THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMANOV DYNASTY

THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMANOV DYNASTY

RUSSIAN SOCIETY AT THE TIME OF THE TSARS

RUSSIAN CLIMATEThe whole of Northern Russia is within the Arctic Circle. One third of the land is permanently frozen.

Southern Russia is sub-tropical.

The dominant feature of the Russian Climate is the extreme cold of winter

The period when rivers are completely frozen varies from 70 days a year in the west of the country to as much as 250 days in northern Siberia.RUSSIAN CLIMATEAlmost everywhere in the country precipitation is rather low. In some of the major grain-producing areas of southern Russia, drought can drastically reduce crop yields in some years.

So intense is the cold in winter that northern and eastern Siberia experience a phenomenon called permafrost. Here the subsoil remains frozen all year although the topsoil may thaw out during the summer.

PEASANTSAround 80% of Russias population in 1900 were peasants.

About 50% of the population was illiterate until 1860.

Until 1861, the majority of peasants had been serfs.

RURAL DINING HOUSE 1891 PEASANTS, SIBERIA 1890

THE ROMANOVS

ALEXANDER PALACE

MOSCOW 1901RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCHChristian church that originated in the Byzantine Empire and recognizes the Patriarch of Constantinople as primate rather than the Pope

The national religion of the Russian

The Tsar was believed to have been chosen by God therefore the church had a very strong influence on the governing of the country

RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

A HISTORY OF LIBERALISM RUSSIA: 1750-1950A HISTORY OF LIBERALISM What is Liberalism? A HISTORY OF LIBERALISMDEFINITION: The belief in the importance of individual liberty and human rights.Liberalists support and advocate for things such as;a constitutionfree and fair electionsequal rights/human rightsfree tradeseparation of church and state

INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION 1750-1850 Industrialisation develops rapidly in France, Great Britain and the Americas

Agricultural machinery is developed and begins to replace manual labour.

Factories are built and a working class developsFRENCH REVOLUTION 1789-1799

Liberty leading the people, Eugene Delacroix

FRENCH REVOLUTIONWhat is a revolution?

An overthrow or repudiation . The thorough replacement of an established government or political system by the people governed.FRENCH REVOLUTIONOccurred from 1789-1799

A series of events led by liberal political groups and involving the common masses which led to major reforms and the eventual overthrow of Loius XVI (16th).

FRANCE BEFORE THE REVOLUTIONAbsolutist politics

legal inequality

feudal economy (including serfdom)

alliance of church and state

FRANCE AFTER THE REVOLUTIONA constitution and the rule of law to govern politics

equal rights

separation of church and state

sovereignty belonging to the people

A HISTORY OF LIBERALISMAlexander I comes into power s the Tsar of Russia in 1801

Ideas of liberal reform emerge

A HISTORY OF LIBERALISMIn 1812 Napolean tries to enter Russia but is defeated by the Russian army

As a result of the threat of Revolution, Alexander returns to conservative ideas inc. censorshipclosely monitored growth in educationbanning of foreign literature

DECEMBRISTS REVOLTAlexander I dies in 1825 leaving confusion about who is the next heir to the throne. Nicholas I eventually inherits the throne

On December14, a secret society made up of junior officers stormed Senate Square in an attempt to seize power

They had planned to do this through the set up of a constituent assembly that would introduce their reforms.

DECEMBRISTS REVOLT

A HISTORY OF LIBERALISMNicholas I dies in 1855 and his son Alexander II (Alexander the Liberator) inherits the throne.

THE CRIMEAN WAR 1853-1856Russia had long waited to gain control of the Bosphoros Straits and Dardenelles to gain vital access to the Mediterranean.

Britain, France and Austria intervene on behalf of Turkey.

Russia lacks industrial capacity to support a modern army and loses war.THE CRIMEAN WAR 1853-1856

A HISTORY OF LIBERALISMIn 1861 he introduces The Edict of Emancipation ( the abolition of serfdom)Serfs were freed from there masters (the nobility) and given plots of land from the estates of the nobility. They were however forced to pay for the land by making yearly payments to the government.Most peasants could not afford these payments and went into debt. The peasants felt portrayed by this because they felt like the land belonged to the people that worked it- them.The nobility also resented the Emancipation Edict thus alienating both groups in society.

A HISTORY OF LIBERALISMAlthough he refused to consider an elected parliament he introduced local councils who were responsible for;maintenance of roads and bridgesupkeep of hospitals and prisonsprevention of faminepublic health and education

A HISTORY OF LIBERALISMIn October 1879 the Peoples Will was formed. A group advocating violence to achieve reform.

After several failed attempts, the group succeeded in killing the Tsar on March 1 1881.A HISTORY OF LIBERALISMIn 1881,Alexander III inherits the throne.

Industrialisation begins to take off in Russia and the urban labour force grows rapidly

A HISTORY OF LIBERALISMHe tightens censorship of the press and banishes thousands of revolutionaries to Siberia

He also restores full autocracy and judges and officials who were sympathetic to liberal ideas are removed from office

Creates the new Secret Police to spy on any group opposed to the Tsar

A HISTORY OF LIBERALISMA policy of Russification is introduced involving the imposing of the Russian language and Russian schools on Germans, Poles, Finns and all other minor nationalities

Alexander III dies in 1894 and Nicholas II ascends the throne