The Russian Revolution Chapter 27-3. Review of Russian Czars from Congress of Vienna Alexander I 1801-1825 Alexander I 1801-1825 Initially rather enlightened:

The Russian The Russian RevolutionRevolution

Chapter 27-3Chapter 27-3

Review of Russian Czars Review of Russian Czars from Congress of Viennafrom Congress of Vienna

Alexander I 1801-1825Alexander I 1801-1825 Initially rather enlightened:Initially rather enlightened: 1803 Gave nobles permission to free 1803 Gave nobles permission to free

their serfs but few didtheir serfs but few did Prussia had freed serfs, Russia was Prussia had freed serfs, Russia was

the only one left with serfdomthe only one left with serfdom Alexander promoted more Alexander promoted more

government efficiency government efficiency

Alexander IAlexander I

Became more reactionary near the Became more reactionary near the end of his ruleend of his rule

Opposed to Liberal reformsOpposed to Liberal reforms Used the Russian Orthodox Church Used the Russian Orthodox Church

to keep subjects under controlto keep subjects under control Watched universities carefullyWatched universities carefully Illegal to travel abroad to studyIllegal to travel abroad to study

Alexander IAlexander I

Introduced the Holy AllianceIntroduced the Holy Alliance First major attempt after defeat of First major attempt after defeat of

Napoleon to stop liberalismNapoleon to stop liberalism Few took it seriouslyFew took it seriously Liberals believed it to be an alliance Liberals believed it to be an alliance

of monarchies against liberty and of monarchies against liberty and progressprogress

Died in 1825Died in 1825

Nicholas INicholas I

Defeated Decembrist UprisingDefeated Decembrist Uprising Brother, Constantine, was supported Brother, Constantine, was supported

by liberal nobles but Constantine did by liberal nobles but Constantine did not want the thronenot want the throne

Nicholas was supported by Nicholas was supported by conservativesconservatives

Decembrist Uprising was the first Decembrist Uprising was the first upper-class revolt against Russia’s upper-class revolt against Russia’s autocratic system of governmentautocratic system of government


Relied on advice from military leadersRelied on advice from military leaders Believed in “Divine Right”Believed in “Divine Right” Tried to prevent Western ideas from Tried to prevent Western ideas from

entering Russiaentering Russia Foundation of the state: Autocracy, Foundation of the state: Autocracy,

Orthodoxy, NationalityOrthodoxy, Nationality European revolutions in 1830 and European revolutions in 1830 and

1848 convinced Nicholas that 1848 convinced Nicholas that suppression was necessarysuppression was necessary


Russia became a police stateRussia became a police state Secret Police: The Third SectionSecret Police: The Third Section State-sponsored terrorismState-sponsored terrorism No representative assembliesNo representative assemblies Education limited and monitoredEducation limited and monitored Intellectuals driven undergroundIntellectuals driven underground

Slovolphiles: The culture of the Mir superiorSlovolphiles: The culture of the Mir superior Westernizers: industrialize and end serfdomWesternizers: industrialize and end serfdom


The Crimean War: Say Russia as the The Crimean War: Say Russia as the “Protector” of Eastern Orthodoxy“Protector” of Eastern Orthodoxy

Fought England, France, SardiniaFought England, France, Sardinia Austria threatened to enterAustria threatened to enter Rejected the Four PointsRejected the Four Points Died 1855Died 1855

Alexander IIAlexander II

Accepted the Four PointsAccepted the Four Points Recognized problemsRecognized problems Tried to IndustrializeTried to Industrialize Tried to modernize the ArmyTried to modernize the Army Emancipation Act of 1861: freed the Emancipation Act of 1861: freed the

serfsserfs Recognized that serfdom held Russia Recognized that serfdom held Russia

backback


Peasants free to move or change Peasants free to move or change occupationsoccupations

Peasants could enter into contracts, Peasants could enter into contracts, own propertyown property

Peasants were given land via the MirsPeasants were given land via the Mirs Nobles were compensated for loss of Nobles were compensated for loss of

land by the stateland by the state Peasants had 50 years to pay back the Peasants had 50 years to pay back the

state gradually for the landstate gradually for the land


BUT mirs were owned collectively BUT mirs were owned collectively Was difficult to leave or improve Was difficult to leave or improve

agricultural methodsagricultural methods Mirs were regulated by nobles who Mirs were regulated by nobles who

ended up with most of the payments ended up with most of the payments to the stateto the state

