3: Saving 3: Saving Tsarism in 4 Tsarism in 4 easy steps!easy steps!

Nick and Pete save Nick and Pete save the power of the the power of the

TsarTsar

1905 was a close one!

Step 1: Re-assert Nick’s Step 1: Re-assert Nick’s autocratic powersautocratic powers

4 days before the opening of the First Duma, Nick 4 days before the opening of the First Duma, Nick published the Fundamental State Laws published the Fundamental State Laws reasserting the Tsar’s absolute autocracy.reasserting the Tsar’s absolute autocracy.

Two articles removed the power sharing offered Two articles removed the power sharing offered in Nick’s October Manifesto:in Nick’s October Manifesto:

1.1. Supreme Autocratic power belongs to the Supreme Autocratic power belongs to the EmperorEmperor

2.2. No law can come into force without his No law can come into force without his consentconsent

WHY? No Duma elected by the politically ignorant WHY? No Duma elected by the politically ignorant were going to impinge on Nick’s authority. were going to impinge on Nick’s authority.

Step 2: Dismiss radically lead Step 2: Dismiss radically lead Duma’sDuma’s

First Duma (Apr-Jul 1906): Radical ministers First Duma (Apr-Jul 1906): Radical ministers wanted equal rights, land reform, free wanted equal rights, land reform, free education, constitution to limit Tsar, and education, constitution to limit Tsar, and equitable tax distribution. These demands equitable tax distribution. These demands clashed with the Fundamental State Laws.clashed with the Fundamental State Laws.

Second Duma (Feb-June 1907): Radicals Second Duma (Feb-June 1907): Radicals voted in again and pushed for the same voted in again and pushed for the same reforms. Fake assassination plot was reforms. Fake assassination plot was forged to enable Tsar to dismiss Duma.forged to enable Tsar to dismiss Duma.

Tsar has enough of the radical Tsar has enough of the radical partiesparties

Electoral laws were illegally changed by the Electoral laws were illegally changed by the Tsar in 1907 reducing the numbers of Tsar in 1907 reducing the numbers of deputies representing the workers, deputies representing the workers, peasants and ethnic minority groups, while peasants and ethnic minority groups, while increasing the deputies voted by upper increasing the deputies voted by upper class.class.

Voting power was unequal; to elect one Voting power was unequal; to elect one deputy it now took 230 landowners, 60,000 deputy it now took 230 landowners, 60,000 peasants or 125,000 industrial workers.peasants or 125,000 industrial workers.

20 months since the October crisis of 1905, 20 months since the October crisis of 1905, the Tsar was back in total control!!! the Tsar was back in total control!!!

The 3The 3rdrd & 4 & 4thth Duma’s Duma’s The conservative lead Duma’s were totally The conservative lead Duma’s were totally

unrepresentative of the Russian people.unrepresentative of the Russian people.

Historian Fischer said that the radical Historian Fischer said that the radical ministers were trying to introduce complex ministers were trying to introduce complex western objectives to a non-liberal and western objectives to a non-liberal and under-developed society.under-developed society.

But some radical ministers learnt a lot But some radical ministers learnt a lot about government, and the people grew a about government, and the people grew a political consciousness. political consciousness.

Step 3: Stolypin’s CarrotStep 3: Stolypin’s Carrot

Stolypin: Dr Jekyll and Stolypin: Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde – The Mr Hyde – The conservative Tsarist conservative Tsarist statesman and statesman and reforming political reforming political realist.realist.

He knew to stop the He knew to stop the revolution using a revolution using a combination of the combination of the carrot and the stick.carrot and the stick.

Step 3: Stolypin’s CarrotStep 3: Stolypin’s Carrot

Concessions included Land reforms for Concessions included Land reforms for peasants to buy their own land freely and peasants to buy their own land freely and fairly;fairly;

Social reforms on welfare benefits, Social reforms on welfare benefits, proportional tax and education;proportional tax and education;

Industrial reforms included shorter work Industrial reforms included shorter work hours and safer working conditions for hours and safer working conditions for children and women.children and women.

Step 4: Stolypin’s stickStep 4: Stolypin’s stick

Opponents were crushed and demoralisedOpponents were crushed and demoralised

Exiled or sent to SiberiaExiled or sent to Siberia

Okhrana wiped out thousands of opponents Okhrana wiped out thousands of opponents in both the city and countryside using the in both the city and countryside using the noose.noose.

The noose therefore became known as The noose therefore became known as ‘Stolypin’s Necktie’‘Stolypin’s Necktie’

Tsarism was saved!Tsarism was saved!

