THE MULTI-ETHNIC EMPIRE

THE MULTI-ETHNIC EMPIRE RUSSIA’S ETHNIC DIVERSITY 1897 Census: population = 123 million, over 100 different ethnicities Slavs = 73.12% Russians = 44.3% Ukrainians = 17.81% Poles = 6.31% Belorussians = 4.68%

THE MULTI-ETHNIC EMPIRE RUSSIA’S ETHNIC DIVERSITY 1897 Census: population = 123 million, over 100 different ethnicities 13 million Turkic peoples Tatars, Azerbaijanis, Uzbeks, Bashkirs, Kazakhs, Kirghiz, Turkmen, Tajiks, Kalmyks 5 million Jews 3 million Finno-Ugric peoples: Finns, Estonians 1.7 million Germans

THE MULTI-ETHNIC EMPIRE RUSSIA’S ETHNIC DIVERSITY 1897 Census: population = 123 million, over 100 different ethnicities 1.6 million ethnically diverse inhabitants of Caucasus Chechens, Dagastani, Avars, Ingush, Karabads, Ossetians, etc. 1.3 million Georgians 1.1 million Armenians

THE MULTI-ETHNIC EMPIRE RUSSIA’S ETHNIC DIVERSITY 1897 Census: population = 123 million, over 100 different ethnicities 1.4 million Latvians 1.2 million Lithuanians Many smaller groups: Artic & Siberian peoples: Evenki, Chukchi, Nenets, Buryat, Samoed, Yakuts Far Eastern Asians Roma (Gypsies)

THE MULTI-ETHNIC EMPIRE IMPERIAL NATIONALITIES POLICY Varied over time, by ruler, depended on ethnic group Under Alexander III, intense RUSSIFICATION All subjects should be Russian in language, culture Tried to stamp out nationalism Russia official language Forced conversion to Orthodoxy

THE MULTI-ETHNIC EMPIRE IMPERIAL NATIONALITIES POLICY JEWS Lived in PALE OF SETTLEMENT Imperial policy towards Jews inconsistent Under Alex III became very oppressive Restriction to Pale strictly enforced Quotas in universities All Jews disenfranchised POGROMS allowed But Alex could not go as far as might have wanted against Jews

THE MULTI-ETHNIC EMPIRE IMPERIAL NATIONALITIES POLICY UKRAINIANS Had come under Tsarist control voluntarily in 17th century In 19th century developed national consciousness Russian govt. refused to recognize distinctness Led to development of strong nationalist movement

THE MULTI-ETHNIC EMPIRE IMPERIAL NATIONALITIES POLICY POLES Always resented Russian rule Had well-developed sense of national consciousness Liberal constitution did not satisfy desire for freedom Multiple rebellions 1794, 1830, 1863 After 1830, lost constitution After 1863, subject to intense Russification

THE MULTI-ETHNIC EMPIRE IMPERIAL NATIONALITIES POLICY TRANS-CAUCASIANS GEORGIANS & ARMENIANS had well-developed national identities initially welcomed tsarist control some benefits to Russian rule But also became subject to Russification AZERBAIJANIS Muslim population lacked well-developed national identity

THE MULTI-ETHNIC EMPIRE IMPERIAL NATIONALITIES POLICY CENTRAL ASIANS Frontier region Colonial administrators = military mostly left untouched local/tribal law & customs introduced some positive measures but looked on as foreign conquerors utilized to serve imperial interests intense Russian settlement