Attempts to strengthen Tsarism

Intro Context – Attempted revolution broke out in Forced Tsar to introduce changes to try and ensure another revolution did not happen. Stolypin made PM in 1906 – Makes most of changes Note –Background should mention that in Oct 1905 at the height of the revolution, Tsar introduced October Manifesto which introduced an elected Duma and improved civil rights – This split the opposition forces as it gave the middle class what they wanted.

Factors Repression Agriculture reforms Industrial reforms Relationship with the Dumas

Argument Some measures to strengthen Tsar’s position from were effective in the short term but they were not effective as long term measures of ensuring Tsarism survived.

Repression Stolypin had a reputation for being a hard leader and was not scared to use violence. Used Okhrana, police and army to locate opposition groups – arrested, court martialed and executed anyone suspected of revolutionary activity. (KU) : 3000 revolutionaries hanged (KU)

Repression analysis Brutality and publicity of executions scared many people and stopped them revolting - – Worked on ‘fair weather’ revolutionaries (A) Effective in reducing the number of protests and rebellions, especially in rural areas Robert Service states that these hangings “reduced the countryside to quiescence” (A+ - Historiography)

Evaluation Repression was effective in quickly stopping ordinary people from revolting as it struck fear into many Russians. However, it was not effective in the long term as fanatic revolutionaries continued to oppose the Tsar and repression only hardened their resolve – There is an increase in political assassinations which shows this.

Agricultural Reforms Stolypin also believed that it was necessary to improve peoples’ conditions in order to protect Tsarism – especially peasants (Carrot and Stick) His aim was to create a wealthier class of peasant – kulak – who would have too much to lose if they revolted (KU)

Agricultural Reforms Stolypin cancelled redemption payments – 49 year mortgages (KU) Peasants were now allowed to leave their village commune and could own their own land (KU) Peasant land bank was created to give loans to peasants who wished to buy their own land (KU)

Agricultural Reforms - Analysis Some peasants bought into the reforms and were happy that they could own their own land. Therefore, the reforms were successful to some extent in the short term. (A) However, many were resistant to change and did not like the new reforms – preferred idea of the village commune (A+ - Counterargument) Also, Stolypin did not deal with the real issues facing peasants – land hunger and outdated farming tools meant there was no real improvement in agriculture (A+ - Counterargument)

Evaluation Stolypin knew it would take at least 20 years for his reforms to work. A new wealthy class of peasant would not develop overnight. He hoped over time this would be the case. However, he was assassinated in 1911 and his reforms did not get the 20 years to work. Therefore, they were not effective in the long term in strengthening Tsarism.

Industrial reforms Stolypin also knew that he could not neglect the workers in the cities. He encouraged further industrialisation to create jobs and boost Russia’s economy (KU) He also introduced reforms that slightly improved working conditions and introduced a system of national insurance. (KU) The Okhrana were still used to find any revolutionary activity in Russian cities/factories (KU)

Industrial Reforms - Analysis His focus on industrialisation created jobs in Russia which was beneficial for many and made them less likely to revolt. (A) However, this put even more strain on the cities in terms of housing and conditions as more people came to the cities looking for work (A+ - Counterargument) By 1911, strikes and protests in cities had fell suggesting a happier workforce (A) However, it could be argued that this was due to a ban on strike funds which made it nearly impossible to properly strike (A+ - Counterargument) McColgan suggests this drop in strikes is purely coincidental and not necessarily because of industrial reform. (A+ - Historiography)

Evaluation Industrial reform was a double edged sword. It provided work but the strain put on the cities made it a hot bed for revolution. Mainly, in order to industrialise effectively, Russia had to borrow money from France. This tied them to the French and forced them to enter into WW1 which ultimately caused the Tsar’s downfall. Therefore, industrialisation actually proved to be counterproductive in the long term.

Relationship with the Dumas The way Stolypin dealt with the Dumas has to be examined too. The October Manifesto created an elected Duma to, supposedly, give more say to the middle classes. Stolypin worked with these Dumas as long as they served the Tsar. He advised the Tsar to dissolve them if they went against him and then illegally altered who could vote – His aim was to make sure that full power still resided with the Tsar.

Structure of Duma Bicameral – Two chambers Lower chamber – Made up of elected deputies – They could propose law. Upper chamber – Made up of people appointed by Tsar – Could veto any proposed laws. Tsar could dissolve Duma and order new elections under Fundamental Laws. Ultimately, this meant the Tsar still controlled the laws and running of the country.

First Duma (KU) Mixture of left and right wing deputies elected. Proposed land reform, military funding and amendment to Fundamental Laws. Too radical – Tsar dissolves them in June 1906.

Second Duma The Tsar also never agreed with what this Duma was asking for. June 1907 – Dissolved

Stolypin alters electoral role Stolypin knew that the Duma had to work if Tsarism was to survive. He also realised that this would require pro- Tsar deputies to be on the Duma. He therefore decided to illegally change who could vote to only the richest in Russia – 1 in 6 men. This led to a Duma made up of pro-Tsar deputies.

Third Duma More successful – Worked with the Tsar and some reforms were passed in agriculture, education and industry. Duma ran for it’s full 5 year term.

Dumas - Analysis The creation of the Dumas worked in general because it created the illusion that the middle class would have some more political say which made them happy. (A) The third Duma helped to strengthen Tsarism as it showed that the Tsarist system was not totally opposed to change but reaffirmed the Tsar’s authority and made people realise he was in charge. (A)

Evaluation Dumas and the way Stolypin and the Tsar dealt with them would help to keep people at bay in the short term. However, in the long term the people of Russia would realise that Stolypin had illegally changed who could vote and would therefore become angry at the Tsar once again and more likely to revolt.

Conclusion The attempts to strengthen Tsarism from were unsuccessful in the long term. Achieved some short term success as repression kept the fair weather revolutionaries at bay and the creation of a Duma made some believe they were having more say in how the country was run. However, in the long term Tsarism was not strengthened as industrial reform created a ripe situation for revolution and the peasants did not buy into Stolypin’s agriculture reforms. Crucially, Stolypin and the Tsar did not deal with the fundamental issues facing the Russian people so in reality their situation and lives were not really improved which therefore drove them to revolution by the end of WW1.