Politically: Reforms had been Politically: Reforms had been conceded and opponents crushedconceded and opponents crushed

Economically: Massive economic Economically: Massive economic growth with the national debt growth with the national debt reduced; annual growth of 6%, reduced; annual growth of 6%, savings and exports doubled; and savings and exports doubled; and govt spending and income doubled.govt spending and income doubled.

Socially: Growing middle class made Socially: Growing middle class made up of landowning peasants (Kulaks); up of landowning peasants (Kulaks); industrial workers and commercial industrial workers and commercial classclass

4: World War 4: World War 11

Disaster for Disaster for Russia; the end of Russia; the end of

Nick!Nick!

War was not a good idea!

Response to the outbreak of Response to the outbreak of warwar

1.1. Political & economic problems were Political & economic problems were forgotten as emotional fervour took forgotten as emotional fervour took over the public.over the public.

2.2. Minister Durnovo was worried the Minister Durnovo was worried the financial and economic implications of financial and economic implications of the war would add to social the war would add to social discontentdiscontent

3.3. Lenin saw the war as the rich getting Lenin saw the war as the rich getting the poor to fight for their gain. He the poor to fight for their gain. He called for a class war but popular called for a class war but popular patriotism won the day.patriotism won the day.

Massive Russian Military Massive Russian Military DefeatsDefeats

Russians managed one victory capturing 1/3 Russians managed one victory capturing 1/3 of the Austrian army early on, BUTof the Austrian army early on, BUT

Russia lost 130,000 in the Battle of Russia lost 130,000 in the Battle of Tannenburg, and 100,000 as POW’sTannenburg, and 100,000 as POW’s

By 1915 Russia had lost 4 million men with By 1915 Russia had lost 4 million men with 16 million captured civilians16 million captured civilians

Can be blamed on poor military leadership Can be blamed on poor military leadership compounded by lack of ammo, supplies and compounded by lack of ammo, supplies and organisation. Demoralisation and socialist organisation. Demoralisation and socialist propaganda was also rife leading to mass propaganda was also rife leading to mass desertion desertion

Political impact of the warPolitical impact of the war

Mistake 1: Nick became Commander of the Mistake 1: Nick became Commander of the Russian Army – The significant military losses Russian Army – The significant military losses lead to the Tsar assuming control of the Army lead to the Tsar assuming control of the Army from the popular Grand Duke Nikolaevich.from the popular Grand Duke Nikolaevich.

Issues this caused:Issues this caused: Tsar was away from Petrograd, symbolically Tsar was away from Petrograd, symbolically

abandoning the Russian peopleabandoning the Russian people Military defeats lead to a lack in confidence Military defeats lead to a lack in confidence

in the Tsarin the Tsar

Political mistake 2 – Tsarina in Political mistake 2 – Tsarina in charge of the government.charge of the government.

With Nick away, he left the With Nick away, he left the inexperienced Tsarina in charge of inexperienced Tsarina in charge of political affairspolitical affairs

Encouraged by the advice of Rasputin Encouraged by the advice of Rasputin she enjoyed maintaining autocratic ruleshe enjoyed maintaining autocratic rule

But the ruling class didn’t trust Rasputin But the ruling class didn’t trust Rasputin or her German heritage.or her German heritage.

Economic and social impact of Economic and social impact of the warthe war

Political disillusionment about Political disillusionment about autocratic tsarism was increased by autocratic tsarism was increased by military defeatsmilitary defeats

Lack of supplies and organisation not Lack of supplies and organisation not only cause problems in the army, but only cause problems in the army, but also created economic and social also created economic and social issues that would push ordinary issues that would push ordinary Russians to revolutionRussians to revolution

Economic impactEconomic impact

Food ShortagesFood Shortages

Poor organisation of Poor organisation of rail and roads meant rail and roads meant

that food rarely that food rarely made it to towns & made it to towns &

citiescities

Fuel ShortagesFuel Shortages

Transport crisis Transport crisis meant coal and fuel meant coal and fuel could not make it to could not make it to

industryindustry

Inflation & Price Inflation & Price IncreasesIncreases

Price of goods Price of goods increased more than increased more than

wages didwages did

UnemploymentUnemployment

No fuel for industry No fuel for industry meant no jobs. No meant no jobs. No

jobs meant harder to jobs meant harder to buy expensive food!buy expensive food!

Social ImpactSocial Impact

Military defeats, distant leadership and Military defeats, distant leadership and economic disaster fed social agitationeconomic disaster fed social agitation

The Tsar was warned to regain The Tsar was warned to regain confidence in his people if he wanted confidence in his people if he wanted to win the war and keep his throneto win the war and keep his throne

But did he listen?But did he listen?

Chapter ReviewChapter Review

Read about Rasputin on pages 53-56 Read about Rasputin on pages 53-56 and do Analysis Activity 1 & 3and do Analysis Activity 1 & 3