The Czar's Revolt Was Not the Work of a Few Malcontents

The czar had to prove he could stabilize the situation. That meant at least giving the appearance of reform. But this minimum goal was too much for nicholas and other conservatives at court. The black hundreds were reactionary street fighters who would attack anything they thought threatened the regime. Had the army turned on him at any point, as many in the regime feared they might, the revolution would have been over.