Nicholas II early years Flashcards
Was Nicholas doomed before he started (issues with bureaucracy)
- The role of the Tsar meant he had an overwhelming amount of power and therefore responsibility created an uncoordinated, chaotic government - there was no room for change or criticism as ministers were so dependent on the Tsar for their position that they justified his behaviour
- The hierarchal nature of bureaucracy means that those working on local levels were poorly educated and underpaid - these were likely yo become revolutionaries
- The tsar was suspicious of experts, he is not willing to accept criticism from experts who are well experienced in their fields
- ‘second most powerful individual in Russia’ - minister of the Interior, Plehve aimed to stop any opportunity for reform
How was the Tsar able to regain control
- Troops were sent out on punitive expeditions using brutal methods (beatings, rape flogging and executions, to bring the peasants under control)
- Between mid-October 1905 and April 1906, as many as 15,000 people were people were executed and 4,000 departed
- The role of the army was crucial in repressing the revolution as people became frightened of secret police and wanted authoirty and control to be restored
How was the 1905 revolution limited in it’s attempts to overthrow Tsarism
Had different groups opposing the Tsar - workers, peasants, liberals, middle classes, students and national minorities who all had different aims and purposes
They were not able to provide coordinated and effective opposition to bring the Tsar down
How did the zemstva liberals pose a threat for Nicholas
- The reforms shifted liberal progress in Russia. By reducing the autonomy of the Zemstva Alex III perhaps left high tensions for his father
- Many liberal bureaucrats pressed for the abolition during the first decade if Nichola’s reign
Long term causes of the 1905 revolution - why were revolters angry?
Peasant grievances - poverty, land hunger due to industrial growth Urban workers - long hours, low pay
Middle class grievances -participation in government, opposed to corruption, no voice for Zemstva on national level
Revolutionary opposition - demanded a socialist society based on peasant communes, overthrow of Tsar and assassination
National groups - wanted more autonomy and end Russification
How did the Tsar react to basic grievances that had been developing
- Declared his main aims ‘to maintain the principle of autocracy’
- Refused to consider reform to incorporate more liberal voices in the government of the country
- Employs coercion to tackle peasant and student unrest early in his reign
Medium term causes of 1905 revolution
Economic slump
- 1902 Witte’s system of economic growth went into crisis - An international downturn cut the demand for manufactured goods, while bad harvests in 1900 to 1902 increased peasant poverty and further cut the demand for goods
Impact of war with Japan
- Economic - the war led to shortages of food and fuel and rising prices in urban areas, further putting living standards pressure
- Soldiers morale was low and there were mutinies military defeats undermined civilian morale and caused criticism of the Tsar and the government
How had political authority shifted by the end of the 1905 revolutionary
- Overall the 1905 revolution weakened the Tsar’s political authority through the emergence of peasantry and working class who were now challenging the regime
- Pillars of autocracy lost yet he still has authority
- proletariat have become more politically aware and are more confrontational to the Tsar
How was the state duma (lower chamber) voted
Elected under a system of indirect voting (every man over 25 could vote, but only those with more than 400 acres could vote directly) by estates - heavily weighted in favour of nobility and peasants
How was the upper chamber (state council) voted
Half elected by Zemstva and half appointed by the Tsar so there was noble representatives from major social, religious and financial institutions
The fundamental Laws - key features and date
On 23rd April 1906 Nicholas issued a series of Fundamental laws reasserting his autocratic power. He claimed his right to:
- Rule by decree in an emergency or when the Duma was not in session
- To dissolve the Duma as he wished
Impact of the fundamental laws
These laws indicated the slow progress of Russia and showed how disconnected it was to the rest of Europe. The Tsar prevents any movement towards full democracy and has the power to prevent any anti-autocratic legislation
Which of the Dumas was the most successful and why
Third duma: Their less radical demands meant the Tsar and the Duma could cooperate in a productive way to retain the stability of the Tsarist regime. The first two Dumas allowed their radical ideas to prevent policies that were best for the country from being imposed. The third duma agreed to 2200 of approximately 2500 government proposals
When were the first Duma and actions
April 1906 (lasts 2 months)
- Overwhelmingly radical (liberals)
- Passed an ‘address to the throne’ in which it requested a political amnesty, the abolition of the state council ect. But Nicholas ordered Goremykin to inform the Duma that their demands were ‘totally inadmissible’.
Reasons for first Duma’s failure
It was driven by radical demands in a climate that was accustomed to giving autocratic power to one individual.
However, the Duma was the first true attempt of democracy in Russian history, creating a forum for political debate.They quickly voiced strong demands for reforms both politically and socially that reflected the aspirations of the popular
When were the second duma and actions
February 1907 - June 1907 (3 months)
- Number of more extreme left wing politicians increased as Bolsheviks, Mensheviks decided to participate SRs made up 37.1%
- Duma was unwilling to support Stolypin’s agrarian reform programme so Stolypin passed them under the Tsar’s emergency powers
Reason’s for second duma’s failures
They should have accepted Stolypin’s reforms to prevent their authority being undermined - needed to be more cooperative
When were the 3rd Duma and actions
More submissive duma which agreed to 2200 out of 2500 government proposals
- Set up schools for children of the poor
- There were disputes over naval staff and Stolypin’s proposals
When was the 4th Duma and actions
November 15, 1912, to October 6, 1917
- Relatively docile body so was simply ignored and it’s influence declined
Main political parties under Nicholas II
- Social Democratic Workers party (SD)
- Social revolutionaries (SR)
- Kadets
- Octobrists
SDs beliefs
Committed to Marxism
Split into 2 into 1903
believed in an evolutionary path to revolution as opposed to a revolutionary one
Wanted to achieve revolution following Marx’s ideas and scientific principles
SRs beliefs
Favoured populist ideas of redistribution of land and nationalisation
Favoured terrorism to achieve aims
Between 1901 and 1905 they murdered around 2,000 members of the establishment including Plehve (minister of interior)
Kadets beliefs
A central liberal party that favoured a constitutional monarchy with parliamentary government, compulsory redistribution of private estates
Octobrists beliefs
A moderate conservative party that accepted the October Manifesto and opposed further concessions workers or peasants
Mensheviks beliefs
Mensheviks: Believed in cooperation with the bourgeoisie/ liberals rather than peasantry and the use of legal channels of opposition
- Did not wish to partake in a provisional revolutionary government
Bolsheviks beliefs
Bolsheviks: From 1905 favoured a peasant/ proletariat allience
Advocated a victorious popular uprising which would establish a democratic republic and a provisional revolutionary government
