Nicholas II

Increasing widespread unrest in both the towns and countryside as the tsaris gov offered no prospect of change. Peasants were suffering from land hunger and destroyed landlords barns and seized woodland and pasture. Peasant ownership of land was just 20%, redemption payments were promised to be abolished in 1905 and this was kept true two years later. Famine occured again in 1901.

Industrial workers formed illegal trade unions and became involved in strikes. In St Petersburg in 1904, an official unin, supported by the government was formed by Father Gapon, in order to prevent workers joining the radical socialists. Bloody Sunday and the 1905 revolution was sparked as a result of an outbreak of a strike at the Putilov works in St Petersburg, which involved 15,000 workers. Gapon lead a peaceful march of 20,000 workers to the winter palace. Soviets of elected factory workers were formed to coordinate strikes.

Factory and workshop owners, managers, traders and professionals (doctors, techers etc.) became more prominent in society and played a major role in the zemstva. A lack of a national elected assembly made them opponents of the regime.

About a third of the nobles land was transferred to the peasants followin their emancipation in 1861, but the majority of nobles maintained their landed wealthwhile the tsar relied on them to fill the top positions in government. Aminority of nobles sons also entered the world of industry and commerce.

The Tver Address was an address presented to Tsar Nicholas II on his ascension to the throne in 1894, by the most liberal zemstvo leaders. The address was inspired by increased wishes for an "all-class zemstvo at the volost level", something the liberal nobles, like Prince Lvov, believed would integrate the peasantry into the local government. In a subsequent speech the Tsar denounced the ideas as "senseless dreams", while emphasizing his "firm and unflinching" devotion to the "principle of autocracy". The speech infuriated public opinion, and within days the Ministry of the Interior resumed its persecution of the zemstvos.

Nicholas II became tsar at 26 after his father died suddenly,he admitted he had little idea of how to rule when he came to the throne, he felt he had a god given duty to fulfil. He was determined to rule as his father had done yet proved incapable of mking firm decision or providing any sense of direction. The wife of Nicholas II was the tsarina Alexandra, who was german and semmed increasingly unpopular, during WW1 she was left in charge along with Rasputin - a peasant who exercised great influence over Alexandra.  Nicholas was a private and family orientated man, the tsarina shirked away from court and public appearances. He was decribed as 'girlie' by his father and a 'dunce' by Pobodonstev.

Also known as the 'union of Russian people', it was anti-liberal, anti-socialist and anti-semitic and considered that Russia had been taken over by the intellectuals and the jews. There was a concerted attack on Jewish communities, involving the burning of Jewish houses and businesses, **** and looting. Over 3000 Jews were murdered in the last two weeks of October 1905.

- Assasination of Grand Duke Sergei Aleksandrovich (feb 1905)

- Red cockrel riots = peasants began seizing land, grain and animals, burning landlords houses, cutting timber illegally and refusing to pay rent and taxes.

- During 1905, 3600 government officials were killed or wounded.

- By the end of January 400,000 workers were on strike

- Bloody Sunday 130 killed, 300 injured

- 90,00 stikes in 1904, compared with 17,000 in 1894

- Mutiny of the Battleship Potemkin

- Poles and Finns demanded independence

- The tsar had to dispatch 10,00 troops to georgia to settle unrest

In May 1896, the site was used for the ill-fated coronation of Tsar Nicholas II. Rumours about a shortage in food and that the coronation mugs contained a gold coin resulted in a stampede in which more than 1000 people were trampled to death.

Red cockrel riots, peasants began seizing land, grain and animals, burning landlords houses, cutting timber illegally and refusing to pay rent and taxes.There were also general demands for land, the end of redemption payment and a reduction in rent. There was no coordinated peasant movement and a range of peasant unions and societies arised. An All-Russian Peasnt Union met near Moscow at the end of July. The army was used to put down peasant uprisings, but the army was often composed of peasants and mutinies began to spread as whole units refused to carry out orders.

In an attempt to regain tsarist control field court martials were introduce in 1906 to delive fast trials and executions within 24 hours of sentencing. As a result peasants were hung in their hundreds, the noose became known as 'stolypins necktie'.

Zubativ was head of the Moscow Okhrana but still was in favour of liberalisation and was given persmission to legalise trade unions in 1900. His experiment was abandoned in 1903 when one union attempted to precipitate a general strike.

In January 1904 the japanese attacked the russian naval base port arthur. Plehve called for a 'short, swift and victoriuos war' which would distract from political unrest at home. 

In March 1904, Russian forces were defeated at Mukden, 90,000 Russians were killed.

In May 1904, 24 out if 27 Russian ship were sunk in the Battle of Tsushima

In December 1904, Russia surrended at Port Arthur. These defeats turned anti-Japanese patriotism into discontent ad increased opposition to the government.

Witte was called on by Nicholas II to negotiate a peace treaty between Russia and Japan in the Treaty of Portsmouth on the 29th August 1905.

