Tsardom and Communism
Russia Society in 1900:
• Nationalities – there were many different nationalities as there were 18 different nationalities.
Only 40% of the Tsar’s subjects spoke Russian as a first language. Not all of them were loyal to
the Tsar – the Poles and the Finns, hated the Russian ruler
• Peasants – they made up 80% of Russia’s population. They lived in communes. There were some
prosperous peasants who were called kulaks. The living and working conditions of the peasants were
terrible. Much of the land in Russia was unsuitable for farming. The number of peasants were
increasing because of population growth. Land was in short supply. Famine and starvation were
common. Life expectancy was just 40. They used ancient farming techniques – such as strip
farming. Most were illiterate. Many supported the Social Revolutionaries, as they resented how much
land the aristocracy, the Church and the Tsar had.
• Aristocracy – They had vast estates, town and country houses and elegant lifestyles. They made
up 1.5% of the population but owned 25% of the land. They were a key part of the Tsar’s
government as they were often local officials. The richer aristocrats lived in the cities. Some
landlords were in financial trouble and had to sell some of their lands. The greatest fear of the
aristocrats was that peasants would rise up and take their lands.
• Working class – In the late 19th century Tsars were keen for Russia to become an industrial power.
They introduced policies, which ked to rapid industrial growth – coal and oil production trebled, iron
production quadrupled. The majority of new workers were in St Petersburg and Moscow. Living
conditions were poor, there was a lot of overcrowding, terrible food, disease and alcoholism. Working
conditions were terrible as there were no rules on child labour, hours, safety or education. There
were no trade unions and low pay and 12-15 hour shifts a day. There was also brutal discipline.
Some peasants left the countryside to work in the new industries hoping for a new way of life or
for extra money.
• The middle classes – previously this had been small and just consisted o shopkeepers, lawyers and
university lecturers. This class had grown along with the rise of industrialisation because they were
capitalists such as landowners, industrialists, bankers, traders and businessmen. Their main concern
was the management of the economy, though the capitalists were also concerned about controlling
the workforce.
• The Tsar and his government – the system of government was an autocracy. The tsar believed
that God had placed him there and the Russian church supported him in this. The Tsar was not
forceful and avoided making important decisions. He would not delegate, which was a massive
problem in a country as big as Russia. He managed his officials poorly and encouraged rivalry
between ministers which meant departments wouldn’t work together. Many officials were friends
or family, and many were corrupt.
Ways Nicholas II made Russia’s government weaker:
• He tried to get involved in all f the tiniest details of the government. He personally answered
letters from peasants.
• He was bad at managing ministers – he refused to chair the council of ministers.
• He did not like when his ministers were good because he felt threatened by them. So, he would fire
them
, • Problems with communication meant the Tsar had to delegate power to his ministers and the
aristocracy.
Opponents of the Tsar:
• Liberals:
o These were the middle classes. They thought people should have the opportunity to run the
country through a parliament. In 1905 they formed the Constitutional Democratic Party.
o Aims – free elections and a parliament, the Tsar to be a constitutional monarch, civil
rights – freedom of speech, worship and conscience
o Supported by the middle and educated classes
o Tactics – meetings, speeches, discussions, articles and books
• Socialist Revolutionaries:
o Formed in 1901. Believed in a general revolutionary movement that would unite all the
people. Thought the peasants would bring about revolutionary to Russia.
o Aims – to get rid of the Tsar, to give land to the peasants to farm collectively in
communes.
o Supported by the peasants.
o Tactics – propaganda, violent acts
• Social Democrats:
o Founded in 1895. Followed the teachings of Marx. They believed revolution would be started
by the workers in the large cities.
o Aims – to overthrow the Tsar, to create a socialist state
o Supported by the workers in large towns and cities
o Tactics – in 1903 they split over tactics, one group became know as the Mensheviks and
the other the Bolsheviks
§ Mensheviks – believed the part should be a mass organisation that all workers
could join. IT would grow until it eventually took power. It could work with other
groups like trade unions to improve wages and working conditions.
