section B oppositon groups
alexander II and alexander III peasant opposition
1861 emancipation edict unleashed a number of disturbances involving 10000 peasants at one time. this unrest was quietened until the 1890s when further outbursts were quelled by the help of land captains
nicholas II peasant opposition
peasant rebellions reached new levels 1900-7 prompted by attempts to deal with redepmtion payments, land distribution and rising prices. often they 'appropriated' private land, refused to pay taxes,robbed warehouses and set rural lands on fire. these reforms led to stolypin using a great deal of force to put it down and then introducing Wager on the Strong.
provisional government peasant opposition
peasants were an integral part of revolutionary 1917 launching renewed attacks on land owners. well organised and aided by army deserters and educated peasants who formed peasnt soviets. methods included public utlities being destroyed and peasant vigilantism.
lenin peasant opposition
by end of civil war there was a mounting resntment against war communism. murder of grain requositioners and threatening revolts at Tambov and Volga in 1920 were enough for Lenin to realise that Cheka and Red Army were not enough to keep peasants in line. NEP introduced and used to appease peasants
stalin peasant opposition
collectivisation caused rebellions against the speed and scale of reform. 1930 stalin was prepared to make a concession that allowed peasants to opt out of colectivosation but then the war hit and over 90% of agri land was collectivised. peasants refused to cooperate and slaughtered cattle and horses.
khrushchev peasant opposition
litle countryside unrest. conferred with party secretaries, offered incentives like tax reductions and electricity.
alexander II and alexander III worker opposition
strikes before 1880s tended to be small scale and localised. but grew in degree of size and threat. 1885 Morozov Dye Works involved 8000 workers. 10 hour working day wasnt the norm until 1914.
nicholas II worker opposition
strike activity frequently banned eg bloody sunday sympathy strikes 1905. or dealt with using extreme force eg Lena Goldfield Miners 1912. 1917 Putilov Works in st petersbury (largest private factory in russia) strike seen as a trigger for the february revolution.
lenin and stalin workers oppostion
many workerrs died in civil war so there was a shift in factory workers. this created an ill-disciplined, ill-educated and not particularly interested in the party work force which explains why they were fairly docile throughout the years 1920s to 30s. the authorities quickly dealt with any agitation stalins purges removed disruptive trade union officials. 5 year plans used to control worker behaviour.
khrushchev worker opposition
industrial relations were stable under him although there were riots for a fall in living standard. 1962 Novocherkask protested against food shortages and rising food prices. as a result authorities killed 20 workers and the leaders. opposition did have some success as the working hours were reduced to 7 hours from 11 and a half in 1891. full worker control of production was never achieved though.
alexander II political opposition
populists organised 'going to the people' 1873 where 4000 university students went into the countryside. 1876 it became more organised into land and liberty but failed as leaders couldnt decide how to move forward. the peoples will emerged in 1879 and atempted to assassinate alex 4 times before successful. didnt prompt a complete overthrow of tsarism but did inspire future revolutionaries.
nicholas II political opposition
octobrists displayed loyalty to tsar but wanted changes to be made to system of government. suppoted october manifesto and even went on to be some of the members of the pg. srs emerged from populists movement. improving conditions for poorest people in society. 1905 split into left and right wing groups. left carried on the work of the peoples will and were responsible for 2000 political killings. right promised to deal with ongiong land issue. biggest threat to tsarist rule
provisional government political reforms
the bolsheviks seized power from the provisional government in october 1917. started one party state on closed constituent assembly 1918. most effective political group despite being a minority in the party.
lenin political reform
bolsheviks shut down constituent assembly. started a one party. mensheviks and srs were expelled from the executive committee 1918. 1921 factions were banned.
stalin poltical opposition
a clique caled Troika was instigated iwthin the politburo. purpose was to discredit trotsky. others conerned with stalins foreign policy but had no success in deposing him and were both removed as secretaries. politburo was expanded and reinforced with stalinists.
khrushchev poltical reform
during power struggle Beria was blamed for the 1953 East German Uprising. arrested in a kremlin coup oragnised by kchev. tried in secret adn was later shot. no legal basis for the coup.