Describe two features of the October Manifesto (6 marks) (IGCSE)

One feature of the October Manifesto was that it enabled the Tsar to survive the revolution of 1905. This is because Nicholas II showed that he was prepared to make concessions by introducing reforms which the liberal middle classes has been asking for. By allowing new civil rights for the people of the Russian Empire, such as freedom of speech and religion, the right to form political parties and most importantly, the formation of a democratic parliament (the duma) the support of the liberals for the Tsar was maintained and the general strike was called off.
Another feature of the October Manifesto was the fact that the reforms were actually very limited and did not amount to the revolution which many people hoped for. The liberals viewed the reforms as a step towards a more democratic system, but the following year saw the introduction of the Fundamental Laws, which drastically reduced the powers of the Duma by stating that it could be suspended at any time and that only the Tsar could propose laws and had sole command of the armed forces. This demonstrated that the Tsar was determined to maintain autocracy in Russia in spite of the new constitution introduced by the October Manifesto