§ Bolsheviks – believed in a small, secret, tightly disciplined party of professional
revolutionaries. They would seize power when the time was right. They
§ thought a large party could be infiltrated with spies
• By 1903 the activities of the opposition parties and the appalling conditions in the towns and the
countryside led to a wave of strikes, demonstrations and protests.
• The Tsars minister warned him that Russia was getting close to a revolution.
• By the end of January, there were more than 400,000 workers out on strike. The 1905
Revolution was underway. For the rest of the year, the government had little control of events, as
strikes, demonstrations, petitions, peasant upbringings, student riots and assassinations became
common.
• January – 200,000 peaceful protestors marched through the streets of St. Petersburg towards
the Winter Palace, led by a priest Father Gapon. They waned to hand in a petition asking for
changes. The troops panicked and opened fire. At least a hundred were killed and several hundred
more were injured in the event known as bloody Sunday.
• February – the strikes spread to other cities, workers demanded an eight-hour day, higher wages
and better conditions.
• 4th February – the Tsar’s uncle Grand Duke Sergei was assassinated.
, • March and May – shameful defeats of the Russian army in the war with Japan – led to demands
for a change in government.
• May and June – middle-class liberals demanded an elected parliament, freedom of speech and the
right to form political parties. The Poles and Finns demanded independence the Jews wanted equal
civil rights.
• June – sailors of the battleship ‘Potemkin’ mutinied this worried the government.
• June-July – peasant riots became widespread, land was seized, and landowners’ houses were looted
and burned.
• September – peace treaty signed between Russians and Japanese. Thousands of troops were now
free to help put down the unrest in Russia. The government paid them all their back pay and
promised better conditions, so they would remain loyal to the Tsar.
• October – general strike spread from Moscow to other cities. All opposition groups were united in
demanding change. Barricade set up in the streets.
• 26th October – St. Petersburg Soviet of Workers Deputies forms representatives of factories
attended to arrange strikes. Soviets formed in other cities.
• 30th October – issued October manifesto promising a parliament or Duma elected by the people,
civil right, uncensored newspapers and the right to form political parties. The liberals and middle
classes thought they had won and stopped protests and started supporting the government.
• December – the Tsar took back control, using force to close down the St Petersburg Soviet and
crush an armed uprising in Moscow. He sent out troops to take revenge on workers and peasants
who had ruled and bring them under control.
• The Tsar survived because:
o He gives in and issues the ‘October Manifesto’ which gives the right to Duma, free speech
and political parties; this calmed down middle classes and divided his opponents this leading
to him crushing the peasant rebellions and working-class rebels.
o He made peace with Japan – troops brought back to crush the revolution.
o Army loyal to the Tsar.
o Popular belief in Divine right to the Tsar
o December 1905 – leaders of the Moscow and St. Petersburg soviets arrested and exiled to
Siberia.
• The Duma was set up this was an elected assembly or parliament
• In the first Duma of 1906, the liberal constitutions (known as the Cadets) won a majority. They
demanded control of taxes, as the Tsar had promised them.
• Instead he dismissed the Duma and many Liberals fled to Finland. New elections were held.
• This time the Duma was even more radical – members of the Marxist (Socialist Democratic Labour
Party) won some seats from the Cadets. When the Tsar wanted to arrest several SDLP members
as terrorists the Duma refused – so the Tsar dismissed it too.
• The next two Dumas (1907-1914) obeyed the Tsar. The SDLP were not allowed to run as
candidates and any known troublemakers were arrested and imprisoned.
• But by 1912 the third Duma was becoming critical of the Tsar’s policies. However, it had no power
to change the Tsar’s policies and criticism alone was not a serious threat to the regime, so the
Tsars’ rule continued.
• The press was censored, and secret police was used to spy on people the Tsar feared.
• The situation of the people had not improved and there was still a lot of discontent among the
poor working classes.
