Russia: Reform and Reaction Chapter 22 Section 5 Russia: Reform and Reaction

Introduction Reformers hoped to free Russia of Autocratic rule, economic backwardness, and Social injustice Efforts to modernize Russia had little success because tsars imprisoned or exiled critics.

Russia’s Social Structure Landowning nobles rejected change fearing it would threaten their power Middle Class: Small and weak Most Russians were serfs, bound to the land and the landowners who controlled them. Laborers (serfs) were not free to leave Serfs: servants, artisans, or soldiers forced into the Tsar's army. Serfdom similar to slavery.

Alexander II inherited the throne during the Crimean War in 1855. The war began when Russia tried to seize Ottoman lands, and ended in Russian defeat. The war showed how backward Russia was. People demanded change. Peasants remained poor, however, emancipation was a turning point that led to the drive for more reform. Only a few miles of railroads, military bureaucracy was inefficient. Many free serfs moved to the city to work in factories In response to pressure, Alexander agreed to the emancipation of the serfs.

Zemstvos Industrialization was government-sponsored in Russia Unlike Britain and the U.S. where industrialization was led by private investors

Alexander II makes reforms Eased censorship Military service reduced Brutal discipline was limited Encouraged Growth of Industry

“Not good enough” Reforms did not satisfy the majority Radicals turn to terrorism 1881 Alexander II is assassinated by terrorists

“The Crackdown” Alexander III responds to assassination by reviving the harsh methods of Nicholas I Increased secret police Restored strict censorship One language One church Exiled critics to Siberia Launches pogrom of Russiafication Groups such as Poles, Ukrainians, Armenians, Finns, and Muslims also faced persecution.

Persecution and Pogroms Limited amount of Jews allowed to study in universities Not allowed to practice certain professions Had to live in restricted areas Pogroms Gangs beat and killed Jewish people Looted and burned their homes and stores Many became refugees Pogroms: Violent mob attacks on Jewish people Russian Jews emigrated to Western Europe and the United States and the creation of a Jewish homeland hastened.

Russia finally industrialized during the late 1800s. Despite progress, political and social problems worsened as workers faced poor conditions in factories and urban slums. Tsar Nicholas II, son of Alexander III, focused on economic development. His government encouraged the building of railroads and secured foreign investment.

Russia entered a war with Japan in 1904 and suffered humiliating defeats. Losses abroad fed discontent at home. Protesters poured into the streets and workers went on strike. On a Sunday in 1905, a priest organized a peaceful march in St. Petersburg. The tsar’s soldiers fired on the crowd, killing or wounding hundreds, in an incident known as “Bloody Sunday.”

Discontent grew, strikes increased, and rural peasants demanded land. Bloody Sunday forced Nicholas II to give in to liberal reforms Bloody Sunday was a turning point for Russians, who felt they could no longer trust the tsar.

Nicholas appointed Peter Stolypin as prime minister in 1906. Peter Stolypin worked to restore order with arrests and executions. He recognized the need for change and introduced several very limited reforms. It wasn’t enough, and Russia still roiled with unrest. Stolypin was assassinated in 1911.