2022 Exam: 4. The extent of the recovery of Tsarist power

Question 1

Position of the Tsarist regime by the end of 1905?

Reasons?

Answer 1

• In a much stronger position than it had been during the 12-day general strike in October
• Had won qualified support of educated middle-class (Octobrists) - divided liberals
• Working-class militancy and soviets - arguably biggest threat to regime in autumn - were crushed
• Armed forces, nobility and Orthodox Church - mostly remained loyal to the regime
• Elements of properties classes - rallied to Tsarism’s defence - forming the Union of Russian People and the Black Hundreds

Question 2

How had the Tsarist regime regained its confidence?

Answer 2

• One sign of this was the ruthlessness with which the Moscow Uprising was put down
• Also the electoral law - Dec 1905 - set out voting arrangements for forthcoming Duma elections
• Kept promise of Oct Manifesto - to extend right to vote to classes of people denied it under the Aug Manifesto
• But ensured the electoral system wouldn’t be fully democratic (women, those under 25, soldiers and casual labourers had no voting rights)

Complex system of indirect election - gave a hugely disproportionate amount of influence to landowners

Question 3

Why was Tsarism’s recovery of power by the end of 1905 partial rather than complete?

Answer 3

• Oct Manifesto - made no difference to situation in the countryside - levels of peasant disorder in late 1905 high - authorities not in full control of large parts of rural Russia + problems w/ national minorities (e.g. Poles)
• Before Oct general strike - Tsar’s power in theory unlimited - no longer the case after Oct Manifesto publication - Duma w/ a law making process diluted the autocratic principle
• Legislation of TUs and political parties - promised by Oct Manifesto - meant that the regime now had to contend w/ open criticism and opposition - wasn’t accustomed to and certainly didn’t welcome