<P> Of course, Nicholas II remained wary of having to share power with reform - minded bureaucrats . When the pendulum in 1906 elections swung to the left, Nicholas immediately ordered the Duma's dissolution just after 73 days . Hoping to further squeeze the life out of the assembly, he appointed a tougher prime minister in Petr Stolypin as the liberal Witte's replacement . Much to Nicholas's chagrin, Stolypin attempted to bring about acts of reform (land reform), while retaining measures favorable to the regime (stepping up the number of executions of revolutionaries). After the revolution subsided, he was able to bring economic growth back to Russia's industries, a period which lasted until 1914 . But Stolypin's efforts did nothing to prevent the collapse of the monarchy, nor seemed to satisfy the conservatives . Stolypin died from a bullet wound by a revolutionary, Dmitry Bogrov, on September 5, 1911 . </P> <P> Even after Bloody Sunday and defeat in the Russo - Japanese War, Nicholas II had been slow to offer a meaningful solution to the social and political crisis . At this point, he became more concerned with his personal affairs such as the illness of his son, whose struggle with haemophilia was overseen by Rasputin . Nicholas also refused to believe that the population was demanding changes in the autocratic regime, seeing "public opinion" as mainly the "intelligentsia" and believing himself to be the patronly' father figure' to the Russian people . Sergei Witte, the minister of Russia, frustratingly argued with the Tsar that an immediate implementation of reforms was needed to retain order in the country . It was only after the Revolution started picking up steam that Nicholas was forced to make concessions by writing the October Manifesto . </P> <P> Issued on 17 October 1905, the Manifesto stated that the government would grant the population reforms such as the right to vote and to convene in assemblies . Its main provisions were: </P> <Ol> <Li> The granting of the population "inviolable personal rights" including freedom of conscience, speech, and assemblage </Li> <Li> Giving the population who were previously cut off from doing so participation in the newly formed Duma </Li> <Li> Ensuring that no law would be passed without the consent of the Imperial Duma . </Li> </Ol>

What were the events preceding the 1905 revolution in russia class 9