar, and was an advisor on all elements of Russian politics. Given the power the Tsar possessed, this meant that Rasputin had power over all parts of Russian society. Industry, religion, and social norms were all passed by the Tsar, and therefore by him. He was respected by generals, the Tsar, and all members of the Russian extended family and empire. His origins of a peasant and his overwhelming influence bred great distrust and hatred amongst the ordinary populous- leading to his untimely, if not epic, murder.
In1903, Grigori Rasputin was known in Saint Petersburg, where he was known as a holy man with healing and prophetic powers. There, he is claimed to have healed Alexi Romanov of the genetic disease hemophilia. He then gained influence among the royal family and royal court up until his brutal murder in 1916.
Document 1
The royal family was at the top of a small but immensely powerful layer of wealthy nobles, who owned most of the land. The nobility maintained itself in luxury at the expense of the great majority of the people, who were impoverished peasants. The peasants made up about 80 percent of the population in 1917.
There were other social classes in Russia in addition to the landed nobles and poor peasants. These other classes included capitalists, workers, and professionals, and they became an increasingly important part of Russian society in the 19th century. To keep up economically and militarily with the other major world powers, the tsarist regime encouraged the development of industry in the later 19th century. One new class that resulted from the development of industry was the capitalists, or big-business men. These were the people who put up the capital, or money resources, needed to develop industry. They played a key role in the building and operation of many large factories. The capitalists (sometimes known as the bourgeoisie, or middle class) were essential to Russian economic development. Yet they were little more than junior partners in the tsarist system.
Source: “Russian Revolutions of 1917." MSN Encarta Encyclopedia. 2008. Bradley University. 21 May 2008. <.http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761569348/Russian_Revolutions_of_1917.html>.
Document 2:
Rasputin was an unusual man who appears to have had genuine healing talents. He came to the attention to Tsar Nicholas II and the Tsarina Alexandria when he successfully healed the favorite hunting dog of a member of the royal family. They were interested in his reputation as a healer, because of the illness of their son Alexis. After having 5 daughters, Nicholas and his wife had finally had a much beloved son and heir to the throne. Unfortunately, the young Tsarevich suffered from hemophilia, a painful malady which usually resulted in death at a young age at that time. When they heard of Rasputin the Tsarina called him in to heal the apparently dying Alexis. After Rasputin laid his hands on the boy, he began to improve and finally recovered. His influence with the royal family remained strong after that. In fact his growing influence, and the envy this caused, led to his death.
Source: Brainard, Jennifer. "The Monk Who Brought Down a Dynasty." Historywhiz. 2005. Historywhiz. 21 May, 2008. .
Document 3:
Stanislaus de Lazovert on the Assassination of Rasputin, 29 December 1916
The shot that ended the career of the blackest devil in Russian history was fired by my close and beloved friend, Vladimir Purishkevich, Reactionary Deputy of the Duma. Five of us had been arranging for this event for many months. On the night of the killing, after all details had been arranged, I drove to the Imperial Palace in an automobile and persuaded this black devil to accompany me to the home of Prince Yusupov, in Petrograd. Later that night M. Purishkevich followed him into the gardens adjoining Yusupov's house and shot him to death with an automatic revolver. We then carried his riddled body in a sheet to the River Neva, broke the ice and cast him in. The story of Rasputin and his clique is well known. They sent the army to the trenches without food or arms, they left them there to be slaughtered, they betrayed Rumania and deceived the Allies, they almost succeeded in delivering Russia bodily to the Germans. Rasputin, as a secret member of the Austrian Green Hand, had absolute power in Court. The Tsar was a nonentity, a kind of Hamlet, his only desire being to abdicate and escape the whole vile business.
Rasputin continued his life of vice, carousing and passion. The Grand Duchess reported these things to the Tsarina and was banished from Court for her pains. Rasputin was in a gay mood. We drove rapidly to the home of the Prince and descended to the library, lighted only by a blazing log in the huge chimney-place. A small table was spread with cakes and rare wines - three kinds of the wine were poisoned and so were the cakes. The monk threw himself into a chair, his humour expanding with the warmth of the room. He told of his successes, his plots, of the imminent success of the German arms and that the Kaiser would soon be seen in Petrograd. At a proper moment he was offered the wine and the cakes. He drank the wine and devoured the cakes. Hours slipped by, but there was no sign that the poison had taken effect. The monk was even merrier than before.
We were seized with an insane dread that this man was inviolable, that he was superhuman, that he couldn't be killed. It was a frightful sensation. He glared at us with his black, black eyes as though he read our minds and would fool us. And then after a time he rose and walked to the door. We were afraid that our work had been in vain. Suddenly, as he turned at the door, some one shot at him quickly. With a frightful scream Rasputin whirled and fell, face down, on the floor. The others came bounding over to him and stood over his prostrate, writhing body.
