Stolypin's Role in Tsar's Authority Restoration

Stolypin played an important role in restoring the Tsar's authority after the events of 1905. His reforms, such as land reform and industrial reform, aimed to increase support for the tsarist system from wealthy kulaks, middle classes, and industrialists. Stolypin also used the Okhrana and the army to suppress peasant riots, land seizures, and strike actions. He implemented martial law and special courts to deal with political opponents, leading to convictions and executions. Newspapers were heavily censured, and many individuals were exiled. However, it is argued that Stolypin's reforms did not help poorer peasants and failed to improve living and working conditions for urban workers. Additionally, Stolypin was assassinated in 1911. The importance of Stolypin's role in restoring the Tsar's authority is also questioned as the October Manifesto, the establishment of a new state Duma, and the Fundamental Laws also played a significant role in the appeasement of middle class liberals and the reassertion of autocracy. The voting system was changed in 1907 to favor conservatives and monarchists. The use of repression, such as the Okhrana and the return of the imperial army, contributed to the suppression of radical groups and the closure of organizations like the St Petersburg Soviet. The initial wave of patriotism during the First World War further boosted the Tsar's authority. Therefore, while Stolypin's actions had an impact, other factors were also important in restoring the Tsar's authority.