How Did the Tsar Survive the 1905 Revolution? (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE History)

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Why was 1905 a Turning Point in Tsarist Russia - Timeline & Summary

A concept map showing the Tsar’s Fundamental Laws. It was an attempt by Nicholas to reassert his power over the Russian Empire
A concept map showing the Tsar’s Fundamental Laws. It was an attempt by Nicholas to reassert his power over the Russian Empire

The events of 1905 highlighted the weakness of the tsarist regime. This is because:

  • Japan defeated Russia in the war. The tsar believed the Japanese were an inferior race to the Russians. The defeat showed that Russia was not as strong a military power as it had been

  • The tsar could no longer rely on the divine right of kings. A growth in radical ideas and a decline in the influence of the Orthodox Church weakened the tsar. Tsar Nicholas II could no longer expect his people to obey him

  • The tsar had to reform. Russian tsars used repression to resist reform. However, in 1905, Nicholas could not rely on his military forces. The strength of opposition to the tsar from multiple areas of society pushed Nicholas to provide some democratic reform. When Nicholas attempted to reverse these reforms later, he was unable to.

Many historians call this period a revolution, even though it did not result in the overthrow of the tsar. This shows the amount of popular opposition to the tsar and the threat it posed to Tsarist Russia.

Causes of the 1905 Revolution

Long-term 

Short-term

Economic - From 1902, there were widespread disturbances in both towns and the countryside due to poor wages and famine

Russo-Japanese War - In 1904, Russia began a conflict with Japan over Manchuria. The war showed that Russia’s army was poorly organised and under-equipped. The important Russian military base of Port Arthur fell to Japan in January 1905 

The war increased opposition to the tsar. It had caused issues with the food supply. Many Russians felt humiliated at the defeat

Social - 1903 and 1904 were the Years of the Red Cockerel as peasants set fire to properties. Strikes, although illegal, occurred more in towns and cities. Non-Russian nationalities were unfairly treated by a policy called Russification. They wanted their independence

Political - The working classes fell into radical movements that wanted to overthrow the tsar. Opposition increased in the middle classes, who wanted constitutional reform

Bloody Sunday - On 22nd January 1905, Father Gapon led 200,000 protestors to the Winter Palace. He intended to hand a petition to the tsar asking for reform. The army opened fire on protestors, starting the revolution

Events of the 1905 Revolution

An illustration showing the key events of the 1905 Revolution
An illustration showing the key events of the 1905 Revolution


How Did Tsar Nicholas II Survive the 1905 Revolution?

  • Nicholas used a combination of reform and repression to stay in control of the Russian Empire

Reform

Repression

He introduced the October Manifesto and adapted the Fundamental Laws. This was aimed to win back the support of the middle classes

He used the army to suppress the strikes. This was made easier because the working-class opposition was not united

The October Manifesto and the Fundamental Laws

October Manifesto

  • Witte, the prime minister of Russia, persuaded Nicholas to pass the October Manifesto

  • The October Manifesto promised:

    • An elected duma (parliament)

      • The duma would meet to pass laws

    • More political rights for people in the Russian Empire

      • A promise to loosen censorship

      • Freedom of speech and assembly allowed

    • A change to the system of government

      • The Tsar remained the head of the government and was advised by his Council of Ministers

      • The State Council was chosen by the tsar and the zemstva

      • All men were allowed to vote for their representative in the duma

  • People reacted differently to the October Manifesto

An illustration showing the different reactions to the October Manifesto
An illustration showing the different reactions to the October Manifesto

The Fundamental Laws

  • In 1906, Nicholas adapted his Fundamental Laws

    • They confirmed the reforms promised in the October Manifesto

    • They asserted Nicholas’s rights as tsar

      • This showed Nicholas’s reluctance to give up his autocratic powers

A concept map showing the Tsar’s Fundamental Laws. It was an attempt by Nicholas to reassert his power over the Russian Empire
A concept map showing the Tsar’s Fundamental Laws. It was an attempt by Nicholas to reassert his power over the Russian Empire

The Establishment of the Duma

  • The Tsar allowed four dumas between 1906 and 1914

Election Results for the Duma

Party

First Duma (1906)

Second Duma (1907)

Third Duma

(1907-12)

Fourth Duma

(1912-17)

Bolsheviks

Did not stand in election

Did not stand in election

19

15

Mensheviks

18

47

0

0

SRs

0

37

0

0

Kadets

182

91

54

53

Octobrists

17

42

154

95

Right-wing parties

8

10

147

154

  • The first two dumas were radical

    • They demanded the tsar make more reforms

    • Nicholas quickly closed them down

  • The third and fourth dumas were weak

    • The government changed the voting laws to

      • Limit the power of peasant voters

      • Increase the number of right-wing parties in the duma

    • It showed the tsar’s lack of commitment to making Russia democratic

      • The tsar could have used the duma system to create a constitutional monarchy

      • Instead, the tsar made the duma powerless. This angered many people in the empire

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Many historians argue that, if Nicholas had embraced the duma system, Tsarist Russia would have survived. Russia would likely have developed a government system similar to Britain. Therefore this event is important in understanding why Tsarist Russia collapsed.

Peter Stolypin

  • Tsar Nicholas chose Peter Stolypin as Prime Minister in 1906

  • Stolypin’s actions as Prime Minister highlight the carrot and stick’ approach that the tsar used to maintain control of Russia:

A diagram showing the ‘carrot and stick’ methods Stolypin used to keep control
A diagram showing the ‘carrot and stick’ methods Stolypin used to keep control
  • Historians argue that both methods failed in the long term

    • There were very few kulaks

      • Poorer peasants only became poorer

    • Workers still suffered from poor conditions

      • Their pay after the 1905 Revolution was lower than in 1903

      • In 1912, there were strikes in Lena Goldfields which the government brutally repressed

Worked Example

Why was the October Manifesto issued in 1905?

6 marks

Partial answer:

The October Manifesto was issued to stop the disorder that had spread through Russia in 1905 (1). There was widespread violence in the countryside and the main cities were hit by a series of strikes. By September 1905, there were 800,000 workers on strike (1). Therefore, the tsar had to release the October Manifesto. It helped to stop the violence across Russia by gaining the support of key political parties and giving the impression of reform (1).

Examiner Tips and Tricks

In Paper One, ‘explain why’ questions are worth either six or ten marks. For full marks in this question, an examiner is looking for two fully explained reasons as to why the tsar released the October Manifesto. Use the PEE structure in your answer:

  • P - Make a point about the question

  • E - Use evidence that supports the point that you have made

  • E - Explain why this evidence made the tsar release the Manifesto. Avoid repeating the point again. Explain how this factor made the tsar have to reform, rather than repress.

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