Reform and Revolution in Russia
Russian Empire Largest territory of any European nation Highest population of any European nation Undeveloped natural resources Virtually landlocked (ports blocked by ice) Many ethnic groups; various languages, religions, histories, customs
Nicholas I – Domestic Policy Autocracy Liberal ideas from Europe affect ethnic minorities; calls for constitution “Russification” 1830s to counter liberalism Censor press and speech Force non-Russians to use Russian language, Orthodox church, Russian customs/traditions
Nicholas I – Foreign Policy Pan-Slavism-union of all Slavic peoples under Russian leadership; especially Balkans Expansion: east to Asia, south to Ottoman Empire Crimean War-1850s; defeated by Ottoman Empire; lost territories
Alexander II Becomes czar in 1855 Established new form of local gov’t, councils called zemstvos Limited powers of secret police; expanded education; more freedoms to press; reorganized military
Alexander II Labor Issues Not enough workers for factories-industrialists call to release serfs Calls to eliminate serfdom-liberals & Europeans Modernize Russia-should not own people-Europeans had already abolish slavery Emancipation Edict-frees serfs, 1861
Russian Radicals Nihilists-calls to build completely new Russia Populists-educate/teach peasants, divide nobles land among peasants People’s Will-violent radical group, used terrorism to promote demands; assassinates Alexander II in 1881 with bomb attack
Nicholas II Reaction to assassination is to become more conservative, ends liberal reforms, establishes censorship; intensifies Russification Pogroms-discrimination against Jews, led to massacres in 1881 Harsh reaction to Czar’s actions, liberals and radicals have support of new worker class 1898 socialists form Social Democratic Labor Party; grows increasingly radical
Revolution of 1905 Russo-Japanese War-1904/1905; Japan defeats Russia; exposes corrupt inefficient government Pogroms against Jews intensifies “Bloody Sunday”-Jan 22, 1905;czar’s troops fire upon unarmed strikers; triggers revolution Czar issues October Manifesto-promises individual liberties, establishes Duma Revolution fails to unseat Czar/government Army remained loyal to Czar France loaned money to Czar’s government Revolutionary groups were not united in goals
Vocabulary/Identify Autocracy Czar Russification Pan-Slavism Emancipation Edit Zemstvos Nihilists Serfs Populists People’s Will Pogroms Social Democratic Labor Party October Manifesto Duma