Growth of opposition to Tsarist rule up to 1984

Question 1

Threat of moderate liberal opposition

Answer 1

• Many travelled abroad and despaired at Russia’s stagnation
• Westernisers and Slavophiles
• Great famine 1891 - 92 increased convictions
• St Petersburg zemstvo demanded a central body to co-ordinate regional councils. Firmly rejected by Alexander II

Question 2

Weaknesses of moderate liberal opposition

Answer 2

Relatively small group - comparatively few educated literate Russians.
Restriction of Zemstva powers - Land captains can override
Attraction of Slavophiles diminished as Russia began to industrialise

Question 3

Name some radical thinkers

Answer 3

Karl Marx - communist manifesto, translated by Mikhail Bakurin into Russian
Alexander Hersen - advocated peasant based social structure.
Tchaikovsky circle set up 1868 literary society printing banned texts. no more than 100 spread across cities

Question 4

Events of failed populism quests

Answer 4

1874 - Pytor Lavrov encouraged 2000 young men and women mainly nobility to disguise themselves. 1600 arrested

second attempt even less successful. Show trials held.

Question 5

Example proving the peasants were ignorant suspicious and prejudiced.

Answer 5

Mikhail Romas - Killed by suspicious peasants when setting up a co operative store selling fruit and veg to spread populist ideas.

Question 6

When was Land and Liberty set up and what did they get up to

Answer 6

Set up in 1877

Sought work within peasant communes and some carried out political assassinations including the head of the third section.

Gained public sympathy, talked with zemstva about putting pressure on the autocracy for constitutional reform

Question 7

When did Land and liberty split into 2 groups and what did they do

Answer 7

1879

Black repartition - wanted to share black soil provinces among peasants

People’s will advocated violent methods and assassinated Nicholas in 1881