The Tsarist regime between 1881-1904 Essay Example for Free

The tsaristic regime between 1881-1904 EssayWhy did opposition to the czarist regime increase between 1881-1904? Page 1Opposition to tsarist Government had long been a feature of the Romanov rule with strict laws in place to oversee that nobody spoke out against the tsars rule. During the autocratic years from 1881-1904 Russia went through two tzars, Alexander threesome and his successor Nicholas II some(prenominal) obsessed with keeping absolute power over Russia. During that period it was an offence to speak out against the Tsar whilst nobody could challenge the Tsars rule as there was no parliament in place to speak for the battalion and no free press which meant that no one could release selective information that might influence the people to revolt for a better quality of life. This led to a disenfranchised struggle for the Russian people who endured numerous years of hardship under the Tsar however it alike resulted in the formation of politically organised part ies in Russia that would each have separate ambitions for what they treasured for the in store(predicate) of Russia and her people.The causes of Tsarist opposition could be argued to have been started by Alexander II who ironically was trying to detail opposition to the Tsarist regime by relaxing controls over the press and universities which inadver xtly saw the maturation of the intelligentsia. After Alexander II assassi democracy in 1881 the first signs of opposition to Tsar Alexander III where the educated and free-thinking middle class, who were able to travel to horse opera nations and read new ideas that, had never in the lead been herd of in particularly the idea of Karl Marxs, Marxism where it was thought that the people would overthrow the government and become a Democracy, and without a state Russia would become communist. The 1890s saw the great spurt of modernisation and industrialisation in Russia. Modernisation was driven by one man, Sergei Witte, the minister o f finance from 1893 to 1903.An increase in the production of coal in the Ukraine and oil in the Caucasus promoted massive economic growth. Iron, chemical, engineering, petroleum and steel industries were established within ten years. Although this benefited the Russian economy the growth in industrial workforce concentrated in urban areas. This along with the combined high taxes and low incomes caused terrible living and working conditions in the cities. Wittes economic form _or_ system of government created long term discontent within the Russian people as the high taxes and low reinforcement led to high poverty throughout Russia whilst the increase in peasantry created much pressure on the farming(a) land which led to an economic slump after 1902 which resulted in an increase in unemployment. Civil ferment further increased in 1900-1902 with poor harvests leading to starvation and an outbreak of violence in the countryside.This obliging unrest led to the formation of variou s political parties throughout Russia which became the main sources of opposition to the Tsars rule. Parties such as the Liberals, and Social Democrats followed the relatively new idea of Marxism. However the Democrats treasured a change whereas the Liberals thought they could achieve their aims through a series of non-violent protests. The Democrats would later split into the Bolsheviks who thought the party should be ruled under one central leadership and that the way forward would be revolution whereas the Mensheviks beliefs were more democratic as they believed in allowing each member a say. The Liberals would also later split into the Kadets who wanted a parliament and better re-distribution of land for the peasants but had no problems with a constitutional monarchy whereas the Octoberists who also wanted a parliament were more focused on increasing Russias economic strength.Page 2A third party the Social Revolutionaries grew directly out of the Populists and continued their predecessors get down of terrorism to reach their aims as a group founded in 1879 the peoples will were responsible for the assassination of Tsar Alexander II whilst also continuing their extremist views into the early 1900s between 1901 and 1905, were it was the terrorist faction of the Revolutionaries that henpecked with over 2000 assassinations, including Plehve, the interior minister, and the Tsars uncle, Duke Sergei.Eventually this unrest along with several assassination attempts from the Revolutionaries resulted in Alexander III abdicating in 1894 leaving his young and shy son Nicholas II as arbitrary ruler of Russia. Nicholas was never interested in politics however he was a great relay station of his father Alexander III. He had been brought up to believe that repression was the only way to keep the Russian people under control and that any kind of reform would simply encourage them to want even more. Nicholas wanted to rule like an autocrat but he did not have the skill to do so as he was an untrusting individual always being afraid of conspiracy which led to him refusing president meetings, only seeing his ministers one at a time, trying to use divide and rule tactical manoeuvre which ultimately led to the government not making any decisions for Russia.Nicholas II further created unrest as he was unwilling to give any concessions to field minorities such as Finns and Poles with any protests repressed and his reclusive police the Okhrana crushing political activists, rounding them up and exiling them. The culmination of the revolution reached its climax with the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese fight in February 1904. Defeats on land and sea at the hands of the Japanese military shocked the Russian public creating mass humiliation. The war was beyond any doubt a Japanese victory when Russia preoccupied Port Arthur in January 1905. With the Russian peoples pride in tatters after defeat from what they believed was an inferior Eastern nation alon g with the war creating shortages in food, fuel and higher prices leading to further unemployment it seemed the last straw for the Russian people creating a huge upsurge of discontent.On the 22nd January 1905 Father Gapon and orthodox priest immovable to lead a peaceful march of workers and families on the Winter palace in St. Petersburg where they wanted the Tsar to ac admitledge the needs of the Russian people such as living conditions, poverty and starvation in Russia. However this peaceful protest soon caused mass panic for the police and authorities who did not know what to do, with no decisive leader they felt the only option was to fire at the protesters in the wish they would disperse. Hundreds of people died on the day that is now known as Bloody Sunday. This led to a national outbreak of disorder with strikes and riots in major cities whilst even minor mutiny in the Army and naval forces who were ashamed of the defeat in the war, the Tsar was at war with his own people the revolution had begun. on that point were many factors of why opposition increased between 1881 and 1904 however the main reason was the introduction of western ideas to what had previously been a nation in isolationism with the prevention of free press. The ideas (Marxism) that had seeped in to Russia make the public principal why they couldnt have a say in how their country was run which led to the schooling and rise in organised political parties which became the main opposition to the Tsarist regime as some(prenominal) Tsars struggled to cope with what the people wanted. Ultimately the sheer size of Russia and its massive population made it impossible to govern and whilst Russia struggled to get out of its backward status the publics welfare was compromised as both Tsars main priority was to increase Russia economically. This led to an inevitable uprising.