Tsarist Rule in Russia 1905-14

• What was the Tsar?


  An autocrat - he could do whatever he wanted - no parliament or legal court

  He had an Imperial Court of ministers to advise him but he could choose if he wanted to take their advice or not
• What did the Russian Orthodox Church teach the Tsar?


  That he was chosen and guided by God
• What was the Okrana?


  They were the Tsar's secret police

  Spied on people - thousands of people who were against the Tsar's regime were imprisoned, executed or sent to Siberia
• How was Russia ruled?

  Political parties banned

  Members of army swore an oath of loyalty to the Tsar and his family

  Newspapers and books censored

  Regions of countryside run by governors - appointed by Tsar

  Some towns had democracy
• Long term reasons for discontentment - peasants


  farming was basic and hunger was common

  many wanted more land

  most lived in terrible poverty
• Long term reasons for discontent - radicals


  all wanted to overthrow Tsar and set up a new government

  some wanted to bring about change through violence

  some wanted socialism
• Long term reasons for discontent - nationalities


  some, such as the Poles, wanted independence from Russia
• Long term reasons for discontent - middle classes


  some businessmen wanted increased industrialisation and modernisation

  many liberals wanted a political change - end to autocracy with increased democracy and legal rights

  some worried about radical groups and keeping their workers under control
• Long term reasons for discontent - Industrial workers


  worked long hours for very low pay - often dangerous conditions

  Trade unions were banned

  living conditions poor and disease was rife
• Poor harvest - most areas struck with famine

  1901
• Poor harvest 1901


  Increased hardship and discontent as still expected to provide grain for export - did not have enough to feed themselves
• Russo-Japanese War


  1904-05
• Russo-Japanese War 1904-05


  Food shortages and taxes raised - added to people's hunger and poverty - armed forces lost several battles and looked weak - people blamed the Tsar's government
• Bloody Sunday


  22nd January 1905
• Bloody Sunday


  • Discontent among workers - large crowd of protesters led by Father Gapon to Winter Palace - petition asked for reduced working hours and trade unions allowed - army charged and fired into crowd injuring many and killing over 100 people - people horrified and blamed Tsar
• Setting up of Soviets


  Bloody Sunday triggered revolutionary activity across Russia

  From May, workers in towns and cities began electing people to small councils to organise strikes

  General Strike brought Russia to standstill as all important industries joined the strike
• Problems with armed forces which led to discontent


  living conditions in navy ships were poor

  strict discipline maintained

  morale was low due to defeats
• Timeline of Potemkin Mutiny


  began on 14 June 1905 - leading mutineers began to disobey orders and refused to eat meat

  one of officers shot and killed one of mutineers which led to other mutineers attacking officers - officers either killed or locked up

  mutineers formed a socialist committee to take control of ships and sail to Odessa where protests

  Odessa - demonstrations to support mutiny and rioting - Tsar ordered army to bring back control - over 1000 people killed

  mutineers on Potemkin tried and failed other ships to mutiny
• October manifesto 


  Tsar had little choice but to accept advise of others around him

  In OM Tsar promised: Duma (approve any new laws); freedom of speech and religion; right to form political parties; right to form trade unions

  Some people very happy with manifesto - others didn't think it went far enough

  Radicals still wanted Tsar ovethrown
• Why Tsar survived?


  OM addressed some people's concerns - led to end of General Strike

  different protestors had different aims - OM divided protestors

  Tsar ensured majority of armed forced stayed loyal by promising improved conditions and better pay

  negotiated peace with Japan - use returning troops to stop protests - brutal - protestors killed and imprisoned

  members of Soviets arrested and some imprisoned - Soviets closed down
• Fundamental Laws 1906


  Tsar could: close Duma whenever; rule without Duma when it wasn't in session; change who could vote in elections to the Duma; appoint whoever he wanted as his ministers (didn't have to be members od Duma)
• First Duma


  Opened 4 days after Fundamental Laws

  • openly hostile towards Tsar - demanded land reform and release of political prisoners
  • Tsar dissolved it after 73 days
• Second Duma

  more members of extreme parties stood for election

  • argued heatedly for over 3 months before Tsar dissolved it
• Third Duma


  began in November 1907 - only the most wealthy Russian men could vote

  • more favorable towards Tsar's government
  • this Duma was becoming more hostile to Tsar by 1912 so Tsar dissolved it
• Fourth Duma


  began November 1912

  • still quite critical of Tsar
  • criticism grew during WW1 until dissolved in 1915
• Growth of opposition groups 1905-14 - Kadets


  mostly liberals who wanted a constitutional monarchy - wanted to keep Tsar but reduce his power - grew more disillusioned with Tsar as time went on
• Growth of opposition groups 1905-14 - Octobrists


  mostly liberals from upper and middle classes - supported Tsar and ideas in October Manifesto - became more opposed to Tsar as it became obvious he was not sticking to promises of OM
• Growth of Opposition groups 1905-14 - Social Democrats


  radical socialists who wanted Marxist society and completely remove Tsar - existed in secret before 1905 - 1903, split into Mensheviks and Bolsheviks - both still believed in Marxist revolution but disagreed on timing and path
• Growth of opposition groups 1905-14 - Social Revolutionaries 


  another radical party - some were socialist but before 1905 used violence to try to overthrow Tsar - supported by many peasants because of their ideas of land reform
• Stolypin's policy of Repression


  to prevent possible revolution, police and Okhrana became important

  • over 20,000 'revolutionary' people exiled
  • over 1,000 people hanged (hangman's noose known as Stolypin's necktie)
  • 600 trade unions that were formed after OM were shut down
  • Censorship tightened and hundreds of newspapers stopped publishing
  • most extreme opposition groups repressed - went underground
• Stolypin's policy of land reform


  Stolypin partially successful in improving industry

  • heavy industry grew rapidly + economy grew - far behind western powers - Tsar blocked some of his reforms
  • more successful with agricultural reforms - laws for peasants to remove themselves from 'mir' and buy more land - Peasant's Land Bank introduced, loaned wealthier peasants (Kulaks) more money to by land. Agricultural production significantly increased - most peasants still lived in poverty
• Causes of Lena Goldfield strikes

  • shifts often 15-16 hours long
  • workers had little to no safety equipment
  • injuries common due to lack of safety measures
  • pay was low and workers heavily fined for minor offences
• Lena Goldfield Strike

  1911 - wages reduced and workers given food in company's canteen.

  February 1912 - only food available was horse meat - rotting

  In response, 6000 workers formed a strike committee
• What did the Lena Goldfield strike committee demand?


  They demanded:

  • eight hour working days
  • increase in wages
  • abolition of company fines
  • better food in the canteen
• What happened during the strike?


  Company rejected demands yet the strike continued:

  • company asked government to send army troops and arrest leaders of strike committee
  • 5 April - 2500 workers marched to company's headquarters demanding release of leaders - army troops opened fire
  • over 250 workers killed
• What did the Lena Goldfield strike show?


  it illustrated that:

  • little had changed since Bloody Sunday
  • 750,000 workers throughout Russia striking
  • LG strike carried on until mid-August until forced to close down as many workers left the company