AQA A-Level History- 17. Opposition
under Nicholas II Guaranteed Success
How stable was Russia by 1914? (2 viewpoints) - Correct answer 1. Stable- Russia
had recovered from the upheavals of the early 1900s, was making economic progress
and was politically stable. It was WWI that brought down the monarchy
2. Not stable- There was already long-term decline in support for the monarchy which
the October Manifesto failed to address- Political and social unrest was widespread and
autocracy was DOOMED. The war merely finished it off
What was liberal opposition like before 1905? - Correct answer -Involved in zemstva
and town dumas, law, business, medicine, education etc.
-Wanted representative democracy at all levels
-All-Zemstvo Organisation was created in 1896 by Ivan Ship but banned immediately
-Union of Liberation founded in 1903 by Port Struve- Wanted a 'peaceful evolution' of
society to adapt to industrialisation
What was the reaction to liberal opposition? - Correct answer -Not targeted as much
initially since the police were more concerned with left-wing radicals
-Eventually grouped in with radicals during the 1905 leading to more co-operation
amongst them
How did the liberals split after 1905? - Correct answer -Octoberists- Liberals who
accepted the concessions of the October Manifesto as enough
-Kadets- Constitutional Democrats who wanted a full constitutional democracy- Held
policy of 'No enemies to the left' unlike Octoberists
Who were the SRs? - Correct answer -Successors to populists and agrarian socialists
-Formed in 1901, carried out political assassinations before 1905 e.g. Education
Minister Nickolay Bogolepov, attempts against Pobedonostev
-'Led' by Victor Chernov
-Recruited both peasants and workers
Who were the SDs? - Correct answer -Social Democrats
-Formed in 1898, split in 1903 into Bolsheviks and Mensheviks
-Bolsheviks (led by Lenin) wanted a vanguard party of a few educated elites who would
seize power on behalf of workers
-Mensheviks (led by Matron, & initially Trotsky) wanted a wider party membership and
campaigning for better working conditions through strikes rather than seizing power-
Active in unions and soviets in 1905
