The Fall Of Tsarism Essay Research Paper

The Fall Of Tsarism Essay, Research Paper It was clear by this stage, that it needed a revolution in order to reform the Russian autocratic Tsarist system.? ????? I would therefore conclude that it is extremely clear that the autocratic system of government would not change despite any amount of pressure from the middle classes or the peasant masses.? In short it is clear from my examination of the previous Tsars, who have been disinterested in reforming to improve, only in reforming to preserve the autocratic system.? It is clear that the only real way to alter the Russian system of government dramatically was through revolution.? ?? ?? Similarly, with Nicholas I the reforms during his reign were very limited, and amounted to a streamlining of the Tsarist system of

government, but no real change.? Although one can argue that Nicholas was not prepared to be Tsar, and Alexander?s accession to the throne was unfortunate, this does not alter the fact that both Tsars turned their backs on reform and turned their attention instead to bitter repression.? This effective was particularly effective on the part of Nicholas I and his notorious third section. ??????????? One should now ask: ?Why did neither Tsar attempt any major government reforms during this period?? In response to this, one must look at Russian society during the period 1801 and 1855 and discuss the reasons for the lack of reforms in this period.? The first question that must be addressed is was there any pressure on the government during this period? The answer to this question must

be no, as the serfs were still slaves with little interest in political affairs at this time.? Whilst they were serfs, it seems that the serfs saw the Tsar as an almost God-like figure who constantly had their best wishes at heart.? In this belief they were mistaken, however, this meant that the masses in the Russian countryside at this point had no desire to alter the Tsarist system, and consequently the Tsar was under very little pressure from this portion of society.? As their was no danger of mass revolution involving serfs and middle classes alike, the Tsar had little difficulty in repressing the liberal and nationalist elements in the middle and working classes.? This was accomplished particularly effectively by Nicholas I?s notorious third section. ??????????? Therefore,

the effective repression during this period under Tsars Paul, Alexander I and Nicholas I, little actual governmental reform took place.? This was due to the effective repression of these Tsars and the lack of any real political pressure being exerted by the revolutionary elements in the Russian society during this time.? This may also constitute one of the many reasons for the survival of serfdom in Russia, the Tsars were genuinely scared of the masses becoming politically aware of the Tsarist system. ????? The way in which the Tsars governed during this period shows a conservative aristocracy.? It is clear that even from this point, the Tsars were intent upon clinging to the absolute power that they held.? The repression and lack of reform during this period simply demonstrates

this point. ????? The only real example of a Tsarist government reforming is that of Alexander II.? This Tsar had been well equipped for the rigours of Tsardom as his father had had him tutored for the job.? Some may argue that the spark that ignited Alexander II?s reforms was the war in the Crimea and the humiliation of defeat on their own doorstep by powers fighting hundreds of miles away from their own shores.? This war not only showed the incompetancy of the Russian army, but also the backwardness of the Russian nation in general.? This highlighted the fact that the serf system was outdated as it led to uneducated masses who were difficult to train due to lack of education.? This may well have been one of the reasons for the emancipation of the serfs, and in this way, foreign