How secure was the Tsar in 1914

Question 1

In what ways was the Tsar secure in 1914

Answer 1

• Tsardorm had emerged stronger, not weaker, from the
  1905 revolution despite the defeat in the Russo-
  Japanese war. The tsar’s troops had remained loyal and
  had suppressed the troubles. The three groups that had
  caused problems in 1905, liberals, peasants and
  workers, had been placated and overcome.
• The Dumas never became a threat to the tsar’s power in
  the way. Stolypin had successfully neutered their powers
  that by the time of the fourth duma, it had been reduced
  to nothing more than a talking shop.
• The potential for growth in Russian industry was
  enormous, the economy remained way behind its
  European rivals, it saw growth in the railways which
  offered the prospect of Russia utilising its untapped
  natural and human recourses. The economy in both
  agriculture and industrial sectors had grown by 6% by
  1914

Question 2

In what ways was the tsar still not fully secure

Answer 2

• There was continuing social unrest
• 4/5 of the country still peasants - there was still huge
  gap in industrial development potential

Question 3

How did the war help boost the tsars security in 1914

Answer 3

• In 1914 the people and ministers of Russia backed -
  behind the Tsar in support of the country as it entered
  the first world war
• Any 1905 prejudice towards the tsar still lingering was
  largely eradicated, the army now had a central purpose
  again. They were once again in full support of the tsar.

Question 4

How did the weakness of the Dumas help contribute to the Tsars security

Answer 4

• Stolypn had been extremely successful in neutering
  the dumas
• by the 4th Duma it had been reduced to nothing more
  than dangerous than a talking shop
• Nicholas cleverly let it remain as a manageable
  parliament experiment that impressed international
  onlookers, but ensured its powers were limited

Question 5

How did the weaknesses of opposition parties contribute to the security of the tsar

Answer 5

• They were not considered, even by themselves, to be
  powerful enough to mount a revolution
• in 1914, they were on the fringe of a political scene,
  most of the leading figures were in exile
• The tsars army had continued in suppressing internal
  troubles after 1905,
• The liberals would not openly challenge the tsar even
  though, as their complaints in the dumas indicated,
  they had not been fully placated

Question 6

How did the success of industry in Russia solidify the tsars position

Answer 6

• Russia had an enormous potential for further growth
• the Trans-Siberian railway was bringing Russia’s distant
  provinces in touch with each other and bringing
  peasants to the cities
• The economy had grown 6 percent, it had become a
  major world textile manufacturer
• Russia had also become a major textile manufacturer,
  being fourth in world output, behind the USA, Britain and
  Germany

Question 7

What social issues were still opposing the Tsars stability

Answer 7

• Russia still had great problems of economic and social
  disparity
• 4/5 of the population was still peasants and the
  Okrhana were still brutally reigning over the
  countryside
• By no means was everyone happy, there was greater
  satisfaction

Question 8

How had Stolypin dealt with the Dumas

Answer 8

-Despite the Dumas attempts to establish some sort of
leverage over the Tsarist government, Stolypin ensured
this was not the case up until his assassination in 1911
-After the attempted ‘Vyborg appeal’ by the Kadets and
Labourist deputies , calling for the people to defy the
Russian government by refusing to pay taxes and
disobeying conscription orders
- Stolypin had an excuse to brutally crack down upon
those causing major difficulties