Explain why opposition to Russian Governments was so rarely successful throughout the period 1855-1964

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Explain why opposition to Russian Governments was so rarely successful in the period 1855-1954? Throughout the period 1855 to 1954, opposition to Russian governments was a common occurrence due to dissatisfaction of many civilians’ lives and the lack of development seen throughout Russia. However, as much as there were some successful movements throughout 1905 such as the Bolsheviks gaining support and eventually gaining power, there were also several failed attempts due to intense use of violence, terror and censorship by the state. It is arguable that whether opposition was successful, merely came down to the strength of the opposition group or the weakness of the government in power. All state leaders across the whole period held…show more content…
During that time, the populist movement in 1874-76 ‘Going to the people’ failed as villages as the peasants saw the middle class as outsiders, showing the vast gulf between the intelligentsia and the peasants. As a result, Populism became more radical, with the creation of the secret organisation of Land and Liberty in 1876, using terrorism and organising the assassinations of leading figures. Lenin in Power 1917-1924 In October 1917, there was enough opposition for Lenin to take power as leader of the Bolsheviks. The Provisional Government provided him with no majority support, with the Bolsheviks winning 24% and the SRs gaining 54% of votes. The Liberal period consisting of keeping workers and peasants happy left them with little power. Decree on land gives noble land to peasantry so that they have legal title to it, did it to stop rebellion and get peasant support in the civil war. 2. War Communism- Summer 1918 (civil war)- more authoritarian. 3. 1921- New Economic freedom for peasantry Economic policy- less authoritarian. Lenin (Bolsheviks) more radical and driven for revolution now. SDs split into Bolsheviks and Mensheviks in 1912 over the membership of the party. When the war gets bad, people go back to Lenin as the party that opposed war. 1921 peasant revolts through war communism – grain hoarding – protests for it, major famine- Bolsheviks taking grain. Red
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