Did the 1905 Revolution leave the Tsarist System weaker or stronger?

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Did the 1905 Revolution leave the Tsarist System weaker or stronger?

The revolution of September 1905 was an obstacle in the path of the autocratic government of Nicholas II, and with the help of Count Witte he overcame it relatively efficiently, thus enhancing his power over Russia in some ways, however in some aspects it left his autocratic system weaker. I will now attempt to assess both the positive and negative effects of the revolution on the Tsarist government.

Positive Effects on the Tsarist system

The revolution showed that the Liberals still feared disorder and were satisfied by reform as opposed to real revolution. When Nicholas issued his October Manifesto, which granted freedom of speech, assembly, association and press, extended the voting franchise and formed a supposedly legislative Duma (Russian national representative assembly similar to UK Parliament) it satisfied the liberal desire for change. Nicholas creating Dumas also strengthened his position internationally as this was seen as Russian democratic progression. The revolution also showed that the peasants were still more concerned with their personal lives and problems than the political scene and that they still had faith in their ‘little father’, as they were easily placated when Nicholas promised to cut and eventually abolish their mortgage repayments. The Tsarist system demonstrated its capacity to deceive and manipulate the masses effectively.

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It showed that the urban revolutionaries and workers were not yet strong enough to resist the power of the Cossacks, the Tsarist stormtroopers. Nicholas asserted his authority over the people in his dealing with the revolution, and demonstrated the army and police loyalty available to him as a means of imposing his regime. With the advice of Witte he drew on the diversity of his opposition and thus conquered their need or power to oppose, demonstrating the efficiency of his current government.

Negative effects on the Tsarist system

The 1905 revolution demonstrated weaknesses in the Tsarist government as it showed just ...

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