Demand for change, 1894-1904 Flashcards
What had happened prior to Nicholas II’s reign which had a profound impact on the zemstva?
1891-92 the Great Famine.
Zemstva and voluntary organisations provided relief work, showing the government’s incompetence.
What happened in 1895?
The zemstvo at Tver asked the Tsar to set up an advisory body.
Nicholas II responded that any hope of political participation by the people was a “senseless dream”
What did liberal nobles such as Prince Lvov do?
continued to demand the creation of a zemstvo at district level (to include all classes) plus a National Assembly
What happened in 1896?
Shapov tried to set up an “All-Zemstvo organisation” but this was banned.
After the All- Zemstvo Organisation was banned, what happened?
More radical liberals formed the Beseda Symposium in 1899. This was a loose organisation which met in secret to discuss judicial reform and universal education etc.
What did the government do in 1900?
Ordered the dismissal of hundred of liberals from elected boards of the zemstva (many of whom had been outspoken against the regime). Voting arrangements to the zemstva and Dumas were also changed to cut back on the numbers elected.
Many of those dismissed joined the Beseda Symposium which now attracted a wide range of support from public figures.
What was set up in 1903
Union of Liberation.
By Peter Struve (who had defected from the Marxist movement)
The aim of this was to work for a constitution along Western European lines.
In 1904 this union held a large meeting involving representatives of the zemstva and other professional societies, all of whom, declares their aim of working towards a constitutional government.
In the winter of 1904, a series of banquets were held, attended by members of the liberal elite. The police did not stop this as they were overworked dealing with the activities of radicals and unrest in urban and rural areas..
