The Background Flashcards
What was the Tsar way of rule
Autocracy
What does an autocracy insinuate
The Tsar has absolute power
Did the Tsar rule over the entire empire?
Yes, he ruled over the whole of the large and diverse Empire.
What did the people want from the Tsar in 1905? did he listen?
The people wanted a political reform but the tsar did not listen
Who supported autocracy
Much of the nobility
The church
The bureaucrats (government officials)
Antony Gilland from RIC
Name 3 ways the tsar controlled the population that could be considered terror
Political party’s banned
Newspaper censorship
Police force of 10,000 to deal with political opponents
Who were the secret police, were these used to control the population?
The secret police (Okhrana) were effective in arresting strike leaders and any political opponents, often sending them to Siberia.
What force did the Tsar use to squash any rebellions? (fairly common although localised)
An Army loyal to the Tsar
Within the army which regiments were most feared?
The Cossack regiments was particularly loyal and feared
How were peasants organised
They were organised into communes or Mir, these controlled most of their lives
Name 3 ways the Tsar controlled the population without the use of terror
Regions had land captains - usually nobles
Larger regions had governors - more nobles.
Towns and cities had local Zemstva
Who were the Governor’s? Describe them
These were nobles and generally had a free hand to rule their region. Some were tyrannical
Who controlled the local zemstva?
Controlled by the nobles and professional classes who organised education and local services.
We’re there ever any calls for a national zemstva?
There were some calls for a national zemstva to be elected but the regime did not accept this.
Considering this background information do you think the Tsar rules well?
“No.” (antony’s words not mine).
Historians have made important arguments to suggest tsar did not rule tightly (ruled loosely).
