The structure of government 1917

Question 1

What bodies did the Tsar use to exercise his authority, and why were they a problem?

Answer 1

1. The Imperial Council, the Cabinet of Ministers, and the Senate
2. They were a problem since the bodies were appointed by the Tsar, not elected. This concentration of power in the hands of a priviliged elite angered the Russians and increased the demand for reform.

Question 2

What was the duma like in 1917?

Answer 2

1- The Duma had no real power as the Tsar had reasserted that he remained the final authority in all governmental and state matters
2- Nevertheless, it provided a forum for criticism of government policies. This was especially significant after 1915 when the duma members became increasingly hostile towards the governments handling of the war

Question 3

What were the two groups of opposition parties (to the Tsar)

Answer 3

1. The Liberals (wanted reform of the tsarist system

2. The revolutionaries (wanted to overthrow it)

Question 4

Name the two parties in the liberals group and describe their aims?

Answer 4

1. The octobrists - party of moderates who urged Tsar ro honour October Manifesto that he used in 1906, promising a range of freedoms. They had trust in Tsar and believed the system was capabe of improving by measured reform
2. The Kadets - Wanted Russia to develop as a constitutional monarchy in which the Tsar’s power would be restricted by a democratically elected consitunt assembly. They believed this would solve Russias socia, political and economic problems

Question 5

Name the two parties in the revolutionaries group and describe their aims?

Answer 5

1. The SR’s - Made up of peasants and urban workers. Left SR’s relied on terrorism to bring about change. Right SR’s were willing to work with other parties to bring about immediate change in e.g. work conditions
2. The SD’s - Aim was to achieve revolution in Russia by following Karl Marx’s ideology

Question 6

What were Karl Marx’s main ideas?

Answer 6

• Human Social development was shaped by class struggle, a process that operated throughout history
• He referred to this process as the dialectic, whos final stage would be the violent overthrow of the bourgeoisie by the proletariat (workers)

Question 7

What were the two groups that the SD’s split into?

Answer 7

1. The Mensheviks - believed in a broad coalition of all Ryssian Progressive parties to work to bring down Tsarism
2. The Bolsheviks - Believed that only the dedicated Party of Marxist believers had the necessary commitment and understanding to achieve genuine proletarian revolution. (didn’t want to work with other groups). At the start of 1917, most leaders were in exile due to revolutionary activities.