Political Opposition to the Tsar

What political opposition was there to Tsar Nicholas II?

Opposition to Tsar Nicholas II was growing because he would not allow political reform and did not improve living conditions.

When was there political opposition to Tsar Nicholas II?

Opposition to the tsarist regime was growing throughout the 1800s and early 1900s, although political parties were illegal until October 1905.

Why was there political opposition to Tsar Nicholas II?

Political opposition to Nicholas II was growing because of 3 key reasons:

• ❖ Some groups wanted to limit the power of Nicholas II.
• ❖ Some wanted radical change and to completely remove Nicholas II from power.
• ❖ Most groups wanted to see reforms brought in to improve the social, economic, and political conditions in Russia.

Who was the political opposition to Tsar Nicholas II?

There were several different groups that opposed Nicholas II such as the Liberals (split into the Kadets and the Octobrists), the Socialist Revolutionary Party, and the Social Democratic Party.

Why did Tsar Nicholas II face opposition from the Social Democratic Party?

The Social Democratic Party was set up in 1898 and:

• ❖ Believed in communism and the ideas of Karl Marx.
• ❖ Wanted a revolution to get rid of Nicholas II and the tsarist government.
• ❖ Believed in giving power to the workers.
• ❖ They wanted to establish a communist state.
• ❖ In 1903 they split into the moderate Mensheviks and the more revolutionary Bolsheviks.

Why did Tsar Nicholas II face opposition from Socialist Revolutionary Party?

The Socialist Revolutionary Party wanted to end the tsarist regime:

• ❖ Some believed in using terrorism to achieve this and assassinated Tsar Alexander II in 1881. They were responsible for around 2,000 assassinations between 1901 and 1905.
• ❖ Others believed in working with other political groups to improve working and living conditions.

Why did Tsar Nicholas II face opposition from the Liberals?

Some groups such as the Kadets wanted a constitutional government in which the tsar remained as the head of state. However, his power was to be limited by a constitution, and there would be a democratically elected government.