Fact File for 20 mk question

Question No. 4

Question: ‘The strengths of Romanov rule outweighed the weaknesses between 1906
and 1914.’ How far do you agree? [20]
Examination Year 9389/23/M/J/2020
Submitted By Laiba Iraqi and Shanzay Malik

Introduction Background:
After the 1905 revolution, Russia was in a state of political unrest, the divided masses
Includes had contrasting views on the reforms and concessions Nicholas II would make. The
background and period between 1906-1914 saw certain progression and resistance to advancements.
Thesis Statement:
Thesis Statement to support hypothesis:
The tsarist regime’s strengths had proven to outweigh its weaknesses throughout the
period of 1906 till 1914, evident by its continuous support from the Russian population.
Supporting Arguments:
● Traditional support for Nicholas II
● Advancement of reform
● Competent ministers
● Economic progress
Countering the hypothesis:
● The Russo Japanese War 1904-1905
● The Tsar’s reluctance to offer meaningful change
● Poor economic conditions
Support for the Traditional support for Nicholas II
Hypothesis:
A predominant reason for the Tsar’s strength is due to the support he had of the elites,
the church, the aristocracy, and the army. He survived the upheavals of 1905 because of
1st Point/Argument his reliance on the loyalty of the army. The majority of the population was the peasantry,
Explain using PEEL and they favored the conservative rule of the Tsar. This is evident in how the masses
referred to the tsar as their ‘little father’. Thus, the divided and uncoordinated opposition
to the Tsar’s regime, allowed the Romanov dynasty to remain stable and mainly in
strength.
2nd Point/Argument Advancement of Reform
The establishment of the Duma was seen as a willingness for change, which reduced the
discontent amongst the opposition forces. The October manifesto promised free speech,
voting rights, and an elected assembly (duma). Many rebels were satisfied with these
proposals, while the peasant unrest was calmed by the ceasing of redemption payments.
The secret police system (Okhrana) intensified its loyalty to the Tsar, therefore, the
regime’s resort to repression aided in the preservation of its power. Also serving as
evidence of the strength of the Romanov Dynasty.
3rd Point/Argument Competent Ministers
Stolypin and Witte played a great role in their efforts of modernizing Russian industry
and agriculture. Witte encouraged the expansion of the Trans-Siberian Railway, while
Stolypin played a greater part from 1906-1911 in founding the Peasant Land Bank and
improving agriculture production. In the Duma, he had built a good working relationship
with the Octobrists, who supported his policies. These two ministers shared a basic aim
of preservation of the tsarist system which enabled the Romanov Dynasty to retain power
and strength.
Economic progress
 There is relative evidence supporting the fact that agriculture improvement took place in
the form of education, cooperatives, large-scale farming, etc. As a result, this led to an
increase in production by 1913, wheat was exported, while the income of some
landowners also rose by as much as 80% in 1914. In 1909 an ambitious new program of
rearmament also began and the workforce started to increase. Therefore, economic
indicators were fairly positive, with industrial growth and a balanced budget, the national
debt was decreasing while gold reserves increased. Adding to the fact that Russia was
mostly stable, thus the strengths outweigh the weaknesses of the Romanov Dynasty.
Counter-Argument: However some historians argue that the Romanov rule’s weaknesses prominently
presented themselves between the years of 1906 and 1914.
Support for The Russo-Japanese War 1904 - 1905
Counter-Hypothesis
The Tsar’s weaknesses were revealed through the course of the war between Japan and
Explain using PEEL Russia over a port in Manchuria between 1904 and 1905. When negotiations between the
two nations in 1904, this ensued a series of consistent humiliating defeats for Russia. The
Russian army, while being larger in size than Japan’s, lacked efficiency evident by its
prominent struggles to transport troops and equipment to the battle zone. The Battle of
Tsushima in 1905 deciding the ultimate defeat of the Russian army, only fuelled the
Russian people’s criticism of the Tsar, supporting the view that the Romanov rule’s
strengths were in fact overridden by its weaknesses.

The Tsar’s Reluctance to Offer Meaningful Change

Another argument supporting the view that the Romanov rule’s weaknesses were far
greater than that of their strengths was the Tsar’s reluctance to offer meaningful change.
Although the Tsar did agree to the establishment of the Duma in 1906, its powers were
limited to control of a small portion of the budget, and lacked universal suffrage with the
votes of men over the age of 25 going to ‘electoral colleges’ instead of individual
representatives. The tsar ignored the population’s debates until they inevitably boycotted
elections, protested and urged others to avoid paying taxes and military service. This
only magnified the tsar’s weaknesses and distanced him from the Russian population.
This corroborates the argument that the Romanov Rule’s weaknesses were far more
prominent than their strengths.

Poor Economic Conditions

One of the most prominent weaknesses of the Romanov rule that aggravated the 1905
revolution, was the economic condition of the peasantry in specific. With minor changes
brought about by emancipation and severe tax increases due to Witte’s policies of
industrialisation, the peasants started to resent the Tsarist regime. The economic
recession around this time caused high rates of unemployment. This created a sense of
hostility between the people and policies approved by the Tsar. Adding to the augment
that the Romanov Rule’s weaknesses were more prominent than its strengths throughout
the course of the period of 1906 to 1914.

Conclusion: On that account, discovering whether the strengths of Romanov rule outweighed its
weaknesses between 1906 and 1914, historical evidence proves to be more credible in
proving that the Romanovs’ strengths did in fact outweigh its weaknesses, when
considering factors such as traditional support for the Tsar, his advancement to reform,
competent ministers such as Stylopin and the economic progress shown during this
period of time. These factors override weaknesses mentioned in the very early 1900s
such as the defeat from the Japanese, the lack of meaningful changes offered by the Tsar
and economic conditions of the time. Specifically traditional support, which proves to be
the most important strength, since the sense of loyalty from the army and people etched
with the Romanov rule, proves that the strengths did overweigh its weaknesses.