The Growth of Opposition to Tsarist Rule

Paper 1 : Autocracy and Revolt in Russia : 1881 - 1914

The growth of opposition to Tsarist rule

• Emergence of opposition groups including the Constitutional Democrats (Cadets), Octobrists, Social Revolutionary Party and Social Democrats.
  • Octobrists 
    • Conservative group who supported the October Manifesto
    • 1913, led by Guchkov 
    • The Tsar's loyal supporters
    • They thought that he had gone too far in removing the Duma's rights.
    • They warned the Tsar that a catastrophe would occur if the government was not respected.
  • Constitutional Democrats (Cadets)
    • Liberal group in the Duma
    • Led by Milyukov
    • Represented middle class professions and businessmen.
    • They wanted a constitutional monarchy
  • Social Democrats
    • In 1903, they split into Mensheviks and Bolsheviks
    • Mensheviks (Men of minority) led by Martov
    • …