The Political System of Russia in the Late 19th Century

The Political System of Russia in the Late 19th Century

In the late 1800s, Russia was an autocracy. This means that one person had all the power. That person was the Emperor, or Tsar.

The Tsar

• He was the absolute ruler. His word was the law.

• He was the head of the state, the church, and the army.

• He could appoint and fire all government officials.

• He made all final decisions about laws, wars, and taxes.

How the Country Was Run
The Tsar had helpers to govern the huge Russian Empire:

1. The Governing Senate: This group made sure the Tsar’s laws were followed across the country. It was like the highest court.

2. The Holy Synod: This was the group that managed the Russian Orthodox Church. The Tsar controlled the church through this group.

3. The Committee of Ministers: This was a group of advisors, like ministers for finance, war, and the interior. They gave advice to the Tsar, but he did not have to listen to them.

No Democracy

• There was no parliament (like in the UK or USA) to make laws.

• There were no national elections for a leader or for representatives.

• Political parties were illegal.

• Freedom of speech and press was very limited. The government censored books and newspapers.

Local Control
To keep control, the Tsar used a powerful secret police force called the Okhrana. They watched people, arrested those who criticized the government, and sent many to prison or exile in Siberia.

Local Government
For local matters, there was a system called the Zemstvo. These were local councils in provinces and districts. They took care of things like roads, schools, and hospitals. However, they had very little real power and were controlled by noblemen and wealthy people.

In Simple Terms:
Imagine Russia was a huge company. The Tsar was the CEO and sole owner. His ministers were department managers. There was no board of directors, and the workers (the common people) had no say in how the company was run. The security guards (the secret police) made sure no one complained.

This system created a lot of unhappiness, which led to the revolutions of the early 20th century.