Chapter 32: Dynamics of Change Section 4

Russian Expansion For centuries, Russian rulers have focused on war and neglected agricultural developments. 1500s, Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible), expanded eastward into Siberia and to the Pacific Source of fur, farmland, and mineral resources Also a place for exiled political prisoners Russia’s campaign for a warm water port Peter the great conquered some of Sweden in the Baltic Catherine the Great conquered some of Poland, Belarus, Lithuania, and some of the Ottoman Empire near the Black Sea Russia became a multinational nation which led to conflict

Revolt and Repression Serfs wanted freedom and Nobles started to embrace the Enlightenment and French Revolution. Some hoped for a constitutional monarchy like Great Britain The Decembrist Revolt – A small group of nobles and army officers tried to over throw the Czar in 1825. Czar Nicholas I crushed the revolt, he hung five leaders and exiled hundreds to Siberia Czar Nicholas I, then banned liberal books, imposed censorship, and spied on many students/professors at universities He tried to limit landlord powers over serfs but it failed.

Decembrist Revolt

Anti-Semitism Jews suffered legal discrimination and the government conducted pogroms, which are organized acts of violence against Jews. Jews were forced to live in certain areas and had limited access to education and jobs. Many Jews fled from Russia in the 1800s, many sought refuge in Germany.

A Russian pogrom

Limited Reform By the 1800s, Russians started to realize that their political system and economic system was stagnating their countries growth. The factories has labor shortages due to the fact that serfs were bound to farms 1861, Czar Alexander II freed the serfs and gave them new political rights. Citizens still lived in poverty due to debt and high taxes.

Czar Alexander II freed the serfs

Effects of Industrialization The Middle Class grew and education spread Better health care and more food led to increased population in the countryside Land was scarce and living conditions worsened. Factory workers worked long days for little pay and unions were banned by law. Strikes and protests started to occur

Revolutionary Movements The rise of Socialism and Marxism Peasants should lead the revolution Wanted to end inequality and private ownership They assassinated Alexander II, which led to suppression by the new Czar Members moved toward fighting for factory workers and rights for newly freed serfs

Karl Marx

Bloody Sunday 1904, Father Gapon led a march to Czar Nicholas II and was met with heavy resistance The marchers wanted better working conditions and political freedoms A hundred demonstrators were mowed down by gunfire and many more were wounded The protestors were shocked because they carried portraits of the czar and were still attacked

Father Gapon

Revolution of 1905 Riots broke out and the Czar formed a Duma, which is an elected assembly Despite these reforms the Czar was still an autocratic ruler Inequality remained and so did repression Peasants, national minorities, middle-class liberals, and factory workers were still disgruntled

A Modern Russian Duma