Russia Society in 1900:
• Nationalities – there were many different nationalities as there were 18 different nationalities.
Only 40% of the Tsar’s subjects spoke Russian as a first language. Not all of them were loyal to
the Tsar – the Poles and the Finns, hated the Russian ruler
• Peasants – they made up 80% of Russia’s population. They lived in communes. There were some
prosperous peasants who were called kulaks. The living and working conditions of the peasants were
terrible. Much of the land in Russia was unsuitable for farming. The number of peasants were
increasing because of population growth. Land was in short supply. Famine and starvation were
common. Life expectancy was just 40. They used ancient farming techniques – such as strip
farming. Most were illiterate. Many supported the Social Revolutionaries, as they resented how much
land the aristocracy, the Church and the Tsar had.
• Aristocracy – They had vast estates, town and country houses and elegant lifestyles. They made
up 1.5% of the population but owned 25% of the land. They were a key part of the Tsar’s
government as they were often local officials. The richer aristocrats lived in the cities. Some
landlords were in financial trouble and had to sell some of their lands. The greatest fear of the
aristocrats was that peasants would rise up and take their lands.
• Working class – In the late 19th century Tsars were keen for Russia to become an industrial power.
They introduced policies, which ked to rapid industrial growth – coal and oil production trebled, iron
production quadrupled. The majority of new workers were in St Petersburg and Moscow. Living
conditions were poor, there was a lot of overcrowding, terrible food, disease and alcoholism. Working
conditions were terrible as there were no rules on child labour, hours, safety or education. There
were no trade unions and low pay and 12-15 hour shifts a day. There was also brutal discipline.
Some peasants left the countryside to work in the new industries hoping for a new way of life or
for extra money.
• The middle classes – previously this had been small and just consisted o shopkeepers, lawyers and
university lecturers. This class had grown along with the rise of industrialisation because they were
capitalists such as landowners, industrialists, bankers, traders and businessmen. Their main concern
was the management of the economy, though the capitalists were also concerned about controlling
the workforce.
• The Tsar and his government – the system of government was an autocracy. The tsar believed
that God had placed him there and the Russian church supported him in this. The Tsar was not
forceful and avoided making important decisions. He would not delegate, which was a massive
problem in a country as big as Russia. He managed his officials poorly and encouraged rivalry
between ministers which meant departments wouldn’t work together. Many officials were friends
or family, and many were corrupt.
Ways Nicholas II made Russia’s government weaker:
• He tried to get involved in all f the tiniest details of the government. He personally answered
letters from peasants.
• He was bad at managing ministers – he refused to chair the council of ministers.
• He did not like when his ministers were good because he felt threatened by them. So, he would fire
them
, • Problems with communication meant the Tsar had to delegate power to his ministers and the
aristocracy.
Opponents of the Tsar:
• Liberals:
o These were the middle classes. They thought people should have the opportunity to run the
country through a parliament. In 1905 they formed the Constitutional Democratic Party.
o Aims – free elections and a parliament, the Tsar to be a constitutional monarch, civil
rights – freedom of speech, worship and conscience
o Supported by the middle and educated classes
o Tactics – meetings, speeches, discussions, articles and books
• Socialist Revolutionaries:
o Formed in 1901. Believed in a general revolutionary movement that would unite all the
people. Thought the peasants would bring about revolutionary to Russia.
o Aims – to get rid of the Tsar, to give land to the peasants to farm collectively in
communes.
o Supported by the peasants.
o Tactics – propaganda, violent acts
• Social Democrats:
o Founded in 1895. Followed the teachings of Marx. They believed revolution would be started
by the workers in the large cities.
o Aims – to overthrow the Tsar, to create a socialist state
o Supported by the workers in large towns and cities
o Tactics – in 1903 they split over tactics, one group became know as the Mensheviks and
the other the Bolsheviks
§ Mensheviks – believed the part should be a mass organisation that all workers
could join. IT would grow until it eventually took power. It could work with other
groups like trade unions to improve wages and working conditions.
