The Road to Independence
Give 2 examples of the Professionalisation of Estonian culture before WWI.
- Estonian Literary Society establishes the first professional Estonian cultural/literary journal. - Professional Estonian theatres in 1907. - Estonian National Museum 1909. - 7th All-Estonian Song Festival in 1910 had a programme of purely Estonian compositions.
What was Bloody Sunday?
1905 - Peaceful petitioners led by Father Gapon in St Petersburg fired upon by the army resulting in a massacre, trigger point for the revolution.
What was the product of the 1917 Revolution in Russia?
A Russian provisional government
What was the Young Estonian Literary Movement and what was its aims?
A movement centered on the renewal of Estonian culture, based on W.European cultural forms. 'Let us be Estonians, but let us become Europeans'
What did the Bolshevik Revolution mean for Russia and Estonia?
A violent and abrupt end to democratic aspirations in Russia, and the ending of Estonian autonomy.
What occurred due to Bloody Sunday?
Strikes and mass demonstrations across the Russian Empire.
What plan did the BG's propose for the Baltics under German Occupation?
An autonomous state in the new German Empire, dominated by the BG's, called the United Baltic Duchy
What did the October Manifesto do?
Began Russia's transformation to a constitutional monarchy, legalised discussion of reform, vast civil and political rights granted, State Duma was formed as a representative body, allowed for freedom of speech/expression.
What happened in October 1917?
Bolsheviks seize power in Petrograd and Estonia.
Give 2 examples of support given to Estonia during the Wars of Independence.
British Naval Support and Finnish volunteers
What did Estonia do between Russian retreat and German occupation in WWI?
Declared the existence of an independent, democratic Estonian Republic and set up an Estonian Provisional Government.
During the period after the 1917 February Rev, what was the goal of Estonians?
Democratic autonomy within a democratic Russian federation.
What was the main goal of the Russian Provisional Government?
Democratisation and modernisation.W
Describe the 3 main, general causes of the 1905 Russian Revolution.
Dissatisfaction with the central government (modernisation clashing with the 'outdated' autocracy), a working class energised by socialism, defeat in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904.
What did the Tartu Peace Treaty, 1920, do?
Established peace between the Estonians and the Bolsheviks
How did Estonians and Baltic Germans engage with the 1905 Revolution?
Estonians contributed to it, Baltic Germans did not.
Describe the Estonian specific contributors to the 1905 Russian Revolution
Ethnic conflict with Baltic Germans, Russification, general discontent with the central imperial government.
How did the Tsar respond to the 1905 Revolution?
He signed the October Manifesto.
Why was the October Manifesto a vast miscalculation by the Tsar?
He wanted to try and placate and shape the course of the revolution, it actually just accelerated it.
Describe the Estonian War of Independence
Initial Bolshevik success, this was reversed due to Soviets being overstretched along multiple fronts. As the Bolsheviks were repelled, the Germans emerged as an enemy, who were defeated in June 1919.
Why was the November 1917 Declaration by the EPA significant?
It marked political separation from Russia and an important first step towards independence.
What did the changes made by the Russian Provincial Government mark for Estonian political goals?
It marked the achievement of Estonian autonomy in local affairs.
What was the general result of the 1905 Revolution in Estonia?
Marked a fundamental turning point in Estonian history as it escalated cultural and political goals in the form of a vocal desire for democratisation and autonomy.
What was the main cause of the 1917 Revolution?
Military losses combined with general dissatisfaction.
Who were the main enemies of Estonia during the War of Independence?
Soviet Russia, White Russia, Germany
What significant event took place in November 1917?
The Estonian Provincial Assembly declared itself the supreme authority in Estonia.
Who took power in Estonia with the end of the war in 1918?
The Estonian Provisional Government under Päts.
What changes did the Russian provisional government institute in Estonia?
The administrative unification of Estonia (Estland + Northern Livland), appointment of a provincial commissar, and an Estonian Provincial Assembly based on Universal Suffrage.
What were the results of the 1905 Revolution in Estonia?
The formation of Estonian/BG political parties, and the emergence of a legal socialist party. The demand for national autonomy across the political spectrum. Trade unions form.
What model did the idea of the United Baltic Duchy follow?
The idea of BG historical dominance - Distinctly undemocratic, a hierarchical society based on estates.
Why were Estonians keen to stress separateness from the events in 1917/18 Russia to the international community?
They were aware of the threat of the imminent German occupation. They wanted to stress separateness to avoid German retaliation.
What effect did the 1905 Revolution have on relations between Estonians and BG's?
They worsened - Riots and destructive activity undertaken by Estonians towards BG's - Imperial Army needed to placate it.
Why was the new Estonian Republic keen for international recognition at its conception?
To make the 'Estonian Problem' an international one, and making it clear it was not a domestic Russian issue.
Describe the demographics of Estonia before WWI
Total population of 1 mil, dominated by Estonians. 200,000 Estonians in other parts of the Russian Empire due to internal emigration
Why did Estonians emigrate to other parts of the Russian Empire?
Usually for economic reasons.
How did the BG's react to German occupation?
With positivity.