The Fundamental State Laws
Following the concessions Tsar Nicholas promised in his October Manifesto and the promise of shared authority through the creation of the first duma, Nicholas promulgated the fundamental laws in April 1906.These laws prevented these previous concessions to limit the Tsar’s authority in any way declaring the Tsar’s “Supreme Autocratic Power” re-establishing his command over Russia. The introduction of the fundamental laws was met with bitterness from those in the duma who were now restricted from bringing potentially beneficial change to the regime which may have assisted tsarism through a period of change.
ALIX
ALIX
The Fundamental Laws of the Empire in 1832 expressed the view that the monarch was granted ‘unlimited’ and ‘autocratic’ powers by whom ‘God himself commands his supreme power to be obeyed’. In April 1906, Nicholas II issued a 124-point de facto constitution that codified certain individual rights such as freedom of religion and the sanctity of private property, but also undermined promises for political reform that were made in the 1905 October Manifesto. Part of this details that only the Tsar can advocate the passing of new laws, which made him able to dismiss any reforms previously promised in the October Manifesto. This event conducted a revolutionary situation as the peasants and workers of Russia felt that they had been ‘bought off’ by the monarch and had their rising expectations of a new, civilised and harmonious society quashed by the Tsar himself.
The Fundamental Laws (April 23 1906) reversed the sharing power offered in the October Manifesto (1905). The Tsar previous October Manifesto was reluctantly made public and gave the population ‘the inviolable right to civic freedom’ and that the elected State Duma must approve all law before it becomes effective. This heightened people’s expectations for a new Russia, whereby the Tsar and an elected government could work side by side. The State Fundamental Laws reversed this progression. It showed the Tsars need for control over his people. Tsar Nicholas asserted his power and assured the entire population that he had control, it entirely contradicted the Manifesto. It changed the mood across Russia, especially for the educated of the population who were able to understand the power given to them by the October Manifesto and the ability to elect the State Duma. The Fundamental laws added to the tension growing between the Tsar, and his authority and the population he was leading.
SIMONE
SIMONE