Chapter 25Chapter 25Part 5Part 5

RussiaRussia

Crimean War defeat signaled need for Crimean War defeat signaled need for modernizationmodernization

Russia lacked a middle class so no Russia lacked a middle class so no liberalism: economically, politically, liberalism: economically, politically, sociallysocially

But nobles not interested in But nobles not interested in modernizationmodernization

Alexander II 1855-81Alexander II 1855-81

Understood that serfdom was keeping Understood that serfdom was keeping Russia backRussia back

90% worked in agriculture90% worked in agriculture Serfdom led to peasant uprisings, poor Serfdom led to peasant uprisings, poor

agricultural output, exploitation of serfs agricultural output, exploitation of serfs by lordsby lords

Serfs could be conscripted for 25 yearsSerfs could be conscripted for 25 years Could be bought or sold with or without Could be bought or sold with or without

landland

The Emancipation Act The Emancipation Act 18611861

Abolished serfdomAbolished serfdom Peasants were free to move about, Peasants were free to move about,

engage in other occupations, enter engage in other occupations, enter contracts, own propertycontracts, own property

But most Russians lived But most Russians lived in Mirsin Mirs

Highly regulated communesHighly regulated communes Collective ownership of landCollective ownership of land Hard to leave village or make Hard to leave village or make

improvementsimprovements

ZemstvosZemstvos

1864: assemblies that administered 1864: assemblies that administered local areaslocal areas

Attempt at popular participationAttempt at popular participation

BUT nobles ended up controlling BUT nobles ended up controlling themthem

ReformsReforms

Relaxed censorshipRelaxed censorship

Liberalized educationLiberalized education

Some Judiciary improvementSome Judiciary improvement

Industrialization in Industrialization in RussiaRussia

Was stimulated by Railroad constructionWas stimulated by Railroad construction

Between 1860-80 RR mileage grew from Between 1860-80 RR mileage grew from 1,250 to 15,5001,250 to 15,500

Could export grain, supply and move Could export grain, supply and move troops, etctroops, etc

Stimulated manufacturing, modern Stimulated manufacturing, modern factory workers, suburbsfactory workers, suburbs

CriticsCritics

Radical populistRadical populist movements sought a movements sought a utopian agrarian order:utopian agrarian order:

Intelligensia: Intelligensia: hostile group of hostile group of intellectuals who believed that they intellectuals who believed that they should take over societyshould take over society

Nihilists: Nihilists: intellectuals who believed in intellectuals who believed in nothing but science. Wanted to wie out nothing but science. Wanted to wie out the social order and start from scratchthe social order and start from scratch

Alexander IIAlexander II

Became more conservative later in Became more conservative later in his reignhis reign

Was assassinated in 1881 by radicals Was assassinated in 1881 by radicals who bombed his carriage in St. who bombed his carriage in St. PetersburgPetersburg

Count S. Y. WitteCount S. Y. Witte

Oversaw Russian industrialism in Oversaw Russian industrialism in 1890’s1890’s

Courted Western investors, technologyCourted Western investors, technology Small rise in middle classSmall rise in middle class Trans-Siberian railroad = 5,999 milesTrans-Siberian railroad = 5,999 miles Went on the gold standard to Went on the gold standard to

strengthen government financesstrengthen government finances By 1900 great gains in petroleum By 1900 great gains in petroleum

export and steel production export and steel production

Industrial Workers Industrial Workers ExploitedExploited

Caused spread of Marxist thought Caused spread of Marxist thought and revolutionary movements…and revolutionary movements…(timing is everything)(timing is everything)

Economic ProblemsEconomic Problems

1/3 of farmland still not used1/3 of farmland still not used Food production could not keep up Food production could not keep up

with populationwith population By late 19By late 19thth century Russia the most century Russia the most

populous nation in Europepopulous nation in Europe Depression in 1899 wiped out earlier Depression in 1899 wiped out earlier

economic gainseconomic gains Above caused massive unemploymentAbove caused massive unemployment

Alexander III 18881-94Alexander III 18881-94

The most reactionary of the 19The most reactionary of the 19thth century czarscentury czars

Encouraged anti-Semitism through Encouraged anti-Semitism through pogroms (severe persecution of pogroms (severe persecution of Jews)Jews)

Many emigratedMany emigrated

ZionismZionism

Introduced by Theodore HertzelIntroduced by Theodore Hertzel

The movement for a Jewish The movement for a Jewish homeland in the holy landhomeland in the holy land

Nicholas II 1894-1917Nicholas II 1894-1917

Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05

Background: Both Russia and Japan Background: Both Russia and Japan increased their spheres of influence in increased their spheres of influence in Manchuria and both had their eyes on Manchuria and both had their eyes on KoreaKorea

1905: Japan defeated the entire Russian 1905: Japan defeated the entire Russian FleetFleet

Russia humiliatedRussia humiliated

Treaty of PortsmouthTreaty of Portsmouth

Teddy RooseveltTeddy Roosevelt Japan gained sphere of influence in Japan gained sphere of influence in

ManchuriaManchuria KoreaKorea ½ of Sakhalin Island½ of Sakhalin Island

Russia decided to concentrate on the Russia decided to concentrate on the BalkansBalkans

Revolution of 1905Revolution of 1905

Bloody Sunday: 200,000 peasants Bloody Sunday: 200,000 peasants and workers marched peacefully to and workers marched peacefully to the winter palace asking for reformsthe winter palace asking for reforms

Czar was not there but the army fired Czar was not there but the army fired upon the crowd killing manyupon the crowd killing many

Caused a general strike (peasants, Caused a general strike (peasants, workers, army staged revolts and workers, army staged revolts and mutiniesmutinies

Russia was paralyzedRussia was paralyzed

Forced Nicholas II to make concessions:Forced Nicholas II to make concessions:

Agreed to freedom of speech, assembly, Agreed to freedom of speech, assembly, presspress

Agreed to a Agreed to a Duma: Duma: advisory board. advisory board. Czar retained absolute veto and Duma Czar retained absolute veto and Duma members were divided so no real powermembers were divided so no real power

1907-14 mild economic 1907-14 mild economic recoveryrecovery

Peter Stolypin:Peter Stolypin: worked for agrarian reform: worked for agrarian reform:

Encouraged enterprising peasants: the Encouraged enterprising peasants: the KulaksKulaks

Tried to break up collective ownership of Tried to break up collective ownership of landland

Was assassinated by conspiracy of noblesWas assassinated by conspiracy of nobles

RasputinRasputin

Increasingly dominated Russian Increasingly dominated Russian court after 1911court after 1911

Not popular with masses or with Not popular with masses or with noblesnobles

Russia’s poor showing in WWI led Russia’s poor showing in WWI led directly to Russian Revolutiondirectly to Russian Revolution