Many serfs migrated to citiesMany serfs migrated to cities


Zemstroves:Zemstroves: were established in were established in 1864 by Alexander II’s decree1864 by Alexander II’s decree

These were assemblies to administer These were assemblies to administer local areaslocal areas

Again, Nobles controlled the Again, Nobles controlled the Zemstroves so not much changeZemstroves so not much change

Other Reforms: Other Reforms: Alexander IIAlexander II

Judicial system improvedJudicial system improved Trial by jury (Public trials)Trial by jury (Public trials) BUT Czar could overturn court decisions BUT Czar could overturn court decisions

and political cases heard by military and political cases heard by military tribunalstribunals

Military service reduced from 25 years Military service reduced from 25 years to 6to 6

Brutal corporal punishment was easedBrutal corporal punishment was eased Censorship temporarily relaxedCensorship temporarily relaxed Education liberalizedEducation liberalized


Industry was stimulated by railroadsIndustry was stimulated by railroads 1860-1880 RR mileage grew from 1,250 1860-1880 RR mileage grew from 1,250

to 15,500to 15,500 RR’s allowed Russians to export grain RR’s allowed Russians to export grain

and earn profits to further industrializeand earn profits to further industrialize Industrial suburbs grew up around Industrial suburbs grew up around

Moscow and other major citiesMoscow and other major cities Strengthened the military for future Strengthened the military for future

expansionexpansion


Became more conservative over timeBecame more conservative over time Was assassinated in 1881Was assassinated in 1881 His carriage was bombed in St. His carriage was bombed in St.

PetersburgPetersburg

Anarchists in RussiaAnarchists in Russia

Mikhail BakuninMikhail Bakunin: believed the state : believed the state should be destroyed and rebuilt from should be destroyed and rebuilt from scratchscratch

Nihilism:Nihilism: embraced by some embraced by some intellectuals who believed in nothing intellectuals who believed in nothing but science and that the social order but science and that the social order should be completely wiped out and should be completely wiped out and rebuiltrebuilt

In response to NihilismIn response to Nihilism

A radical populist group emerged A radical populist group emerged who promoted a utopian agrarian who promoted a utopian agrarian orderorder

They shared the beliefs of They shared the beliefs of SlovolphilesSlovolphiles

Alexander III 1881-1894Alexander III 1881-1894

Reactionary and embraced” Reactionary and embraced” Autocracy, Orthodoxy & Nationalism”Autocracy, Orthodoxy & Nationalism”

Judicial power shifted to the police Judicial power shifted to the police and militaryand military

Zemstvos influence was reducedZemstvos influence was reduced Tighter control of educationTighter control of education Russian Orthodox Church persecuted Russian Orthodox Church persecuted

other religious groupsother religious groups

Alexander IIIAlexander III

Encouraged anti-SemitismEncouraged anti-Semitism Pogroms = severe persecution of JewsPogroms = severe persecution of Jews Many Jews emigratedMany Jews emigrated

Theodore Herzel Theodore Herzel author of author of ZionismZionism Advocated the creation of a Jewish Advocated the creation of a Jewish

homeland in the Holy Land to remedy to homeland in the Holy Land to remedy to persecution of Jews in eastern and persecution of Jews in eastern and central Europe central Europe

Alexander IIIAlexander III

Languages other than Russian were Languages other than Russian were bannedbanned

(only 40% of population spoke Russian)(only 40% of population spoke Russian)

Count S.Y. Witte: Count S.Y. Witte: oversaw Russian oversaw Russian industrialization in 1890’sindustrialization in 1890’s

Built great factories by courting Built great factories by courting Western investment and superior Western investment and superior technologytechnology

Growth of IndustryGrowth of Industry

The rise of a small Russian middle classThe rise of a small Russian middle class Railroads doubled by 1900 (35,000 miles)Railroads doubled by 1900 (35,000 miles) Trans-Siberian Railway linked Moscow Trans-Siberian Railway linked Moscow

with Vladivostok (5,000 miles)with Vladivostok (5,000 miles) Went on the gold standard to strengthen Went on the gold standard to strengthen

government financesgovernment finances By 1900, Russia was the world’s 4By 1900, Russia was the world’s 4thth

largest steel producer (after U.S., largest steel producer (after U.S., Germany, Brits)Germany, Brits)

Industry in RussiaIndustry in Russia

Just like in Western Europe, industrial Just like in Western Europe, industrial growth and growth of a proletariat growth and growth of a proletariat contributed to the spread of Marxist contributed to the spread of Marxist ideas.ideas.

