The document discusses challenges faced by the Romanovs who ruled Russia from 1881 to 1905. It describes increased repression, the 1905 revolution, and the growth of opposition parties during this period of industrialization and social/economic changes. Major events weakening Tsarism included Bloody Sunday in 1905, the Russo-Japanese War, and the peasants' burden of redemption payments which widened inequality.

1. 1) Challenges ttoo tthhee RRoommaannoovvss,, 11888811--11990055
B-A C-B
Can you choose 1 of the key features of
summary section 1, and explain how the
Romanovs ruled in this period.
Summary Section 1
a)Repression
b)Industrialisation
c)1905 Revolution
Look at the summary section 1.
Can you describe the key features of
Russia in this period.

2. 1) Challenges ttoo tthhee RRoommaannoovvss,, 11888811--11990055
• nature of the regime;
• economic and social changes;
• opposition parties;
• the 1905 revolution.
Essay Questions:
1. Why did opposition to the Tsarist regime increase between 1881
and 1904?
2. How did the aims and agendas of the radical parties differ from
one another?
3. In what ways did the Russo-Japanese War precipitate revolution
in 1905?

3. Tsarism Autocracy Okhrana
Marxism Constitutional government Redemption Payments
Duma Sergei Witte Pobedonostev
October Manifesto Bloody Sunday Russo-Japanese War

4. 1) Challenges ttoo tthhee RRoommaannoovvss,, 11888811--11990055
1881 The Tsar agreed to the October Manifesto
1889 Land Captains were created
1891 Alexander III became Tsar
1894 Nicholas II became Tsar
1898 The Social Revolutionary party was formed
1901 Bloody Sunday. The 1905 Revolution began
1904 Major famine in Russia
Jan 1905 Russo-Japanese War began
Oct 1905 The Social Democratic Party was formed
B-A C-B
Put the events into the correct order and
explain how the events in red caused
major challenges to the Romanovs.
Put the events into the correct order
and define each one

5. 1) Challenges ttoo tthhee RRoommaannoovvss,, 11888811--11990055
1881 Alexander III became Tsar
1889 Land Captains were created
1891 Major famine in Russia
1894 Nicholas II became Tsar
1898 The Social Democratic Party was formed
1901 The Social Revolutionary party was formed
1904 Russo-Japanese War began
Jan 1905 Bloody Sunday. The 1905 Revolution began
Oct 1905 The Tsar agreed to the October Manifesto
B-A C-B
Put the events into the correct order and
explain how the events in red caused
major challenges to the Romanovs.
Put the events into the correct order
and define each one

7. Repression– Nationality, Autocracy and Orthodoxy
• Write a paragraph defending Alexander IIIs
policies
• Which policies do you find difficult to defend
(explain your answer)
• Summarise Alexander IIIs system of
government in no more than 25 words
• ‘Alexander was an unpopular yet effective
ruler.’ To what extent do you agree with this
statement?

8. Repression– Nationality, Autocracy and Orthodoxy
Russia was a huge country with millions
of people of different cultures.
Russificiation was introduced as a method
of controlling them.
Russian Empire 1881 Russian Federation 2003
• Alexander III and Pobedonostev promoted a policy of Russificiation.
• In 1885 Russian became the official language. Public office was closed to people
• Alexander III and Pobedonostev promoted a policy of Russificiation.
• In 1885 Russian became the official language. Public office was closed to people
who couldn’t speak it fluently.
• The rights of the Russian majority were put before the majority groups
• Alexander III didn’t distinguish between minority groups who were traditionally
loyal to Tsarism and (e.g. Finns), and groups opposed to it (e.g. Poles and the
Muslims of central Asia).
• This increased opposition to Tsarism from many different sections of society.
who couldn’t speak it fluently.
• The rights of the Russian majority were put before the majority groups
• Alexander III didn’t distinguish between minority groups who were traditionally
loyal to Tsarism and (e.g. Finns), and groups opposed to it (e.g. Poles and the
Muslims of central Asia).
• This increased opposition to Tsarism from many different sections of society.

9. Repression– Nationality, Autocracy and Orthodoxy
Alexander III didn’t attempt any reform at all. He was reactionary (against reform) and
inflexible. For example:
1. After Alexander IIs
assassination, his more liberal
ministers were sacked.
2. Temporary regulations gave
provisional governors and
officials the power to
imprison people without
power, ban public meetings
and exile thousands of
offenders to Siberia
3. The Okrhana (secret police)
restricted the press and
monitored revolutionary and
socialist groups.

10. Repression– Nationality, Autocracy and Orthodoxy
Alexander was heavily
influenced by his tutor
Alexander was heavily
influenced by his tutor
Pobedonostev
Pobedonostev

11. Repression– Nationality, Autocracy and Orthodoxy
• The rights and the privileges of the
Russian Orthodox church were
championed above those of other
beliefs
• Primary schools came under church
control
Jews suffered the most under Russificiation
•Anti-Semitism was common in Russia and
Jews were made a target by Alexander III
•Jewish people weren’t allowed to become
doctors or lawyers
•Very few were admitted to universities
•Violent attacks called pogroms increased
during the reign of Alexander III
•There were over 200 pogroms

12. Opposition to Tsarism – social and
economic difficulties
1. The economic reforms carried out in this period strengthened the Russian
economy. In 1881 Russia had the world’s 11th largest economy. By 1914 it had
the world’s 5th largest
2. Industrialisation didn’t make for a happy society. The gap between rich and
poor increased and society became divided between the countryside and the
town.
Read he cards showing 6 problems in urban and rural areas. Sort them under
these headings and then explain how these problems increased social unrest
In the
countryside
In the
Towns

