The Russian Revolution

The Grand Duke took a revolver from his pocket: “You see this revolver,” he said, “I am now going to the Tsar and will implore him to sign the manifesto and Witte’s program; either he signs or I will shoot

myself.”’ Only then did the sovereign agree to sign the Manifesto.

During a congress held on 21–8 October 1905, liberals formed the Constitutional Democratic Party for People’s Freedom, generally known as the Kadets.

The Constitutional Democratic Party (also known as the Kadets) was founded in mid-October 1905

The rampaging mobs also targeted the intelligentsia; anyone, in fact, who was presumed to have participated in the movement

690 anti-Jewish massacres (known as pogroms) occurred, primarily in the southwestern provinces; 820 people were killed and between 7,000 and 8,000 injured. The damage to property during the pogroms has been valued at 62 million rubles.

The first occurred on the Kronstadt naval base on 26–7 October, and by mid-Decem

December 1905 a total of 211 had broken out in the army

6 December, the government decided on a series of military reforms—increase in pay and meat rations, abolition of forced labor, and reduction in the term of service—which helped restore calm

troops to put down the workers and peasants who continued to resist its authority. This step proved instrumental in turning back the tide of revolution.