It was suggested that two more shots be fired to make certain of his death, but one of those present said, "No, no; it is his last agony now." We left the room to let him die alone, and to plan for his removal and obliteration. Suddenly we heard a strange and unearthly sound behind the huge door that led into the library. The door was slowly pushed open, and there was Rasputin on his hands and knees, the bloody froth gushing from his mouth, his terrible eyes bulging from their sockets. With an amazing strength he sprang toward the door that led into the gardens, wrenched it open and passed out. As he seemed to be disappearing in the darkness, F. Purishkevich, who had been standing by, reached over and picked up an American-made automatic revolver and fired two shots swiftly into his retreating figure. We heard him fall with a groan, and later when we approached the body he was very still and cold and - dead.
We bundled him up in a sheet and carried him to the river's edge. Ice had formed, but we broke it and threw him in. The next day search was made for Rasputin, but no trace was found. Urged on by the Tsarina, the police made frantic efforts, and finally a rubber was found which was identified as his. The river was dragged and the body recovered. I escaped from the country. Purishkevich also escaped. But Prince Yusupov was arrested and confined to the boundaries of his estate. He was later released because of the popular approval of our act. Russia had been freed from the vilest tyrant in her history; and that is all.
Source: Source Records of the Great War, Vol. V, ed. Charles F. Horne, National Alumni 1923
Document 4:
Russian cartoon (1916)
Source: Reprinted. "Grigori Rasputin." Primary Documents. Schoolnet. 21 Mat, 2008. .
Document 5:
Profiting by the Tsar's arrival at Tsarskoe I asked for an audience and was received by him on March 8th. "I must tell Your Majesty that this cannot continue much longer. No one opens your eyes to the true role which this man (Rasputin) is playing. His presence in Your Majesty's Court undermines confidence in the Supreme Power and may have an evil effect on the fate of the dynasty and turn the hearts of the people from their Emperor". My report did some good. On March 11th an order was issued sending Rasputin to Tobolsk; but a few days later, at the demand of the Empress, the order was cancelled.
Source: Rodzainko, Michael, President of Duma. The Fall of the Empire. 20th century. Retrieved on May 21, 2008: .
Document 6:
The Tsarina's blind faith in Rasputin led her to seek his counsel not only in personal matters but also on questions of state policy. General Alekseyev, held in high esteem by Nicholas II, tried to talk to the Tsarina about Rasputin, but only succeeded in making an implacable enemy of her. General Alexseyev told me later about his profound concern on learning that a secret map of military operations had found its way into the Tsarina's hands. But like many others, he was powerless to take any action.
On January 19, Goremykin was replaced by Sturmer, an extreme reactionary who hated the very idea of any form of popular representation or local self-government. Even more important, he was undoubtedly a believer in the need for an immediate cessation of the war with Germany.
During his first few months in office, Sturmer was also Minister of Interior, but the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs was still held by Sazonov, who firmly advocated honouring the alliance with Britain and France and carrying on the war to the bitter end, and who recognized the Cabinet's obligation to pursue a policy in tune with the sentiments of the majority in the Duma.
On August 9, however, Sazonov was suddenly dismissed. His portfolio was taken over by Sturmer, and on September 16, Protopopov was appointed acting Minister of the Interior. The official government of the Russian Empire was now entirely in the hands of the Tsarina and her advisers.
Source: Kerensky, Alexander. Russia and History’s Turning Point. 1965. Retrieved on May 21, 2008: .
Document 7:
The aristocrats can't get used to the idea that a humble peasant should be welcome at the Imperial Palace. They are consumed with envy and fury. But I'm not afraid of them. They can't do anything to me. I'm protected against ill fortune. There have been several attempts on my life but the Lord has always frustrated these plots. Disaster will come to anyone who lifts a finger against me.
Source: Gregory Rasputin, in conversation with Felix Yusupov (29th December, 1916) Retrieved on May 21, 2008: .
Document 8:
Source: Photograph of Grigori Rasputin with Tsar Nicholas I and a Russian General. Retrieved from: http://www.omolenko.com/novomucheniki/photo-rasputin.htm
Expected Response:
The impact of Rasputin on the Russian Tsar family was a great one- he held more influence than any other person in the country. After curing the Tsarina’s son of Hemophilia (a genetic disorder of the blood), he gained a powerful place in the Russian hierarchy. He was second only to the Tsar, and was an advisor on all elements of Russian politics. Given the power the Tsar possessed, this meant that Rasputin had power over all parts of Russian society. Industry, religion, and social norms were all passed by the Tsar, and therefore by him. He was respected by generals, the Tsar, and all members of the Russian extended family and empire. His origins of a peasant and his overwhelming influence bred great distrust and hatred amongst the ordinary populous- leading to his untimely, if not epic, murder.