Opposition to Tsarist Rule

Though the Dumas were powerless, accounts of their debates could be printed, overturning centuries of political censorship and popularising opposition parties.

Octobrists

The Octobrists were a conservative group who supported the October Manifesto. In 1913 they were led by Guchkov. Although they were the Tsar’s most loyal supporters, they thought he had gone too far in removing the Duma’s rights, given initially in 1905. They warned that there would be a catastrophe if the Tsar did not make government more respected.

Kadets

The Kadet Party (Constitutional Democrats) was the Liberal group in the Duma. It was led by Milyukov. 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.

Social Democrats

Communists called themselves Social Democrats at this stage, but were split into several different groups. All believed in Karl Marx’s historical interpretation of politics.

In 1903 the Socialists had split into the Mensheviks (Men of the Minority) led by Martov, and the Bolsheviks (Men of the Majority) led by Lenin. They were supported mainly by the industrial working class. Their leadership was mainly middle class.

The Mensheviks represented the majority of Socialists. They concentrated on making life better for the working masses.

They were not opposed to revolution, but did not think it had to happen before conditions could be improved.

The Bolsheviks were in the minority. Lenin said conditions should not be improved in the present because this would lessen support for revolution. Revolution was the most important aim. Revolution would be followed by a period of change in which society and the economy would be put right (socialism), followed by a communist future.

Socialist Revolutionaries

The Socialist Revolutionaries, led by Chernov, enjoyed mass support from the peasantry. They were the most popular party in Russia. Some believed in assassinations to weaken the government; many believed in revolution. They were united in their determination to redistribute land so everyone would have a fair share.