October Manifesto

Question 1

What was happening in October 1905?

Answer 1

-empire near collapse — strikes in all major cities, peasant uprisings + demands for independence from poles, Finns + Latvians

Question 2

What was the St P soviet?

Answer 2

-inspired by Union of unions + dominated by radical revs
-set up to direct general strike began in Moscow at start Oct 1905
-whole country would be brought to a standstill

Question 3

How did Nicholas II ministers feel about the situation in Russia?

Answer 3

-Sergei Witte chairman of council of ministers said country on verge of rev that would ‘sweep away thousand years of history’
-Trepov deviated need for moderate reform
-Nicholas brother said would shoot himself if reforms not passed

Question 4

What happened on the 17th October 1905?

Answer 4

-tsar finally agreed sign decree
-granted civic freedom - personal rights + freedoms
-establish state Duma with power to approve laws

Question 5

What was the reaction to the manifesto?

Answer 5

-greeted with celebrations + general strike called off
-but radical workers urged others to carry on as autocracy remained
-Nicholas had no intention becoming ‘constitutional monarch’ + few ministers commit to manifesto promises

Question 6

Why was there a counter revolution?

Answer 6

-despite manifesto promises trepov ordered troops to ‘spare no bullets’ in forcing strikers back to work
-final months 1905 Jews suffered in terrible pogroms + gangs sent round to flog peasants to restore order

Question 7

What happened on the 3rd of December 1905?

Answer 7

-leaders St O soviet arrests, tried + exiled to Siberia
-weakened the rev movement in capital + gradually authorities regained control
-but still further month of street warfare Moscow + troops dispatched to restore order
-outbreaks of trouble in countryside for further 2 years