The Russian imperial methods of political control were relatively successful in maintaining power and control over the vast territory. The tsars practiced a policy of centralization, which allowed them to establish a strong autocracy. They effectively suppressed dissent through harsh measures such as the establishment of secret police, censorship, and exile to Siberia. However, there were limitations to their success, as evident from the numerous uprisings and popular discontent that eventually led to the downfall of the Romanov dynasty in the 1917 Russian Revolution.
