Alternatives to Tsarism Liberals and Revolutionaries in the Reign of Nicholas II (1894 – 1917)

1. Alternatives to Tsarism Liberals and Revolutionaries in the Reign of Nicholas II (1894 – 1917) Year 12

2. The Alternatives to Tsarism • As the 19th Century went on the backwardness of Tsarism became more apparent and it became less appealing as a political system to the educated (intellectuals) and those at the bottom of the society (working class & peasants). • The only alternatives to Tsarism were Liberalism or Socialism/Communism.

3. Liberalism • Political reform - more participation in the government by the Middle Class (business, intellectuals, professionals), the limitation of government power and possibly further democratic reform (elections, a Parliament, trade unions, less censorship) • Economic reform - the economy is run on the principles of laissez-faire capitalism, allowing for full industrialisation. Interference (tariffs, taxes) in the economy by government is discouraged

4. Russian Liberalism • Liberal ideas appealed to many educated Russians from the middle class (professionals and businessmen) and some members of the aristocracy, but it had little influence on the urban working class and peasantry. • Liberals remained a disunited group who held a wide range of views – there was not a single Liberal ideology that they all accepted. • Until 1905 they tried to achieve their goals largely through the Zemstva (local government assemblies) professional unions and liberal newspapers. • In 1905 some formed the Union of Unions to give them greater national political influence. • Only in 1906 were liberal political parties formed – the Constitutional Democrats(KADETS) and the Octobrists – neither party ever gained mass appeal among the workers.

5. The Origins of Russian Revolutionary Organisations • Russian revolutionary socialism grew out of two traditions:- • Marxism • ‘Populism’ - an older and less well defined desire for a greater degree of social and economic justice in society • Membership of revolutionary organisations remained very small up to the 20th Century.

6. Russian ‘Populist’ Socialism 1870s: The Narodniks Land and Liberty (terror) Black Partition The People’s Will (terror) – assassins of Tsar Alexander II 1901: The Social Revolutionary Party – aimed to improve the lot of the peasants - rapidly gained wide support from them. There was little agreement among Social Revolutionaries about how Russian society was to be transformed precisely. Combat Organisation (terror) Marxism 1880s: Liberation of Labour 1898: The Social Democratic Party 1903: The Party split into… Bolsheviks (wanted a small, committed group of revolutionaries to work for the workers revolution now.) Mensheviks (wanted a mass movement to aim for a gradual change to Socialism, accepting that it might be necessary to work with the Liberals & Capitalists, who had to gain power over the state first.) The Development of Russian Revolutionary Organisations

7. R1 + R2 IC + R3 C Your answer should have 5 paragraphs: introduction (about 80 words); 3 middle paragraphs (argument, 1st counter argument, 2nd counter argument – each about 200 words); conclusion (about 100-150 words). Each middle paragraph should be organised according to the structure to the left. If Tsarism was vulnerable by 1902, it was above all due to the incompetence of Nicholas II as a ruler. How far do you agree with this view?

8. If Tsarism was vulnerable by 1902, it was above all due to the incompetence of Nicholas II as a ruler. How far do you agree with this view? Argument Counter 1Counter 2 R1 + R2R1 + R2R1 + R2 IC + R3IC + R3IC + R3 IC + IC + IC C