Tsarist Government Flashcards
How was Russia governed before 1905?
- Orthodoxy (generally accepted beliefs in society)
- Autocracy (government by a single person)
- Nationality (offical right to belong to a particular country)
2 examples of Orthodoxy
- Church was under state control, run by a government department headed by a minister appointed by the Tsar
- Religion was used to preach for obidience to the Tsar’s authority
How did orthodoxy ensure the Tsar’s control?
- Tsar could control the people through the Church and keep them obidient
- Method of brainwashing to ensure loyalty to the Tsar - method of manipulation/preventing growth of different ideologies
2 examples of Autocracy
- Russia did not have a constitution setting out what the Tsar could/couldn’t do
- No legal safeguards protecting the rights of individuals
How did autocracy ensure the Tsar’s control?
- The Tsar had complete power, could not be questioned - no constraints on his power
- No ability to change their position in society = no threat
2 examples of nationality
- Russification was introduced to force all non-Russians to speak and dress like Russians
- Russian ideals were the only ones accepted in the empire - therefore liberal and socialist ideas had no place in Russia as they were un-Russian
How did nationality ensure the Tsar’s control?
- Got rid of independence/restricted individualism so people had to conform/easier to control
- Put down ethnic minorities and made them inferior so they were subject to abuse/less of a threat
What was russification?
The attempt to impose Russian language, culture and religion on the empire’s non-Russian minorities
In Poland and the Baltic provinces, court proceedings were held in Russian despite it not being the native language of most people in these places
How would Russification increase Nicholas’ control?
- Limits individualism, forces people to conform
- Makes them easier to control
- Nobody is allowed to have different beliefs/opinions
What is meant by anti-semitism?
Anti semitic polices meant that Jewish people were restricted from accessing higher education
How would anti semitism increase Nicholas’ control?
- Russia seized large parts of the Kingdom of Poland
- Sign of power and authority
- Solidify his power and position as supreme leader
What was the Okhrana?
- Tsar’s political police force
- Infiltrate and destroy revolutionary networks
- Success was due to its skillful use of informants - early 1900s - leadership in both the SR’s and SD’s were riddled with Okhrana agents
2,500 - 1900s amounts of full time agents
How did the Okhrana increase Nicholas’ control?
- Protected Tsarist autocracy
- Skillful tactics to discourage opposition - ensure loyalty to the Tsar
October manifesto (clauses)
- As a result of the generals strike, Nicholas was forced to make concessions and passed the October manifesto
- Guaranteed freedom of speech, press and assembly
- Pledged to establish a broad franchise - allowing more people to participate in the political process by enabling all classes of the population to vote
- The duma would now officially have the power to approve or reject legislation before it can be enacted - placing constraints on the power of the Tsar
The fundamental laws (autocratic)
- Article 4 insisted on the Tsars continuing primacy within Russia’s system of government
- Laws declared a number of important areas of government activity, among them defence and foreign affairs
- Article 87 allowed the Tsar to proclaim new laws without duma approval at times when the Duma was not in session - Nicholas could bypass the Duma
- Could dissolve the Duma at any time of his choosing
