Evaluating the Effectiveness of the Tsar's Government

Evaluating the Effectiveness of the Tsar's Government

The Russian Tsarist system was extremely resistant to change in all

forms. Reforms were only brought in to preserve, little improvement

resulted from these reforms. This made the Tsar’s government

ineffective. Reform was needed within Russia to improve the country in

economic and military terms. However while the Tsar maintained

absolute power, improvement was near impossible. Even war had no

impact on the Tsar’s intent to preserve the Tsarist System.

The Tsar’s rule meant that his word was law; he appointed his

ministers but did not have to listen to them. He could also ‘hire and

fire’ them at will. He fired ministers that he thought would threaten

him, and he hired family and friends, who were mostly incompetent and

some were corrupt. He was a true autocrat; he would not delegate and

tried to do everything himself. The Tsar gained massive personal

wealth. He banned political parties, anyone who criticized him were

exiled or put in prison. Also the press was censored.

The Tsar was ruling a country that covered a 6th of the earths total

land surface. Only 40% of the people were ethnic Russians, 80% where

peasants and 60% of the people were illiterate. Life expectancy was

age 40 and land ownership was rare. Drought and crop failure was

common, which lead to famine and poor health. 64% of peasants who were

called up for military were declared unfit.

Despite all this still many Russians worshiped the Tsar and peasants

typically had a picture of the Tsar on the wall of their hut. Some

peasants did prosper and it was generally the shortage of land rather

shortage of food tha...

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...lords would return.

Both sides, Red and White, had caused suffering for the peasants, but

generally the whites had caused more. For example both sides would

take grain from the peasants, but the Reds would usually leave enough

for the peasants, whereas the Whites would take almost all of the

grain.

Politically the Whites played into the hands of the Bolsheviks because

their slogan “A united and indivisible Russia” alienated national

minorities. Also Denikan and Kolchak (White Leaders) were moderates

who lacked effective political and economic programs. The whites also

underestimated the Reds ability to resist. At times the White armies’

most effective fighters (The Cossacks) were more interested in

collecting personal wealth and securing local areas than focusing on

the larger issue of driving Lenin from power.