Tsarist Opposition

Question 1

1881-1904

Answer 1

Intelligentsia/liberals: increased calls for change and had a platform for their views but by 1904 they only had limited political influence. Small role in increasing political momentum which was being more aggressively pushed by other groups
Marxists/social democrats: began to formalise their opposition but the rivalry between the groups divided them and weakened their influence
Populists: developed a national support with large peasant membership and carried out many political assassinations, more extreme methods so still a large threat

Question 2

1904-06

Answer 2

Liberals/intelligentsia: increased the extent of reform they were asking for but feared that their initiative was slipping. Rejected proposals- severe
Social revolutionaries: lacked clear unity in this period but aim of overthrowing tsardom was severe. No effective leadership
Social democrats: split between groups meant that there was a lack of unity and therefore effective leadership. Supported strikes and revolution but could not translate this into practice- limited
Minority groups: they demanded reform which they had not previously done, opposed tsarist policies

Question 3

1906-1914

Answer 3

Workers: resentment at their conditions grew and led to strikes, linked to opposing the tsar and his rule. Disapproval of Nicholas and the influences of Rasputin. Culminating social discontent turned into resentment for the tsar and political opponents encouraged this
Dumas: political parties within the new structure opposed the tsar and many of his policies during Duma sessions, strong disagreement but they were still just consultative

Question 4

1914-1917

Answer 4

Mutinies: there were army and naval mutinies and desertions, indicating a loss of support for the tsar. Cossacks mutiny was severe as they were typically very loyal to the tsar
Workers: February revolution led to the abdication of the tsar combined with the other forms of opposition. Severe threat as it demonstrated how widespread discontent was
Bolsheviks/social democrats: aims were very severe as they did not want a tsar
Provisional government: very existence, agreed by soviet, was strong opposition as it confirmed the end of the ruling dynasty

Question 5

Definitions and summary

Answer 5

Strength of opposition may be determined by the severity of many factors e.g. Aims, spread of discontent, popular support, methods, outcome and these are strengthened or weakened by degree of leadership, formality and unity
Strong opposition to the tsar would involved aims that were not in agreement with his rule or policy, popular support for this, success in outcome and it being formalised and effective
Summary: initial opposition had mild aims, but as they were increasingly ignored and social discontent spread, it became more formalised and severe- overthrow of tsar eventually

Question 6

1855-1881

Answer 6

Populists- failed to gain peasant support, split into two groups and were weakened by arrests in 1880-81. However, they did assassinate the tsar, posing a severe threat
Intelligentsia- size and influence grew in the 1870s. Small but the nature of their ideas posed a threat to the tsar although their actions were limited
Marxists/social democrats- ideas were extreme but Marxist teaching seemed largely irrelevant as it was limited to small-scale underground reading circles and societies
Overall- opposition was building due to the failure of reforms and repression but it was still mostly controllable