Why Did Tsar Nicholas II Survive The 1905 Revolution Essay
Tsar Nicholas II survived the 1905 revolution because of extensive repression, political and economic reforms and Russification. These combined led to his survival because the reforms appeased some of the opposition, reducing its size, and the weak opposition, combined with extensive repression, led to the silencing of the opposition, and hence Tsar Nicholas’ survival. Furthermore, the Russification helped increase the loyalty of some of Russia’s minorities to the Tsar.
Firstly, according to Leo Tolstoy, “One third of Russia is under a regime of reinforced surveillance…The censorship has attained a level of oppressiveness unknown even in the abominable period of the 1840s…Troops with weapons loaded ready to fire on the people have been sent …show more content…
The October Manifesto was one of the measures put forth by the Tsar to introduce more political reform: “...grant to the population…civil freedom…freedom of conscience, speech, assembly and association...a rule that no law shall take effect without confirmation by the State Duma…” The October Manifesto gave the people freer speech, as well as giving the Duma more power in the form of the ability to pass all bills into law, giving the people more control over the workings of the internal government. Furthermore, the Tsar announced “further help and financial concessions for peasants”, improving their standard of living, if only slightly. These reforms would have helped the Tsar remain in power, and survive the 1905 Revolution because the peasants would have been happier, and more pleased with the policies of the Tsar, and therefore less likely to revolt, decreasing the number of people protesting, and helping the Tsar, and his armed forces, manage the smaller size of the rebellion. Also, the giving of more political freedoms, although leading to the explosion of anti-Tsarist rhetoric, would have been seen by some, particularly the liberals, as a step in the direction of more freedom, and a more democratic society, therefore reducing the size of the opposition at that particular
Firstly, according to Leo Tolstoy, “One third of Russia is under a regime of reinforced surveillance…The censorship has attained a level of oppressiveness unknown even in the abominable period of the 1840s…Troops with weapons loaded ready to fire on the people have been sent …show more content…
The October Manifesto was one of the measures put forth by the Tsar to introduce more political reform: “...grant to the population…civil freedom…freedom of conscience, speech, assembly and association...a rule that no law shall take effect without confirmation by the State Duma…” The October Manifesto gave the people freer speech, as well as giving the Duma more power in the form of the ability to pass all bills into law, giving the people more control over the workings of the internal government. Furthermore, the Tsar announced “further help and financial concessions for peasants”, improving their standard of living, if only slightly. These reforms would have helped the Tsar remain in power, and survive the 1905 Revolution because the peasants would have been happier, and more pleased with the policies of the Tsar, and therefore less likely to revolt, decreasing the number of people protesting, and helping the Tsar, and his armed forces, manage the smaller size of the rebellion. Also, the giving of more political freedoms, although leading to the explosion of anti-Tsarist rhetoric, would have been seen by some, particularly the liberals, as a step in the direction of more freedom, and a more democratic society, therefore reducing the size of the opposition at that particular