Did the october manifesto and the fundamental laws change the beliefs and attitude of Nicholas ll?

Answer 1

To what extent did the October manifesto mark a change in the beliefs and attitudes of the tsar?The October manifesto granted the Russian people a state duma, and allowed universal suffrage. The October manifesto also gave the people of Russia civil liberties, that had previously not been allowed such as freedom of speech and freedom of conscience.

The Tsar by allowing the creation of a state duma, although lost the Tsar some power it allowed him to regain control. The October manifesto split the Kadets from the Social revolutionaries and the Social democrats as it granted the middle class what they had wanted a parliament. This showed that the tsar believed that splitting the opposition would allow him to regain control. It also showed that the Tsar wanted to remain as the autocratic ruler and keep control even if he had to lose some power.

The October manifesto may have not altered any of the beliefs and attitudes of the tsar as it shows he was still out of touch with the poor and favoured the rich. The creation of a duma showed that the tsar was willing to listen to the wealthier middle classes. But the October manifesto did very little to benefit the peasants or workers of Russia. The right to vote would not have benefitted uneducated peasants who would not understand politics, however the educated would appreciate the right to vote. The wealthier classes would be likely to vote for other upper class members which also supported the Tsar.

The tsar did not fulfil the promises of change attitudes after the October manifesto. The activities of the okhrana were continued even after the October manifesto and the Tsar still suppressed certain political leaders and idealists, thereby the Tsar did not fully allow freedom of conscience or speech as he had promised in the October Manifesto. This shows just as prior to the October manifesto the tsar wanted to ban political opposition and had no interest in losing any influence and power to any political rivals.

The tsar retained the title of autocrat after the October manifesto, showing that his beliefs had not been altered. By retaining his title of autocrat highlighted the fact that Nicholas still believed he belonged in power, this was due to his family's 300 year reign and his belief in the divine right of Kings. The title of autocrat made sure that even with the state duma he remained the most powerful person in Russia as he had supreme autocratic power and extreme authority.

The October manifesto although created a duma which was a drastic change do the previous singular autocratic state and a step toward a better Russia, the tsar's views remained largely unchanged, he still favoured the rich and prevented large political opposition. However it showed he was willing to relinquish some power in order to remain as the tsar and avoid forceful removal. These views were backed up by the fundamental laws of 1906 which restated the Tsar's supreme power and asserted his authority over the Duma.