Dynamics of Change And Growth of Nations in Eastern Europe Chapter 32, Sections 4,5. Dynamics of Change And Growth of Nations in Eastern Europe

Russian Expansion In the late 1500’s Ivan IV opened the way to Siberia. Traders pushed as far as the Pacific and by the 1680’s, Russia controlled all of Siberia. It was a source of fur, farmland, and minerals… and a place of punishment

The Decembrist Revolt A small group of army officers and nobles tried to overthrow the Czar in Dec, 1825. Czar Nicholas I crushed the uprising, executed 5 leaders, and exiled hundreds to Siberia. They became heroes to later generations.

Jews lived in Russia since the mid-1500s, but faced legal discrimination, limiting their job opportunities and forcing them to live in ghettos. The government’s attitude contributed to pogroms (organized acts of violence against Jews).

In 1861, Alexander II emancipated the serfs so that Russia would have enough factory workers. They gained a few political rights but were given no land and couldn’t afford it… thus they remained in great poverty.

As industrialization progressed, workers formed trade unions… even though they were forbidden by law. By the 1900s, workers were organizing strikes to demand better pay and working conditions.

Revolution of 1905 Riots and strikes swept the cities and peasants attacked landowners. Czar Nicholas II agreed to set up a Duma (elected assembly) in order to end the revolution.

Eastern Europe lies between the former Soviet Union and Western Europe. It is in the vast North European Plain. It is bordered by the Baltic Sea (North), the Adriatic Sea (SW) and the Black Sea (SE).

Nationalist revolts erupted throughout the 1800s… Romania, Bulgaria and Albania broke free of Ottoman rule. Austria-Hungary ruled the Serbs, who wanted independence. A Serbian nationalist assassinated the Austrian Archduke in 1914, starting WWI.

The Great Depression struck in 1929 and caused economic and political instability throughout the world. The new nations in Eastern Europe were ill-equipped to deal with unrest. Most turned to fascist dictators for order. Only Czechoslovakia retained democracy.

After WWII In 1945 the Soviet Union helped free Eastern Europe from German occupation… but then they dominated Eastern Europe instead.