Russia changed in the Nineteenth Century. As the world changed, and as many neighbouring nations began their modernization process, Russia felt a great deal of pressure to change. As the world changed, new ideals emerged that led to an increase in art and industry.
At this time in history, Russia was ruled by an absolute Tsar. Alexander I rose to prominence in the nineteenth-century during the Napoleonic War, and was followed by another four Tsars until the Russian Revolution.
Russia, although not developed, was still a vast empire with a majority of Russians. Russia was a feudalistic society. 80% of the population still lived as peasants. The Tsar was in charge of all decisions. The Orthodox church also supported the Tsar. The Russian state’s main difference from feudalism is that it was governed primarily by the state, its bureaucracy, along with the army.
A spontaneous and uncoordinated Revolution occurred in 1905 after the shooting of protesting St Petersburg workers. This is called “Bloody Sunday”. The goal of this revolution wasn’t clear, it was more a series or rebellious act carried out primarily by people living in cities. The acts were carried out throughout the empire and included mutinies at naval bases. In 1905 it seemed as if the Tsar’s downfall was inevitable. However, this regime survived thanks to liberal reforms promised and to the unorganized revolutionaries who lacked unity and objectivity.
This statement implies that the main reason that the Tsarist government fell in 1917 is that they failed to learn from the mistakes of 1905. It is saying that the Tsarist regime failed to learn the lessons of 1905. This led to the fall of the Tsarist regime in 1917. The Tsar’s reforms were not enough to fix the problems. There was still discontent among the Russian people due to overcrowding, violence, and debt.
Nicholas II’s incapability to lead an empire is another possible explanation for the collapse of the Tsarist system. Indecisiveness was one of the reasons for his fall during World War I (1914-1919). The Bolsheviks could also be a factor.
The Tsarist Government introduced a number of reforms in order to address the concerns raised in 1905. These included Army Reforms which restored discipline within the army. The Russian army was paid more and punishments were limited, including beatings. This helped to improve morale. The churches were also forced to fund poorer students to attend school. In order to make all peasants equal citizens, they cancelled their debts incurred when peasants lived as serfs. Peasants were able to sell, buy or leave land without any permission. Also, they introduced economic and finance reforms. The Duma now represented all classes. And also, unemployment insurance was introduced. These reforms were effective because they led to an economic boom, no more mutiny among the soldiers until the end of the first world, the Empire was liberated from foreign investments and its food production grew. Also, by 1914, 25 percent of Russians peasants fled their villages. But they also failed. Cities became overpopulated resulting in a greater number of people being dissatisfied with their limited housing and jobs. The Duma dissolved due to disagreements between the Tsar. It had limited powers and was not allowed to be a real democratic body. The laws were closed to debate and made it clear the role of the new assembly was to be nothing more than consultative.
The Tsarists also repressed the people as they had their own “secret police”. They would arrest anyone who rebelled against the Tsarists. Lowe wrote, “the situation was especially dangerous because the Government had alienated three important sections in society.” Lowe, N. (2005) He also mentioned the workers, peasants and educated classes. It caused unrest in all of those classes and was not good for the Tsar.
After the start of World War One in 1914, a number of events took place that threatened to undermine the Tsarist regime and its 300-year history. During Nicholas’s rule, strikes were common across the nation and illegal unions were prevalent. Nicholas II’s nephew, the Grand Duchess Sergei was assassinated at the Kremlin near Moscow. The sailors on the Battleship Potemkin also mutinied.
The economic discontent of over three quarters of the people was a major cause for the revolution. They were not happy with their situation in the empire. These conditions were a source of discontent for the peasants and the workers who lived and worked in the Empire. The Tsarist system was threatened by protests, riots and illegal strikes.
The peasants were dissatisfied because Russia did not have an income tax. To maintain the regime, the Tsar therefore taxed their produce. They suffered greatly due to this taxation, since they made no money and had to suffer. This caused periodic riots. Alexander II, Tsar Alexander II at that time, released the peasants. But, for the government to be able to give the land to the peasants they had to first pay the landowners. The peasants suffered more as a result. It was also expected that they would produce surplus grain to export, even though there wasn’t enough for them to eat themselves. This caused widespread famines in 1901.
Workers’ dissatisfaction was caused by the terrible conditions of work and the ban on trade unionism. It was due to the urbanisation of Russia, which led to an increase in population. The housing shortage was not met by developers, and many people had to live in communal houses that shared bathrooms, toilets, and kitchens. Others slept in factories with limited comfort. Strikes and protests increased dramatically and were widespread by 1905.
As well as the political situation, there was a great deal of discontent. Ethnic minorities suffered from Russian policies. Jews were targeted by pogroms sanctioned by the state. In 1900, government officials who were critical of their leadership were fired. The industrialisation of cities and workers led to a variety of economic and social problems.
Marxist ideologies began to spread in Russia around 1880. Karl Marx’s theories about the proletariat rising up and taking power from ruling class began to spread in Russia. Social revolutionaries were influenced by Marxist and populist ideas and wanted the power of the peasants. Around 2000 assassinations took place in the year before the revolution against those with political power.
Social-democrats focused more on workers than peasants. Their beliefs were solely Marxist. The group split in 1903 as a result of the ideological differences between Mensheviks.
There is no doubt about the conflict that surrounded Nicholas II’s rule of Russia. Orlando Figes said that Nicholas II wasn’t a good person to lead the Russian Empire. Russia’s final two Tsars resented the notion of a modern, constitutional order… Moreover, he was a very poor leader when it came to dealing with the people. Russian citizens, led to Winter Palace by Georgy Gaupon a priest, went there to tell the Tsar their concerns on January 22nd 1905. However his guards attacked them and many were left dead or seriously injured. The Tsar did not attend the incident, however it weakened the relationship between Russians and their ruler. Nicholas II and the Tsar’s family did not do anything to help the Russian people when there were severe food shortages and other supplies during the First World War. This did not contribute to a positive relationship between the people of Russia and Nicholas II. “The obstinate refusal by the tsarist régime to grant reforms has turned what was supposed to be a political issue into a crisis of revolution time and again.”
Lowe talked about Nicholas II’s failure to keep his promises made in the October Manifesto. Nicholas’s October Manifesto was not well-received by him, and he only agreed to sign it out of obligation. The Tsar’s selfishness is once again shown during times of difficulty and unrest in his people.
It is supported by the fact the Tsar made few promises about reforms, and that many fell through or didn’t have enough time to be effective. The Tsar was very selfish in his reforms. He held the majority of power at the Duma, so the people had no voice. There is also evidence that shows his personality as well as that of previous Tsars left the Russians around him with little faith in their government or in the Tsarist régime in general. To claim that only his personality caused the Tsarist government to collapse is bold. And personality alone does not suffice to start a revolt. The people were fed up with the social unrest that was building for years.
The statement I made is accurate to some degree. The lessons of 1905 were not taken as seriously as they should have. The people are not to blame for the entire revolution. Instead, the growing discontent over a long time period was what led up to it. A lot of things are involved here, including the personality of Nicholas, overcrowding in the cities, unemployment and food shortages. It was timing. I believe they had an equal amount of impact. It was a given.