Summer Exam - 2021 - 1905 Revision

Question 1

What are the arguments that Russia was still an autocracy following the 1905 Revolution?

Answer 1

• Fundamental Laws - 4 key points
• Tsar and his ministers could make decisions on defence, foreign affairs and public order with Duma consultation
• Tsar dissolved the Duma - through the Fundamental Laws
• Article 87, Article 4
• No rule of law in Russia
• Union of Russian People and Black Hundreds persecuting minority groups
• Stolypin’s electoral law and 3rd and 4th Duma
• Minimal Duma power - partly due to the upper house
• Tsar still remained disconnected with the public, due to autocracy

Question 2

What are the arguments that Russia was no longer an autocracy following the 1905 Revolution?

Answer 2

• October Manifesto - 4 key points - reforms brought in at the end of 1905
• First and Second Duma
• Tsar’s authority undermined by Dumas (1st and 2nd)
• Duma had the right to question the Tsar’s government
• Duma committees
• Free press
• Political parties - civil society
• Trade unions - civil society

Question 3

What major reforms did the October Manifesto promise?

Answer 3

1 - Greater freedom: the Manifesto promised that the government would respect individual rights, and allow greater press freedom, greater freedom of expression and freedom of assembly
2 - Elected representation: the Manifesto promised almost universal suffrage for Russian men, with equal voting rights for rich and poor
3- An elected Duma with the power to approve or veto new laws
4 - Political parties and trade unions would be legalised

Question 4

However, the October Manifesto meant that the Tsar…

Answer 4

took back control as a result of dividing opposition

Question 5

What powers did the Fundamental Laws give to the Tsar?

Answer 5

1 - Article 4 stated that the Tsar had absolute, God-given autocratic power
2 - The Tsar retained sole authority over command of the army and dealings with foreign nations
3 - Article 87 set out the nature of the Tsar’s relationship with the new Duma. The Tsar retained ‘supreme sovereign power’ - Nicholas could make laws without consultation with the Duma - the Duma was given the right to ratify to Tsar’s laws
4 - The Tsar was given the right to dissolve the Duma and call new elections at any time

Question 6

How did the 1906 constitution alter the nature of Russian government?

Answer 6

1 - Created a bicameral Duma
2 - Lower house was elected by an electorate made up of most male Russians
3 - Upper house, known as the ‘Council of State’, was partially appointed by the Tsar. Other half appointed by institutions such as the Orthodox Church
4 - Upper house had the right to veto laws proposed by the lower house
5 - It guaranteed individuals rights to freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, freedom of conscience, the right to form political parties and unions, as well as freedom of the press

Question 7

How long did the First Duma last, before being dissolved?

Why was it dissolved?

Answer 7

73 days - the Duma made radical demands:
1 - Creation of universal suffrage
2 - Land reform
3 - Freedom for political prisoners

Question 8

How long did the Second Duma last, before being dissolved?

Why was it dissolved?

Answer 8

3 months - police claimed that Bolsheviks members of the Duma were encouraging mutinies.

Question 9

What constitutes autocracy?

Answer 9

• Form of government in which one person possesses unlimited power
• No formal checks on the Tsar’s power
• No constitution
• No parliament
• No legal safeguards protecting rights of individuals
• Ministers only accountable to the Tsar

Question 10

What were the consequences of autocracy?

Answer 10

• Corruption
• Limited civil society
• The Tsar’s isolation

Question 11

The first two Dumas had exposed the limits of the…

Answer 11

1905-06 reforms, as well as the popular desire for greater economic and political reform.

Question 12

The first two Dumas undermined the…

Answer 12

authority of the Tsar by exposing the true nature of his government.

Question 13

What was Stolypin’s electoral law?

What was Stolypin’s goal?

Answer 13

Created a weighted voting system - the vast majority of Russian men could still vote, but the new system over-represented the aristocracy and middle class, while it under-represented the working class.
- His goal was to produce a conservative-dominated Duma

Question 14

How long did the Third Duma last?

Answer 14

1907-12.

Question 15

How long did the Forth Duma last?

Answer 15

1912-1917.

Question 16

Why was the Tsar still unwilling to work with the later Dumas, despite their conservative nature?

Answer 16

He recognised that the Duma presented fundamental problems for autocratic rule.

Question 17

How did Nicholas II recognise that the Duma presented fundamental problems for autocratic rule?

Answer 17

1 - Autocracy was based on the view that the Tsar was the perfect representative of the Russian people. However, the Duma also claimed to represent the people of Russia - this undermined his authority
2 - The Duma gave Nicholas’ opponents a public position of authority from which they could attack the Tsar’s government - e.g., Alexander Guchkov, leader of the Octoberists, attacked the Tsar’s dependence on Grigori Rasputiin
3 - The Duma conducted research and wrote reports on aspects of the Tsar’s rule - the Tsar’s authority was challenged by experts

Question 18

What changes were the Third and Fourth Duma able to initiate, which improved Russian government?

Answer 18

1 - Land Captains were replaced by more JPs - the zemstvos were able to reassert their authority over local administration
2 - A plan to establish universal primary education was introduced
3 - Some health and accident insurance programmes were developed to help workers
4 - Some improvements to the Russian armed forces were implemented