The Extent of Political Change

Question 1

Extent of political change under The Tsars

Answer 1

The ideology on structure of the government largely stayed the same

• leaders made some changes but they were always dedicated to the need to maintain autocracy

• all of the rulers used a mix of reformed and repression to govern and keep opposition under control

• therefore the label of Alexander II “the liberator” and Alexander III “the reactionary” is misleading

Question 2

Extent of Political Change under the Provisional Government [1917]

Answer 2

The provisional government’s principles that guided the establishment of the constituent assembly contributed to its downfall

for example releasing political prisoners allowed for opposition groups to gather momemntum

also the constituent assembly was short-lived and replaced in a dramatic fashion by a bolshevik dictatorship

Question 3

Extent of Political Change under the Communists

Answer 3

Political change under Lenin and Stalin mainly came about through the Constitution of 1924 and 1936

these extended the range of influence over a number of Republics

but also suggested that each member states would have a degree of autonomy

a more marked change occurred with de-stalinisation and they move back to a form of democratic centralism