13. Opposition to Tsarism – political
difficulties
The opposition parties didn't get very far…
1.Although many political parties emerged in
Russia in the early 20th century they were too small
and infective to achieve their aims
2.There were major divisions between he parties
which made them less effective at opposing the
government
3.The political parties faced constant harassment
and violence from the Okhrana
The opposition parties didn't get very far…
1.Although many political parties emerged in
Russia in the early 20th century they were too small
and infective to achieve their aims
2.There were major divisions between he parties
which made them less effective at opposing the
government
3.The political parties faced constant harassment
and violence from the Okhrana
Who supported these parties and
what aims did they have?

14. The 1905 Revolution
Did the events of 1905
Did the events of 1905
strengthen or weaken Tsarism?
strengthen or weaken Tsarism?
List 3 factors for each event or cause
to show how each problem multiplied.
Then answer the question above.

15. The 1905 Revolution
Did the events of 1905 strengthen or
Did the events of 1905 strengthen or
weaken Tsarism?
weaken Tsarism?
Some historians argue that the 1905
revolution, strengthened Nicholas’s position:
1.The army and the police remained loyal to
the government.
2.The political parties were taken by surprise
and didn’t coordinate an effective opposition
to the Tsar.
3.Many revolutionary leaders were in exile
and couldn’t capitalise on the unrest.
The October Manifesto split the opposition to Tsarism
•The Bolsheviks, Mensheviks and the Socialist Revolutionaries remained hostile to the Tsar.
•The Liberals welcomed the Manifesto – it was a milestone towards the reform they wanted .
•Some Liberals wanted a full written constitution and became known as constitutional
democrats (better known as the Kadets).
•One group felt the October Manifesto was final – they were known as ‘Octobrists’.

16. Why did opposition to the Tsarist regime increase between
1881 and 1904?
What do I do?
1) Decide on three key factors – big causes
2) Write a brief intro:
Respond to the question – do you agree with the statement
What are the key factors?
3) Explain whether the factor in the question is important
(Paragraph 1)
4) Explain what other factors are important (Paragraph 2 and 3)
5) Conclude (overall do you agree? What was the main factor?)

17. EExxaamm AAnnsswweerrss
• Now look at
the exam
answers
• Give each a
mark and a
target to
improve

18. Most peasants were still
paying redemption
payments imposed in
return for the land they
were given when they
became free
The peasants now
farmed smaller land
holdings than they’d had
before emancipation,
The nobles kept the best
land for themselves –
leaving the peasants with
poor soil
Farming practices hadn’t
evolved much since the
middle ages – e.g. old
fashioned crop rotation
was still common
Peasants couldn’t leave
their village without
permission of the Mir
(the whole community),
so they were really free
still.
Many town workers
earned barely enough to
survive from one week to
the next
The gap between rich
and poor peasants grew.
Richer peasants (kulaks)
gained more land and
ran local business
Factory hours were not
regulated by the state
until Witte introduced an
11 ½ hour working day in
1897. However, this law
was often ignored.
Factories were supposed
to be inspected regularly,
but rules in health and
safety were not
followed.
The rapid growth of
towns meant that
workers lived in
overcrowded and
insanitary tenements
Health and education
services were poor
creating more social
inequality.
Life expectancy was
under 30 years.
Many peasants migrated
to the towns to earn
extra money when they
weren’t needed for
sowing and harvesting.

19. Tsarism – A form of
government run by a Tsar.
Autocracy – One person rules
with absolute power.
Okhrana – The Russian Secret
Police
Marxism – A set of theories
put forward by Marx
Constitutional government – A
government based on an
agreed set of rules
Redemption Payments –
Money owed to the
government by the peasants
for their land
Duma – The Russian
parliament
Sergei Witte – Finance
minister 1892-1903
Pobedonostev – Alexander III
and Nicholas II’s tutor
October Manifesto – The Tsar
promised concessions to ease
tensions of 1905 revolution
Bloody Sunday - unarmed,
peaceful demonstrators
marching to present a petition
to Tsar were gunned down by
the Imperial Guard
Russo-Japanese War –
embarrassing defeat of
Russian forces by supposedly
weak country

21. The October Manifesto
The manifesto promised…
•Freedom of speech, religion and free press.
•An elected Duma which had actual authority, laws issued by the Tsar
needed approval from the Duma.
•In November a second manifesto was published. It promised to improve the
peasants’ land bank and to abolish redemption payments within a year
• The October Manifesto worked and strikes were called off.
• Spontaneous demonstrations in favour of the Tsar were held in St.
Petersburg
• The St. Petersburg Soviet was dissolved – this was a council (soviet) elected
by factory workers and organised strikes and demonstrations. It was
dominated by Mensheviks including Leon Trotsky.
• A December uprising in Moscow, led by the Bolsheviks, was easily crushed.
• The October Manifesto worked and strikes were called off.
• Spontaneous demonstrations in favour of the Tsar were held in St.
Petersburg
• The St. Petersburg Soviet was dissolved – this was a council (soviet) elected
by factory workers and organised strikes and demonstrations. It was
dominated by Mensheviks including Leon Trotsky.
• A December uprising in Moscow, led by the Bolsheviks, was easily crushed.