A level exam: Chapter 10-Opposition:ideas and ideologies Flashcards
How did liberal opposition grow before 1905?
In 1895 the Tver Zemstvo petitioned to set up an advisory body but Tsar Nicholas II refused. Prince Lvov continued to try and create an all class Zemstva and more radical liberals established the Baseda Symposium. They met in secret to discuss judicial reform. In 1903 the Union of Liberation was founded by Struve and he wanted a system for workers to campaign legally to improve working conditions. They held grand meetings where members declared their intention to work for a constitutional government.
How did the Social Revolutionary party emerge?
In 1894 it was founded as a group to appeal to the peasantry with a commitment to land socialisation and decentralised government. They believed that the interests of peasants and workers were identical and they should work together to destroy autocracy. They tried to stir up discontent in the countryside and to disrupt the government by political assassinations. They carried out 2000 political assassinations between 1901 and 1905 and in 1911 they assassinated Stolypin.
How did the Social Democratic Workers Party develop?
In 1898 the First Congress of the Russian Social Democratic Workers’ Party but it was broken up by the Okhrana. The second congress took place in 1903 where Lenin argued in favour of professional revolutionaries leading the proletariat whereas Martov argued they needed to build up working class support before a revolution. This lead to a split in the party with Lenin creating the Bolsheviks and Martov leading the Mensheviks.
How important were Trade Unions in opposing the Tsar?
The 1905 Revolution legalised trade unions but there was still fear of activity. From 1907 an economic depression and a political clampdown reduced opportunity for action. Trade Union action was mainly in St Petersburg and they demonstrated the government’s inability failure to pacify the working class. In July 1914 there was a General Strike in St Petersburg but only 25% of the labouring workforce joined in.
What other opposition groups were there?
Moderate liberal opposition was appeased by the tsarist concessions in 1905 and tried to cooperate with the Dumas. There was no opposition from other nationalities as they had been repressed by russification. Membership was declining in the SR and SD parties. Overall, opposition to the Tsar looked weak before 1914.
