Why did the tsarist regime collapse in
1917?
The Tsar and his Government
Autocracy
The empire was ruled by one man, the Tsar, who had absolute power. By the early
twentieth century most European countries had given their people at least some say in
how they were run, but Tsar Nicolas was still committed to the idea of Autocracy.
He wouldn't listen to any calls for political reform or greater democracy in Russia.
Most russian nobles supported him in this view. He also had support of the army
commanders, the Church and the bureaucracy that ran the government.
Control and Repression
➢ Newspapers were censored and political parties were banned.
➢ The Okhrana (Tsar’s secret police force), was very effective, sending thousands
to prison or exile in Siberia. The army backed them up - particularly the
terrifying Cossack regiment who put down any disturbances.
➢ In the countryside, each peasant belonged to a mir or a village commune which
controlled their daily lives. Each area had a ‘land captain’ - local noble who dealt
with crimes and disputes.
➢ Larger regions had governments and aristocrats appointed by the Tsar. They
had powers to:
○ Arrest people
○ Put down trouble
○ Censor newspapers etc
➢ There were some officials in towns and district councils called Zemstva, but
these were dominated by nobles and professional classes.
➢ The Zemstva did some good work in areas such as health and education and gave
people useful experience in running local government.
➢ Some people wanted a national zemstvo through which elected representatives
could help run the country but the Tsar and his regime wouldn’t accept this.
, Chaos and incompetence
➢ The Tsar wasn't a very good ruler.
➢ He worked hard but avoided making big decisions and wasted time by getting
involved with the tiniest details of the government.
➢ He did not delegate day-to-day tasks and in a country as vast as Russia, this was
a big problem.
➢ Nicholas also felt threatened by able and talented ministers. He refused to
chair the Council of Ministers because he disliked confrontation.
➢ He encouraged rivalry between the ministers which caused chaos, because
different government departments refused to co-operate with each other.
➢ He also appointed family members and friends from the court to important
positions even though many were stupid and corrupt, making huge fortunes from
their bribes.
The Russian people
The Nationalities
Many people in Russia were not actually Russians. These other groups were called
nationalities because they really belonged to a different nation. Some, for example
the Cossacks, were loyal to the Tsar. Others, for example the Poles and Finns, hated
Russian rule.
Peasants and the countryside
80% of the population were peasants who lived in communes. There were some
prosperous peasant farmers called Kulaks, but living and working conditions for most
peasants were dreadful:
➢ Farming was backwards and primitive.
➢ There was no education.
➢ Hunger and disease were common.
➢ Life expectancy was only 40 in some areas.
➢ Life was strictly controlled
➢ A rising population meant there was a shortage of good-quality land
Despite this, because of the teachings of the Church, most peasants were loyal to the
Tsar.
Some peasants did support the radical political parties who wanted to take the good
farming land from the aristocrats and the Church and give it to the peasants.
1917?
The Tsar and his Government
Autocracy
The empire was ruled by one man, the Tsar, who had absolute power. By the early
twentieth century most European countries had given their people at least some say in
how they were run, but Tsar Nicolas was still committed to the idea of Autocracy.
He wouldn't listen to any calls for political reform or greater democracy in Russia.
Most russian nobles supported him in this view. He also had support of the army
commanders, the Church and the bureaucracy that ran the government.
Control and Repression
➢ Newspapers were censored and political parties were banned.
➢ The Okhrana (Tsar’s secret police force), was very effective, sending thousands
to prison or exile in Siberia. The army backed them up - particularly the
terrifying Cossack regiment who put down any disturbances.
➢ In the countryside, each peasant belonged to a mir or a village commune which
controlled their daily lives. Each area had a ‘land captain’ - local noble who dealt
with crimes and disputes.
➢ Larger regions had governments and aristocrats appointed by the Tsar. They
had powers to:
○ Arrest people
○ Put down trouble
○ Censor newspapers etc
➢ There were some officials in towns and district councils called Zemstva, but
these were dominated by nobles and professional classes.
➢ The Zemstva did some good work in areas such as health and education and gave
people useful experience in running local government.
➢ Some people wanted a national zemstvo through which elected representatives
could help run the country but the Tsar and his regime wouldn’t accept this.
, Chaos and incompetence
➢ The Tsar wasn't a very good ruler.
➢ He worked hard but avoided making big decisions and wasted time by getting
involved with the tiniest details of the government.
➢ He did not delegate day-to-day tasks and in a country as vast as Russia, this was
a big problem.
➢ Nicholas also felt threatened by able and talented ministers. He refused to
chair the Council of Ministers because he disliked confrontation.
➢ He encouraged rivalry between the ministers which caused chaos, because
different government departments refused to co-operate with each other.
➢ He also appointed family members and friends from the court to important
positions even though many were stupid and corrupt, making huge fortunes from
their bribes.
The Russian people
The Nationalities
Many people in Russia were not actually Russians. These other groups were called
nationalities because they really belonged to a different nation. Some, for example
the Cossacks, were loyal to the Tsar. Others, for example the Poles and Finns, hated
Russian rule.
Peasants and the countryside
80% of the population were peasants who lived in communes. There were some
prosperous peasant farmers called Kulaks, but living and working conditions for most
peasants were dreadful:
➢ Farming was backwards and primitive.
➢ There was no education.
➢ Hunger and disease were common.
➢ Life expectancy was only 40 in some areas.
➢ Life was strictly controlled
➢ A rising population meant there was a shortage of good-quality land
Despite this, because of the teachings of the Church, most peasants were loyal to the
Tsar.
Some peasants did support the radical political parties who wanted to take the good
farming land from the aristocrats and the Church and give it to the peasants.
