AQA-Style Question 3b

How successful was the Tsarist autocracy in reasserting its authority by the end of 1905?

The Tsarist autocracy was extremely successful during this period in reasserting its authority. Through a combination of modest reform that promised more than it delivered, and the use of repressive tactics against a variety of revolutionary groups, the Tsar was able to pull back from the catastrophic situation of early 1905 and largely maintain his autocratic position.

Primarily, through the October Manifesto, Nicholas (as Witte had planned) managed to separate liberals from revolutionaries by seemingly giving in to their long-standing demands for reforms. In the Manifesto, he granted many of the liberals demands, such as the establishment of a representative assembly and the enfranchisement of all adult males, re-established freedom of speech, assembly and association. However, in doing so, he also made sure to build in an number of amendments that maintained (and indeed, strengthened) his own position. While the liberals believed that the Duma would be a legislative body, Nicholas intended it to be merely a consultative body. Going further, he limited its powers by maintaining the powers to veto legislation, appoint ministers, and dissolve the Duma and rule by Emergency Degree if required. He also rejected calls for a constitution and introduced a State Council (controlled by him), who could veto legislation from the Duma. Control of foreign policy and the decision to make war and peace remained with him.

Those groups that rejected this settlement, such as nationalists, the social revolutionaries, social democrats and peasants were dealt with through repressive means. The army, for example, was turned on the Petrograd strikers and later the Moscow Soviet, while the Black Hundreds attacked nationalists, peasants, Jews and intellectuals.

In this way, it can be seen that by the end of 1905, the Tsar had been very successful in reasserting his autocracy. The country - and his rule - were no longer under threat of revolt by various reformist groups, who had either been given limited concessions through the October Manifesto or repressed through subsequent political violence.