1905 revolution and manifestos

Alexander III's 1881 Manifesto

The Manifesto of Unshakable Autocracy, declaring absolute rule.

Pobedonostsev's Core Beliefs

Valued Autocracy, Orthodoxy, and Nationality.

Role of Land Captains (1889)

Officials from the nobility given sweeping powers over the peasantry to maintain order.

Vyshnegradsky's economic goal

To achieve a budget surplus by focusing on grain exports.

Bloody Sunday (Effect on Tsar)

Inflicted grave and irreversible damage on the Tsar’s image as the "Little Father".

Cause of the Potemkin Mutiny

Sailors protested having to eat mouldy bread and meat crawling with maggots.

August Manifesto Promise

Promised a state assembly (Duma) of elected representatives.

Why August Manifesto failed

Its powers were not clearly defined; the Tsar reserved the right to perfect its organization.

October Manifesto (Key Political Concession)

Accepted the creation of a legislative Duma; no law could be made without its agreement.

October Manifesto (Civil Rights)

Promised freedom of speech, assembly, and worship, and legalized trade unions.

Government strategy post-October

To divide the opposition forces (by appeasing liberals and peasants).

How peasants were pacified (Nov 1905)

Mortgage repayments were promised to be reduced and then abolished.

Suppression of Moscow Uprising

Tsarist regiments used heavy artillery, leading to over 1000 deaths.

Trotsky's view on 1905 failure

Protesters were disunited/inexperienced, and liberals betrayed the workers.

Tsar's 1905 concessions (Nature)

They were expedients rather than real reforms.