Liberal Opposition - October Manifesto

• The October Manifesto was enough to appease the liberal opposition to the tsarist regime in 1905.

  • The introduction of the Fundamental Laws in 1906 and the Tsar's attitude to the Duma, angered them however.
• Kadets issued the Vyborg Appeal following the dissolution of the First Duma in July 1906 and called for civil disobedience which showed a shift in policy.

  • However, they received little support as the links between them and the people and radical groups were weak and the liberals were not seen as being on their side.
• Between 1905 and 1917, liberals continued to work through the zemstva, town dumas and the state Duma but they were largely content to work within the constitutional limits set by the regime.

  • This turned them away from the idea of violence that had alarmed the Tsar in 1905 and 1906.