Practically all Estonian political trends and movements, whether they formed a party or not, were in opposition to the government. They demanded democratic and civil rights, many also the right to national self-determination, autonomy and local government.
Taotleti demokraatiat ja kodanikuõigusi, enamasti ka rahvuslikku enesemääramisõigust, autonoomiat ja omavalitsust — kogu poliitilise spektri ulatuses apelleeriti rahva nõudmistele.