Nicholas II's Early Rule: Political Opposition (1899-1905)

Nicholas II's Early Rule (1894-1905) and Opposing Political Groups

This chapter discusses the political landscape of Russia during Nicholas II's early reign, focusing on the various liberal groups that emerged and contributed to the lead-up to the 1905 Revolution. It details their formation, aims, membership, and impact.

The Union of Liberation

  • Objective: Sought to unite diverse liberal groups by highlighting their common goals and shared interests.

  • Influence:

    • Helped pave the way for the 1905 Revolution.

    • Continued to function as a political party until 1917.

  • Limitations:

    • Failed to forge a singular, cohesive reform movement with a unified purpose.

    • There was no tradition of open debate. Since they were denied legal recognition, they often resorted to extreme methods in order to spread their ideas. As a result, during the brief period of their permitted existence from 1905 to 1921, before they were again outlawed, the Russian political parties proved to be suspicious and intolerant of each other.

    • (Before 1905)

  • Significance:

    • Its deeper importance lay in showcasing the broad spectrum of anti-tsarist sentiment present in Russia.

    • Advanced arguments and ideas that progressive government members, such as Witte, embraced.

    • Its program's language became a standard for subsequent liberal and reforming parties to assert their claims.

The Octobrists

  • Origin: Emerged following the issuance of Tsar Nicholas II's October Manifesto of 1905, which established the Duma.

  • Core Beliefs:

    • Moderates: Held a fundamentally loyal stance towards the Tsar and his government.

    • Russian Empire: Believed in the preservation and maintenance of the Russian Empire.

    • Constitutional Advances: Viewed the October Manifesto and the creation of the Duma as significant constitutional advancements.

  • Membership: Predominantly comprised individuals from:

    • Large commercial interests.

    • Industrial sectors.

    • Landowning classes.

  • Leading Figures:

    • Alexander Guchkov (1862-1936): A prominent industrialist and factory owner.

    • Mikhail Rodzianko (1859-1924): A substantial landowner.

    • Both played significant roles in the Provisional Government of 1917.

  • Programme (November 1905):

    • Called for unity among all individuals advocating for the 'rule of law'.

    • Appealed for the continuation of a 'strong and authoritative regime' that would collaborate with 'the representatives of the people' to bring peace to the country.

  • Revolutionary Dismissal: Revolutionaries often dismissed them as 'bourgeois reactionaries' due to their seemingly limited aims and reluctance to fundamentally challenge the existing system.

  • Actual Engagement: This dismissal was not entirely accurate, as Octobrists frequently voiced serious criticisms in the Dumas regarding the tsarist government's short-sightedness or incompetence, despite not desiring tsardom's overthrow.

The Constitutional Democrats (Kadets)

  • Origin: Formed as a political party concurrently with the 1905 Revolution.

  • Core Beliefs:

    • Constitutional Monarchy: Advocated for Russia's development into a constitutional monarchy.

    • Limited Tsarist Power: Sought to restrict the Tsar's powers through a democratically elected constituent (national) assembly.

    • Problem Resolution: Believed such an assembly, representative of all Russia, could resolve the nation's pressing social, political, and economic problems.

  • Critique from Lenin: Vladimir Lenin dismissed their aspirations as 'bourgeois political naïvety'.

  • Enduring Inspiration: Despite Lenin's view, the ideal of a constituent assembly remained a key source of inspiration for Russian reformers leading up to the 1917 Revolution.

  • Membership: Included:

    • Progressive landlords.

    • Smaller industrial entrepreneurs.

    • Members of various professions.

    • Academics were notably prominent.

  • Leading Figure: Paul Milyukov, a history professor and a founder member of the Union of Liberation, typified the academic presence in the party.

  • Role: Proved to be the most outspoken critics of the tsarist system within the Duma and played a significant role in the events surrounding the February Revolution in 1917.

  • The Kadet Programme:

    • An All-Russian Constituent Assembly.

    • Full equality and civil rights for all citizens, (peasants voted were worth less than like higher ranking individuals)

    • The ending of censorship.

    • The abolition of mortgage repayments on land.

    • The recognition of trade unions and the right to strike.

    • The introduction of universal, free education.

Summary Diagram: The Opponents of Tsardom

  • Reformists

    • Liberals

      • Kadets (1905) \ (from 1905 Revolution)

      • Octobrists (1905) \ (from October Manifesto)

    • Nationalists

  • Revolutionaries

    • Marxists

      • SDs (Social Democrats) (1898)

        • Bolsheviks (1903)

        • Mensheviks (1903)

    • Populists

      • The People's Will (1879)

      • SRs (Socialist Revolutionaries) (1901)

Key Terms

  • Duma: The Russian parliament, which operated from 1906 to 1917.

  • Constitutional monarchy: A system of government where the king or emperor holds power but only through elected representatives, whose decisions he cannot overturn.

Key Figures

  • Alexander Guchkov (1862-1936): A major industrialist and factory owner, and a leading Octobrist.

  • Mikhail Rodzianko (1859-1924): A large landowner, and another prominent Octobrist.

  • Paul Milyukov: A professor of history and leader of the Kadet Party, also a founder member of the Union of Liberation.