Politics under the Tsar

Tsardom: the Tsar was an autocrat. He ruled without any check on his power. He thought he had a special relationship with God.

Tsar refusing to change

In 1913 the Romanovs celebrated 300 years on the throne. Nicholas II was educated by his father (Alexander III) and his tutor (Pobedonostsev) to believe that no rule other than Tsardom was possible.

No Cabinet government

Individual members of the Council of State were sworn to be loyal to the Tsar so the Council could not make decisions of its own. The civil service was well known for time wasting, was open to bribery and treated the people badly.

Repression

The mounted Cossacks, who used knouts and swords, the Okhrana (secret police) and the army backed up the police. In 1905 the army shot at a demonstration on Bloody Sunday and started a revolution. The Tsar only survived because the army stayed loyal and he made concessions.

No democracy

The Tsar’s 1905 October Manifesto promised a Duma (an assembly). This was never able to force the Tsar to change any policies. Four Dumas were called before 1917. Each had less power and represented a narrower band of society.