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The Decembrist Revolt
The first signs of widespread political dissent in Russia surfaced nearly a century before the Russian Revolution. After the War of 1812, many Russians, especially military personnel who had served abroad, were inspired by growing democratic movements in Europe. Some even began to call for a formal Russian constitution with guarantees of basic rights. Tsar Alexander I actually considered the idea of a constitution, and indeed granted one to Poland, but never made up his mind about creating one for Russia.
The tsar’s death in 1825 was a small moment of weakness in the Russian leadership. Because Alexander had no legitimate children, there was confusion over which of his two brothers would succeed him. The eldest brother, Constantine, would have been next in line but had given up his place when he married a woman outside of his class. Therefore, the crown passed to the youngest brother, Nicholas I, resulting in a small public scandal. Seeing opportunity in the momentary chaos, 3,000 Russian soldiers, called Decembrists, marched into the center of St. Petersburg, demanding for Constantine to take the throne and create a constitution. The uprising was quickly suppressed, with the surviving demonstrators arrested and exiled to Siberia, but they would be seen as heroes by future revolutionaries.
Early Revolutionary Movements in Russia
In 1861, Tsar Alexander II, Nicholas I’s eldest son and successor, formally abolished serfdom and freed Russia’s serfs. Though a positive development in some ways, it led to a severe economic crisis and significant resentment from landowners. The event also inspired more open discussion of other political reforms, including Russia’s lack of a constitution.
Throughout the 1860s and 1870s, a host of organizations formed to a constitution, a parliamentary government, and socialistic values to Russia. Although most of these groups were peaceful, some used violence to force change. There were a series of assassination attempts on Alexander II, and in 1881, one succeeded, with members of a group called The People’s Will throwing a bomb underneath his carriage in St. Petersburg. As a result, the new tsar, Alexander III, cracked down severely on all forms of public resistance. Although the assassination failed to trigger a revolution as the plotters had hoped, the incident did serve as a source of inspiration to underground revolutionaries throughout the country, who increasingly saw the autocracy as vulnerable.
Russia at the Turn of the 20th Century
By the turn of the 20th century, Russian society had never been more divided, nor had a Russian tsar ever been so far estranged from his people. Tsar Nicholas II, who came to power in 1894, had never had a particular desire to rule or the personality and skills required for it. As a result, his rule was clumsy, and he appeared weak before the people. When it came to public opposition or resistance, he avoided direct involvement and simply ordered his security forces to get rid of problems as they saw fit. This tactic inevitably resulted in heavy-handed measures by the police, which in turn created greater resentment among the public.
Events Timeline
1825
Alexander I dies; succession crisis prompts Decembrist Revolt
1861
Alexander II abolishes serfdom
1881
Alexander II assassinated; Alexander III cracks down on dissenters
1894
Nicholas II becomes tsar
Key People
Alexander I
Tsar whose 1825 death prompted the Decembrist Revolt
Nicholas I
Brother of Alexander I; took power upon Alexander’s death
Alexander II
Son of Nicholas I; abolished feudalism in 1861; assassinated in 1881
Alexander III
Son of Alexander II; cracked down harshly on dissenters
