Russian Revolution 1905 Essay Example
Explain government and political change in an historical setting.
Russian revolution - 1905.
The main theme of the Russian history at the end of 19th century is that the non-noble classes, which made up 88% of Russian population, asked for an improvement in their miserable and poor conditions of life. When the Tsarist government failed to do so, they revolted for the first time in 1905. Already there were opposition groups forming like the Social Democrats, Social Revolutionaries and Constitutional Democrats. The main events of 1905 were the Russo- Japanese war followed by Bloody Sunday, which vented anger across Russia. The government tried to clam the anger of the Russian people by agreeing to some of their demands, and therefore signing the October Manifesto. With the word of the October Manifesto, most of the opposition to the government melted away. But to deal with what was left of the radical opposition, a new court system was made, that made it easier for the arrest and conviction of political revolutionaries.
Up to the end of the 19th century, Russia was an autocratic country. It was ruled by an autocratic Tsar. He ruled as he liked. His will was the source of law, taxation and justice. He controlled the army and all the officials. He even controlled religious affairs. His autocratic rule was supported by the privileged nobles, who possessed land and serfs, and held all the chief offices in the Tsar's administration.
The mass of people were serfs. Serfs were 'slaves'. They worked on the estates of the nobles. They could be punished in any form by the nobles. They could even be sold as possessions by the nobles. Besides the serfs, there was a very small middle class in the towns. They were discontented with the backwardness of Russia.
When Alexander III died in 1894, he was succeeded by his son, Nicholas II. He was the last Tsar. He still believed that it was his duty to uphold the principle of autocracy, but he was unsuited to be an
Russian revolution - 1905.
The main theme of the Russian history at the end of 19th century is that the non-noble classes, which made up 88% of Russian population, asked for an improvement in their miserable and poor conditions of life. When the Tsarist government failed to do so, they revolted for the first time in 1905. Already there were opposition groups forming like the Social Democrats, Social Revolutionaries and Constitutional Democrats. The main events of 1905 were the Russo- Japanese war followed by Bloody Sunday, which vented anger across Russia. The government tried to clam the anger of the Russian people by agreeing to some of their demands, and therefore signing the October Manifesto. With the word of the October Manifesto, most of the opposition to the government melted away. But to deal with what was left of the radical opposition, a new court system was made, that made it easier for the arrest and conviction of political revolutionaries.
Up to the end of the 19th century, Russia was an autocratic country. It was ruled by an autocratic Tsar. He ruled as he liked. His will was the source of law, taxation and justice. He controlled the army and all the officials. He even controlled religious affairs. His autocratic rule was supported by the privileged nobles, who possessed land and serfs, and held all the chief offices in the Tsar's administration.
The mass of people were serfs. Serfs were 'slaves'. They worked on the estates of the nobles. They could be punished in any form by the nobles. They could even be sold as possessions by the nobles. Besides the serfs, there was a very small middle class in the towns. They were discontented with the backwardness of Russia.
When Alexander III died in 1894, he was succeeded by his son, Nicholas II. He was the last Tsar. He still believed that it was his duty to uphold the principle of autocracy, but he was unsuited to be an