Omer Suleman Assess the consequences of the 1905 revolution?

One believes that the most important consequence derived from the 1905 revolution was the fundamental laws, some may argue that the most important consequence of the 1905 revolution was the introduction to Stolypin and his infamous malice, along those who argue this point is Richard Pipes a famous historian who argues that In that year of revolution he made himself notorious for his cruelty to peasants and revolutionaries. This evokes the brutality of Stolypins rule and how he this was a significant consequence of the 1905 revolution. Opposing this view, one hopes to outline the consequences of the 1905 revolution such as the political repercussions and agricultural reforms concluding the justification to why one believes that the Fundamental laws outweigh the others and was the most important consequence. A major consequence of the 1905 revolution was the October manifesto, this consequence acted like a trigger consequence which led to many of the other repercussions of the 1905 revolution hence its extreme importance. The manifesto was published on the 30th of October 1905, in hope to reduce discontent in Tsarist Russia, Nicholas II had issued this under great influence of Sergei Witte who was soon to be made redundant from his position due to this mishap. The October manifesto greeted Russia with great concessions, these guaranteed civil rights to the people which included; freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, freedom of association, the Duma had also been promised a greater participation, uncensored newspapers and arguably the most important, no law should be passed without consent of the Duma. Politically this was the biggest compromise made by the Tsar to that date, the ability to appoint a parliament was feasible to the Russian public. The manifesto was successful in appeasing political groups such as The Kadets, however the Tsar soon retained regulation with the introduction of the Fundamental laws. Conversely as Russia saw an opening to semi democratic ruling, it was crushed in April 1906 by the fundamental laws introduced by the Tsar. This introduced the bi-cameral state of the parliament, leading to an elected section of the Duma which lacked power and an upper section appointed by the Tsar, this outweighed the electoral laws and the introduction of the first Duma as they served to revert absolute power to the Tsar. One argues that this was the most important consequence as it allowed Nicholas II to exercise veto power over the Duma which links to the reasons it had been abolished and reformed multiple times. The fundamental laws coincided with the manifesto to benefit the wealthy and deny access for the workers and peasants. The political concessions made were extremely void due to the fact no law was to be passed without the Tsar. Outraged by this the Duma met and assembled the Vyborg appeal, demanding a grant of more power for the Duma, the Tsar retaliated by dissolving the Duma for the first time and reportedly saying curse the Duma

this evoked the Tsars power but also led to further mishap. The appeal was appeal was then remade in Vyborg, Finland, granting it the name. The Kadets who issued the appeal planned to enable passive disobedience, encouraging the Russian people to refuse to pay taxes and disobey conscription orders, this was deemed dysfunctional as it spread in Russia in a form of violence, leading the Tsar to appoint the repressive Stolypin to regain control of the state. Overall one determines the Fundamental Laws the most important consequence of the 1905 revolution as they regained all control to the Tsar, outweighing the concessions of the October manifesto and introducing Peter Stolypin. Stolypin, appointed to be prime minister in 1906 as a retaliation to the Vyborg appeal mishaps was introduced to act as Nicholas strongman and he exercised that responsibility strongly resulting in Martial Law which gave military authority direct control of the whole population, before his death on 14th September 1911, Stolypin had totalled over 2500 executions. Although Stolypin ruled with great oppression he did not intend on making Sergei Wittes mistakes of ignoring the widespread discontent of Russia peasantry population. Stolypin initiated agricultural reforms which aimed ultimately to preserve autocracy and dissolve social unjust within the peasantry. In doing so he intended on increasing productivity, modernise agricultural techniques and equipment, increase usefulness of Russias larger areas of land and create a rich class of peasants who were encouraged to stay loyal to the Tsar. Stolypin began to this almost immediately starting with the most significant method which was the abolishing of redemption payments in 1907. With the peasants new found wealth, Stolypin increased the land availability for them to buy this was evident as the Tsar opened his familys land in Siberia for settlement. In 1906, the Agrarian laws were made which gave the peasantry the right to leave the Mir, a land commission to be set up, individual peasants could ask commission to consolidate their strips and the peasant land could not be sold to non peasants. With 2.5 million households gaining legal title to own land, the uptake initially was deemed promising although arguably the reforms were extremely unsuccessful this proved evident as time passed. A sixth of people who migrated to Siberia returned, reluctance to leave the Mir was persistent as by the 1917 revolution 95% of those who left the Mir returned, the plan to maximise productivity had also failed as it only increased by 1% arguably due to the growing population. Stolypins good intentions for the peasants were an extensive failure proving the agricultural reforms a minute consequence of the 1905 revolution as big changed were entailed but little changes were made. The 1905 revolution also entailed military consequences, as the outbreak of the revolution unravelled, Nicholas II planned to reduce awareness and sideline social unjust by initiating a war with Japan. Nicholas II and the Russian population had fooled themselves in thinking that it was going to be one sided event and that Japan had no chance. Engaging in the war socially enraged the Russian public as they began to acknowledge that defeat was on the brink. The war effectively climaxed the social unrest in Russia that it was produced to mute. The loss did not slow down the revolution but encouraged it creating a direct defiance and

challenge to Tsardom, although not all was bad, as with the opening of Stolypins rule the military were pushed to be actively involved, gaining control of the state through Stolypins martial law ensuring the troops stayed loyal. The military consequence of the 1905 revolution is deemed not very significant although it does have vital aspects as it worked to enrage social unrest and create an increase in loyalty to the Tsar from the troops. In conclusion, one hopes to have examined the consequences of the 1905 revolution and give clear justification for why the Fundamental laws are deemed most important consequence, the consequences for the 1905 revolution effected all, including the Military, the social people, those politically aware and agrarian. With the importance of the October manifesto acting as a trigger effect to the rest, the Fundamental laws, outweighs the other consequences as it regains power to the Tsar and concluded the dictatorship of the nation, including the introduction of Stolypin and his repressive and brutal rule.