Russia: Reform and Reaction Chapter 10; Section 5

Conditions in Russia Russia was considered to be a colossus, a giant. Russia’s Social Structure Landowning nobles dominated society and rejected any change that would threaten their power. Many Enlightened Russians knew that serfdom was inefficient. Ruling With Absolute Power For centuries, tsar had ruled with absolute power, imposing will on their subjects. The liberal and nationalist changes brought about by the Enlighten and the French Revolution had almost no effect on Russian autocracy.

Emancipation and Stirrings of Revolution In 1855 Alexander II came to the throne. During his reign he represents the pattern of reform and repression in Russia Freeing the Serfs In 1861 Alexander II finally issued a royal decree that required emancipation, or freeing of the serfs. Many Serfs tried to buy the land that they worked on. Yet most could not afford to. And if they could afford it they had a hard time making a profit off of their purchase. Serfs remained to struggle living comfortably. Other Reforms Elected assemblies called Zemstvos were made responsible for road repair, schools, and agriculture. Radicals To many people Alexander’s reforms didn’t satisfy them. Peasants had freedom but not land. Liberals wanted a constitution and an elected legislature. Radicals, who adopted socialist ideas from the west demanded even more revolutionary changes. The czar meanwhile moved away from reform and toward repression.

Assassination In the 1870’s some socialists went to live and work among peasants, preaching reform and rebellion. They had little success. The peasants scarcely understood them and sometimes turned them over to the police. The failure of this movement, combined with renewed government repression, sparked anger among radical. Some turned to terrorism. On March 13, 1881, terrorists assassinated Alexander II.

Revolution In 1904 Russia went to war with Japan. Nicholas II called on his people to fight for “the fatherland” yet Russia suffer defeat after defeat. News of military disaster sparked an uproar among people over the years of oppression. Protestors went to the streets and workers went on strike. Liberals called for a constitution and reforms to overhaul the government. As the crisis deepened, a young orthodox priest organized a peaceful march for Sunday January 22, 1905. Marchers flowed through the streets of St. Petersburg toward the czar’s winter palace singing prayer hymns. The Czar called for soldiers to come and protect the palace. As the Protestors approached the soldiers, gunfire rang out. The soldiers killed and wounded many of the Orthodox Protestors. One women who had been wounded has been noted of saying “The tsar has deserted us! They shot away the Orthodox faith”. This was considered there turning point in Russian Government and called “Bloody Sunday”.