Plehve encouraged the Tsar that a short, swift victorous war would detract from unrest at home. In July 1904 Plehve was assasinated and crowds took to the streets to celebrate. Plehve was balmed for defeat in the Russo-Japnese war.

In November replaced Plehve as minister for Internal Affairs, agreed to invite zemstva members to St Petersburg for discussions about a national assembly.

After Zubatov lost his job in 1903, Father Gapon set up the Assembly of St Petsburg Factor Workers another union sponsored by the state. It had 12 branches and 8000 members . The minister of Interior Plehve supported it alongside the Orthodox Church.

150,000 workers went on strike, Father Gapon led a peaceful march to the Winter palace to deliver a peition for reform, requesting changes such as an 8 hour working day. Gapon encouraged the workers to pledge their loyalty to the tsar and conduct themselves peacefully.

12,000 troops were used to break up the demonstartions leading to 130 people dying and 300 injured. On the 4th Feb Grand Duke Sergei (Nicholas II's uncle) was assassinated by a socialist revolutionary bomb. The Tsar was in Tsarkoe-Selo and so it is thought his troops acted without his consent.

On the 14th of June the crew of the Battleship Potemkin mutinied, they siezed control of the ship and sailed to Odessa. The arrival of the ship was warmly recived by crwods of people. Troops were ordered to disperse the crwods and opened fire, killing as many as 2000 citizens.

Sergi Witte, the new Chief Minister, advised the Tsar Nicholas II to make concessions after the 1905 revoltuion. Nikolai Romanov agreed and urged the Tsar to bring in reforms. The Tsar refused and instead ordered him to assume the role of a military dictator. The Grand Duke refused, drew his pistol and threatened to shoot himself on the spot if the Tsar did not endorse Witte's plan. The Tsar eventually agreed and published the October Manifesto.

Signed on the 17th October 1905, it conceeded civil liberties such as freedom of speech and conscience, freedom of association and ended the unwarrated arrests. It also extablished an elected Duma. Liberals hailed the October manifesto as it was the first step towards constitutional government and moed to support the tsar.

Troops loyal to the tsar arrested most of the members of the St Petersburg soviet Trotsky becomes the president of the Soviet. The St. Petersburg Soviet calls for preparation for an armed revolt. The government arrests 250 members of the St. Petersburg Soviet, including Trotsky and most of the executive committee

Rebels execute the chief of the Moscow Okhrana - by this date, the revolt has been confined to the working-class Presnia district - the elite Semyonov Guards arrive in Moscow - the last meeting of Moscow Soviet - government troops ring the Presnia district in Moscow with artillery. Government forces open a full-scale artillery barrage on the working-class Presnia district and the entire area is ablaze by nightfall - the artillery fire continues until the 31st Decemeber. General Min gives his final orders to the troops crushing the revolt in Moscow: “Act without mercy.  There will be no arrests.”

Those liberals who wer happy with the October manifesto. They wanted a new legal order and cooperation between government and public. They appealed to industrialists and land owners or those with commercial interests.

Lead by Milyukov, and suppoted by the liberal intelligentsia. They split from the Octobrists after the Ovtober manifesto as they still wanted full civil rights, universal suffrage, free education and an end to cencorship along with a democratcally elected assembly.

Consisted of deputies and prominent figures such as Kerensky. They represented and were supported by the peasants. Their main goal was agrigarian refom.

Four days befor the state duma met the tsar issued the 'fundamental laws' in which he claimed the right to:

- exercise 'supreme autocratic power'

- initiate legiaslation and approve laws

- appoint and dismiss ministers

- summon and dissolve the duma

- rule by decree in an emergency or when the duma was not in session

May - June 1906

It was dominated by Kadets and radicals, with many peasants representatives (Trudoviks). It demanded radical constitutional change and passed a vote of 'no confidence' in the government and was dissolved. 

February - June 1907

Stolypin egineered elections to increase the number of Octobrists. The Bolsheviks and the SRs (won 37 seats) and the Menshevik social democrats had 47, partcipated in increasing the number of radical deputies. It opposed most Tsarist proposals, including agrigarian reform. It was dissolved and leading radicals were exiled. 

November 1907 - June 1912

Stolypin introduced emergency laws to reduce the representation of peasants and workers 1% of the popluation now elected 300 of the 442 deputies. Octobrists and Conservatiives dominated the duma. The duma was more compliant however there were still some disputes and it was suspended twice. The duma passed legislation to set up schools for poor children and an insurance scheme for workers, providing unemployment payment and nedical fees.

November 1912-1917

The right and left wing deputies could not cooperateand the fourth duma was increasingly ignored. It voted for war credits in 1914, but was suspended in 1915 after demanding more power. Stolypin was assainated in 1911. Right wing of the duma openly criticised the government and in 1913 th duma passed a resolution warning the tsar.