Workers felt exploitedWorkers felt exploited

After 1890, Marxist revolutionary After 1890, Marxist revolutionary movementmovement

Economic ProblemsEconomic Problems

In spite of industrial growth and reforms, In spite of industrial growth and reforms, still major economic problems by 1900still major economic problems by 1900

1/3 of the Russian farmland was not used1/3 of the Russian farmland was not used Population grew faster than food supplyPopulation grew faster than food supply Russia was the most populous country in Russia was the most populous country in

Europe by late 19Europe by late 19thth Century Century Depression of 1899 wiped out gains made Depression of 1899 wiped out gains made

since 1890since 1890

Economic ProblemsEconomic Problems

High unemploymentHigh unemployment 60% of population was illiterate60% of population was illiterate BUT literacy was growing in urban BUT literacy was growing in urban

areasareas Problems were made worse by loss Problems were made worse by loss

to Japanese in 1905to Japanese in 1905

Nicholas IINicholas II

Russo-Japanese War:Russo-Japanese War:

Conflict with Japan over Russia’s Conflict with Japan over Russia’s Sphere of influence in ManchuriaSphere of influence in Manchuria

Defeat of Russian fleetDefeat of Russian fleet Treaty of PortsmouthTreaty of Portsmouth Russia focused on the Balkans againRussia focused on the Balkans again

Revolution of 1905Revolution of 1905

Peasants, urban proletariat and small Peasants, urban proletariat and small middle class wanted reformmiddle class wanted reform

Bloody Sunday: Jan 1905 200,000 Bloody Sunday: Jan 1905 200,000 workers and peasants marched workers and peasants marched peacefully to the Winter Palace asking peacefully to the Winter Palace asking the tsar for reformsthe tsar for reforms

Nicholas II not at homeNicholas II not at home Army fired on marchers. Army fired on marchers.

300 killed 300 killed 1,000 injured 1,000 injured

Revolution of 1905Revolution of 1905 Massacre led to a general strikeMassacre led to a general strike Included peasant revolts, troop mutiniesIncluded peasant revolts, troop mutinies Nicholas II was forced to make Nicholas II was forced to make

concessions:concessions: Agreed to a national parliament the Agreed to a national parliament the DumaDuma Serfs did not have to repay state for landSerfs did not have to repay state for land Poles and Lithuanians allowed to use their Poles and Lithuanians allowed to use their

own languagesown languages Political trials returned to courtsPolitical trials returned to courts Some restrictions on Jews were liftedSome restrictions on Jews were lifted

The October ManifestoThe October Manifesto

1905 created the Duma1905 created the Duma Met in 1906Met in 1906 Most liberals (Kadets) Most liberals (Kadets)

(Constitutional Democrats)(Constitutional Democrats) Served as an advisory body to the Served as an advisory body to the

TsarTsar Elected by universal male suffrageElected by universal male suffrage

The October ManifestoThe October Manifesto

Granted freedom of speech, assembly and Granted freedom of speech, assembly and presspress

Tsar had absolute vetoTsar had absolute veto Duma had no real influenceDuma had no real influence Representatives often dividedRepresentatives often divided Tsar did not have to accept advise, had vetoTsar did not have to accept advise, had veto Duma was dissolved twice in 1906 by the Duma was dissolved twice in 1906 by the

tsartsar 1907 Duma was more conservative1907 Duma was more conservative

Nicholas IINicholas II

Repression was used to weaken opponents Repression was used to weaken opponents and critics of tsar and critics of tsar

Government-sponsored violence in Latvia Government-sponsored violence in Latvia and and

Estonia in 1906 = 1,000+ deathsEstonia in 1906 = 1,000+ deaths Jews savagely persecutedJews savagely persecuted German and Polish property-owners were German and Polish property-owners were

attackedattacked

Over 1,000 political prisoners executed in Over 1,000 political prisoners executed in 19061906

Documents

The Russian Revolution Chapter 27-3. Review of Russian Czars from Congress of Vienna Alexander I 1801-1825 Alexander I 1801-1825 Initially rather enlightened: