1. The Russian Revolution
Essay 1 - The Pillars of Autocracy

2. I can describe how Russia was ruled before 1905.
I can define the key terms of 'autocracy' and 'tsar'.
I can explain why there was opposition to the Tsar before 1905.

3. Potential Questions
“The authority of the Tsarist state was never seriously challenged 
in the years before 1905.” How valid is this view?
How secure was the Tsar’s hold on power in the years before 1905?
Before 1905, opposition groups were unable to effectively 
challenge the authority of the Tsarist state. How valid is this view?
What is the shared focus of all 3 questions?
What do you think the two sides of the argument would be?

4. 'To the emperor of all Russia belongs the Supreme and unlimited power'
Background
Autocracy - Tsar Nicholas 
ruled Russia, and there was no 
legal or political controls on his 
power.
'People do not influence events. 
God directs everything and the 
Tsar, as God's anointed, should 
not take advice from anyone' -
Tsar Nicholas II
Fundamental Law -
'To the emperor of all Russia belongs the Supreme and unlimited 
power'

5. Background
What strikes you about this image of the Russian Empire?
What challenges would this present to the Tsar?

6. Background
What challenges would this present to Tsarist rule?

7. Who might oppose the Tsar?
Industrial Workers
Conditions in Russian factories were well below those enjoyed 
by industrial workers in Europe. They worked on average an 11 
hour day (10 hours on Saturday). Conditions in the factories 
were extremely harsh and little concern was shown for the 
workers' health and safety. Trade Unions were illegal in Russia 
and industrial workers found it difficult to improve their 
standard of living.
p 41

8. Peasants
By 1900 around 85 per cent of the Russian people lived in the 
countryside and earned their living from agriculture. The nobility 
still owned the best land and the vast majority of peasants lived in 
extreme poverty. They faced food shortages, high taxes, a lack of 
machinery and extremely poor living conditions.

9. Political Opponents
The Social Revolutionaries were the main political opponents. 
They wanted the state to take over land. This would then be 
distributed among the peasants according to need. The party 
was also in favour of the establishment of a democratically 
elected parliament and a maximum 8-hour day for 
factory workers.
The Kadet Party was a Liberal group. It represented many middle-class professionals and businessmen, who wanted a constitutional monarchy. This would mean the Tsar and his government would have to answer to a democratic Duma (parliament).

10. Communists called themselves Social Democrats at this stage, 
but were split into several different groups. All believed in Karl 
Marx’s interpretation of politics, which said that the workers should control the factories and that goods should be controlled and distributed by the state.
In 1903 the Socialists had split into the Mensheviks and the 
Bolsheviks led by Lenin. They were supported mainly by the 
industrial working class.

11. Read
p 4-8
p 2-15 p
Task 1
Describe how Russia was ruled before Within this, you should explain what is meant by the term 'autocracy'.
Task 2
Explain why ruling Russia was a difficult task. You should include a list of the different political opponents of the Tsar.

12. I can list the 'pillars of Autocracy'.
I can describe what the Okhrana did to maintain the Tsar's authority.
I can explain why the Okhrana was considered a successful 'pillar'.
I can analyse the Okhrana's weaknesses.
I can come to an overall conclusion about the Okhrana's success in supporting the Tsar.

13. The Okhrana
Orthodox Church
The Army
Pillars of Autocracy
Russification
Weakness of Political Groups
Censorship

14. Knowledge
Include detail but do not waffle.
Specific facts/examples.
4 sentences per factor.
Analysis
Must explain why your knowledge is relevant to the question.
Clearly it can be argued that...
This was significant as...
A case can therefore be made that...
This suggests that...
Counter- Analysis
Must explain alternative arguments.
However, the alternative view is that...
However, others have argued that...
A counter-argument can be made that...

15. In black pen, describe what the Okhrana actually did.
Read
Article 1.docx
Article 2.docx
p 205 p
Task 1
In black pen, describe what the Okhrana actually did.
Task 2
In green pen, explain why the Okhrana can be considered successful.
Task 3
In red pen, explain why the Okhrana can be considered to be a limited 'pillar'.
Stanford Hoover Archives collection sheds light on Russia's secret police.mp4

16. Evaluation of the Okhrana
Which side do you agree with?
'No subject of the Tsar...could sleep securely in his bed in the knowledge that his house would be subject to a search, or he himself to arrest'. Orlando Figes or
'....the regime lost the battle to win hearts and minds in the war against terror.' - Iain Lauchlan

17. If our government used a secret police force to intimidate us, spy on us, exile us or execute us for opposing them, would you oppose the government more or would you keep quiet for an easier life?

19. 1) Which political term does this song refer to?
Song Challenge
1) Which political term does this song refer to?
Song 1
2) Which of the Okhrana's methods does this refer to?
Song 2
3) Which of the Okhrana's methods does this refer to?
Song 3
4) Which of the Okhrana's methods does this refer to?
Song 4

20. I can describe what the Orthodox Church did to maintain the Tsar's authority.
I can explain why the Orthodox Church was considered a successful 'pillar'.
I can analyse the Orthodox Church's weaknesses.
I can come to an overall conclusion about the Orthodox Church's success in supporting the Tsar.

21. In black pen, describe what the Orthodox Church actually did.
Read
Article 3.docx p
p4-5
p 9-11
Task 1
In black pen, describe what the Orthodox Church actually did.
Task 2
In green pen, explain why the Orthodox Church can be considered successful.
Task 3
In red pen, explain why the Orthodox Church can be considered to be a limited 'pillar'.

22. Evaluation of the Orthodox Church:
Which side do you agree with?
'The Church was an essential propaganda weapon and a means of social control'. Orlando Figes or
‘Impoverished, isolated and identified with the autocracy, the clergy commanded neither love nor respect’ - Richard Pipes

23. Russia was becoming a more urban, industrial, educated society in the years leading up to Would this help or hinder the Orthodox Church in supporting the Tsar?

24. One of the key pillars of Tsarist rule was the Orthodox Church
One of the key pillars of Tsarist rule was the Orthodox Church. The Church was heavily involved in teaching young Russians to be loyal to the Tsar. A fact which supports this is that they operated 40,000 schools across the Empire. The Church also encouraged Russians to regard the Tsar as their ‘little father’. Furthermore, priests were encouraged to report any of their congregation who might oppose the Tsar to the authorities. It can be argued that this was vital to maintaining Tsarist authority as the Church had a huge amount of influence amongst a devout population. Controlling education also allowed the Church to preach loyalty at an early and impressionable age. Conversely, many Russians were not able to be influenced by the Church as they were not Orthodox Christians. Russia’s Jewish and Muslim populations would come under this banner. In evaluation, the Church was unable to secure loyalty to the Tsar. Russia was becoming more urbanised and less devout. The fact that in one Moscow suburb there was only 1 church and 1 one priest for a population of 40,000 indicates that the control of the Orthodox Church was waning.

25. In black pen, describe what the army actually did.
Article 4.docx
Read p
p4-5
Task 1
In black pen, describe what the army actually did.
Task 2
In green pen, explain why the army can be considered successful.
Task 3
In red pen, explain why the army can be considered to be a limited 'pillar'.

26. Evaluation of the army:
Which side do you agree with?
'Nothing was closer to the Romanov court or more important to it than the military'. Orlando Figes or
‘The government's treatment of the army provoked growing resentment among Russia's military elite’ - Orlando Figes
‘There were growing tensions between the military - in every rank- and the Romanov regime' -
Orlando Figes

27. The army was called out 1500 times between 1883 and 1903
The army was called out 1500 times between 1883 and Does this show the Tsar was secure because he could use the army, or insecure because he needed to?

28. The Russian army was used to underpin the Tsar’s control
The Russian army was used to underpin the Tsar’s control. The military was an enormous force of around 1.5 million men. It was sent in to crush revolts and had a network of garrisons across the Empire. Soldiers swore loyalty directly to the Tsar and many of the generals had close family links to the Romanovs. Particularly loyal and brutal were the Tsar’s elite regiment, the Cossacks. This was significant as the army was able to crush 1500 revolts between 1883 and 1903, showing that it had the power to prevent revolution. The fearsome Cossacks were effective as they terrified Russians into remaining loyal. However, the loyalty of the army has been exaggerated. Many ordinary soldiers were resentful of the brutal conditions and some officers resented the fact that promotion was decided by birth, not ability. In evaluation, Figes’ point that ‘nothing was closer to the Romanov court or more important to it than the military' suggests that the army was pivotal in maintaining autocracy. Its loyalty and sheer size meant that opponents of the Tsar had no hope of overpowering it.

29. I can describe what the policy of russification was.
I can explain why russification secured the Tsar's power.
I can analyse the flaws in the policy of russification.
I can come to an overall conclusion about the impact of russification.

30. In black pen, describe what russification was.
Read p
p39
p12-13
p45-58
Task 1
In black pen, describe what russification was.
Task 2
In green pen, explain why russification can be considered successful.
Task 3
In red pen, explain why russification can be considered to be a limited 'pillar'.

31. Evaluation of russification:
'Many of the nationalist leaders saw that their country's interests would be best served by preserving the union with Russia'. Orlando Figes or
'The effect of the russification campaign was to drive the non-Russians into the new anti-Tsarist parties'. Orlando Figes
‘The russification policy cannot be called a success. Importantly, valued friends such as the Finns and the Armenians were alienated.’ - Martin McColgan

32. I can describe what censorship was.
I can analyse the impact of censorship in supporting the Tsar .
I can analyse the weakness of censorship.
I can come to an overall conclusion about the success of censorship in supporting the Tsar.

33. In black pen, describe what censorship involved.
Read
p 206
p13-14
Task 1
In black pen, describe what censorship involved.
Task 2
In green pen, explain why censorship can be considered successful.
Task 3
In red pen, explain why censorship can be considered to be a limited 'pillar'.

34. Evaluation of censorship:
'The tsars and their ministers were afraid to let go the reins of power, and the result was...suffocating...censorship which prevailed until 1905.' - Marianna Choldin or
'For all its formidable rules, imperial censorship was not strictly enforced. It was a nuisance, not a barrier, to the free flow of ideas'. Richard Pipes

35. What are you banned from seeing/reading/doing
What are you banned from seeing/reading/doing? How effective is this in stopping you?

36. I can describe the different political opponents of Tsarism.
I can explain why they were significant.
I can analyse the limitations in their power.
I can come to an overall conclusion about the impact of political opposition before 1905.

37. In black pen, describe political opposition to the Tsar.
Read
p 204
Task 1
In black pen, describe political opposition to the Tsar.
Task 2
In green pen, explain why political opposition can be considered a serious problem.
Task 3
In red pen, explain the limitations of political opponents.

38. Viewpoint 1
The Tsar was secure in power before The Okhrana and the army could intimidate and suppress opposition effectively. The Orthodox Church and censorship helped to mold what people thought, and russification showed the level of control that Nicholas was able to exert over his enormous empire. As a result, political opponents had little impact on the tsarist state, especially as they were so divided in their aims and methods.
Viewpoint 2
The Tsar's reliance on his 'pillars' indicate a regime that was afraid and insecure. As Russians became more urbanised, more educated and more political, the old order of the Orthodox Church, censorship and russification held less and less influence. The very fact that the Tsar felt the need to have the Okhrana, and the frequent deployment of the army, would suggest that in reality, the tsarist state was fundamentally weak, and becoming weaker.

39. Attachments
Stanford Hoover Archives collection sheds light on Russia's secret police.mp4
Article 2.docx
Article 1.docx
Article 3.docx
Article 4.docx