§ Bolsheviks – believed in a small, secret, tightly disciplined party of professional
revolutionaries. They would seize power when the time was right. They
§ thought a large party could be infiltrated with spies
• By 1903 the activities of the opposition parties and the appalling conditions in the towns and the
countryside led to a wave of strikes, demonstrations and protests.
• The Tsars minister warned him that Russia was getting close to a revolution.
• By the end of January, there were more than 400,000 workers out on strike. The 1905
Revolution was underway. For the rest of the year, the government had little control of events, as
strikes, demonstrations, petitions, peasant upbringings, student riots and assassinations became
common.
• January – 200,000 peaceful protestors marched through the streets of St. Petersburg towards
the Winter Palace, led by a priest Father Gapon. They waned to hand in a petition asking for
changes. The troops panicked and opened fire. At least a hundred were killed and several hundred
more were injured in the event known as bloody Sunday.
• February – the strikes spread to other cities, workers demanded an eight-hour day, higher wages
and better conditions.
• 4th February – the Tsar’s uncle Grand Duke Sergei was assassinated.
, • March and May – shameful defeats of the Russian army in the war with Japan – led to demands
for a change in government.
• May and June – middle-class liberals demanded an elected parliament, freedom of speech and the
right to form political parties. The Poles and Finns demanded independence the Jews wanted equal
civil rights.
• June – sailors of the battleship ‘Potemkin’ mutinied this worried the government.
• June-July – peasant riots became widespread, land was seized, and landowners’ houses were looted
and burned.
• September – peace treaty signed between Russians and Japanese. Thousands of troops were now
free to help put down the unrest in Russia. The government paid them all their back pay and
promised better conditions, so they would remain loyal to the Tsar.
• October – general strike spread from Moscow to other cities. All opposition groups were united in
demanding change. Barricade set up in the streets.
• 26th October – St. Petersburg Soviet of Workers Deputies forms representatives of factories
attended to arrange strikes. Soviets formed in other cities.
• 30th October – issued October manifesto promising a parliament or Duma elected by the people,
civil right, uncensored newspapers and the right to form political parties. The liberals and middle
classes thought they had won and stopped protests and started supporting the government.
• December – the Tsar took back control, using force to close down the St Petersburg Soviet and
crush an armed uprising in Moscow. He sent out troops to take revenge on workers and peasants
who had ruled and bring them under control.
• The Tsar survived because:
o He gives in and issues the ‘October Manifesto’ which gives the right to Duma, free speech
and political parties; this calmed down middle classes and divided his opponents this leading
to him crushing the peasant rebellions and working-class rebels.
o He made peace with Japan – troops brought back to crush the revolution.
o Army loyal to the Tsar.
o Popular belief in Divine right to the Tsar
o December 1905 – leaders of the Moscow and St. Petersburg soviets arrested and exiled to
Siberia.
• The Duma was set up this was an elected assembly or parliament
• In the first Duma of 1906, the liberal constitutions (known as the Cadets) won a majority. They
demanded control of taxes, as the Tsar had promised them.
• Instead he dismissed the Duma and many Liberals fled to Finland. New elections were held.
• This time the Duma was even more radical – members of the Marxist (Socialist Democratic Labour
Party) won some seats from the Cadets. When the Tsar wanted to arrest several SDLP members
as terrorists the Duma refused – so the Tsar dismissed it too.
• The next two Dumas (1907-1914) obeyed the Tsar. The SDLP were not allowed to run as
candidates and any known troublemakers were arrested and imprisoned.
• But by 1912 the third Duma was becoming critical of the Tsar’s policies. However, it had no power
to change the Tsar’s policies and criticism alone was not a serious threat to the regime, so the
Tsars’ rule continued.
• The press was censored, and secret police was used to spy on people the Tsar feared.
• The situation of the people had not improved and there was still a lot of discontent among the
poor working classes.
