THE OPPOSITION TO TSARDOM

The Liberal reformers made up of the Octobrists and the Kadets. The Octobrists were loyal to the government but believed in maintenance through dumas, who came together through various interests such as commercial and industrialists. A leading member is notably Rodzianko. Octobrists did frequently speak out against tsar although being dismissed by more revolutionary members.

The Kadets wanted Russia to develop as a constitutional monarch with a fully elected constituent assembly which could sort out every problem, a basis of which all liberals looked for. They wanted less censorship, legalisation of trade unions and political rights for parties plus a Cons Assem, plus more rights for people and the end of emancipation.

The Revolutionaries were contained by three areas, the Populists, the Social Revolutionaries, and the Social Democrats. The Populists regarded the future of Russia as the peasants and should overthrow the tsar. Populist leaders were middle/upper class and wanted to educate the peasantry. They turned to terrorism (subgroup the PEOPLES WILL) blew Alexander II to pieces but this made them look bad as Alexander was reformist, but they did inspire.

The Social Revolutionaries grew from the Populists as the economic upturn introduced interest from social/political problems, and reshaped the populists into the revolutionaries. Leon Trotsky, a member of the SR’s mention on how they were often split on opinion with the ‘Left (terrorist approach) and Right’ SR’s (moderate and willing to work with others). They assassinated Plehve and GD Sergei successfully. They did appeal to the peasants with ‘revolutionary socialism’.

The Social Democrats, had the aim to achieve revolution by following Marxist principles, following a series of ‘class struggles’ in which they would use the proletariat to overthrow the bourgeoisie, then remove them and create the perfect society, and this was helped by the economic spurt as they could direct the workers to revolution. Plekhanov originally converted the writings to Russian for reading, but members became impatient with him and so Lenin, a critic of Plekhanov began to get support. Lenin impacted with his colleague Martov, THE ISKRA newspaper. Lenin’s main difference was he believed in a small selected and talented few to push the party forward rather than a broad coalition of groups like Plekhanov. Martov agreed with Plekhanov and so the SD’s split into the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks. The Mensheviks believed in a broad, open speaking party with alliance to other Revolutionaries and that Russia was not ready for revolution. The Bolsheviks believed revolution could be broke down in stages, with a tight knit party and was spoken in ideas by a central committee or ‘democratic centralism’ (true democracy was the Bolsheviks followed his exact instructions and other leaders)


SUMMARY

Liberal Parties
- Octobrists formed after OCT-MANIFESTO, hopes of Duma creation
- Kadets, a constituent assembly which would be elected under the Tsar hoping for certain rights as no censorship or political rights for parties

REVOLUTIONARIES
- Populists, with ‘Peoples Will’ believed in peasant revolution to overthrow the tsar
- Social Revolutionaries, the updated populists with Left and Right
- The Social Democrats, Marxist believers of proletariat overthrowing bourgeoisie. Split to Mensheviks (broad party, open discussion) and Bolsheviks of Lenin (tight knit, central committee and democratic centralism and class struggle)

The RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR, 1904 saw Nicholas face his first foreign affair problem. Russia clashed with Japan for three motives, Russia’s expansion policy (wanted Japanese land), to obtain an ice free port and for military glory. Plehve said that this would distract revolution, although Witte was the real man behind it. Russia looked down on Japan as an inferior nation and so an easy victory. The Russians then so, deliberately rejected proposals for settlement over korea hoping for conflict.

The war was proof that Russia underestimated japan, as japan had began rapid reformation and modernisation and the Japanese army/navy were very well equipped. Russia’s final embarrassment was the 8 month journey to fight the Japanese only to be blown out of the water within hours. They signed the peace treaty of Portsmouth. Russia lost due to poor organisation and commanding, as they were outmanoeuvred and the distance travelled made it close to impossible.

Russia’s defeat was a humiliation, and led to serious unrest and also directly led to the 1905 revolution

SUMMARY

Russian reasons – Expansion, Ice free port seizures and Military glory to distract ‘revolution’ and problems. Russia underestimated Japan.

Japanese took key Russian property Russian fleet was destroyed within hours after eight months, due to inadequate planning, the difficulty of travelling and Japanese skill, the aftermath saw humiliation and a direct event towards the 1905 revolution.