Tsar Life Imperial Russia

The Facts… Czar is the title given to the Russian leader For over 300 years, one royal family ruled, the Romanovs So what was life like under the czars? How did people live? Did they have social classes? Who were the last four czars and what happened to them?

Nobility 1% of the population Controlled much of the land and wealth in Russia Must have the right appearance to show wealth and power. Big into fashion of the time! Czar and family live in luxury – he owned millions of acres of land, dozens of palaces, and one million serfs The average noble family owned about 1500 acres and had 200 serfs

Intellectuals Educated individuals who began to write and talk about ways to improve Russia Small class of thinkers and students called themselves: Intelligentsia Met regularly in cafes, parks, and taverns in major cities to discuss new ideas and how they might change Russia

Clergy Followed Russian Orthodox church (all the way back to 900s) Dominant group in Russian society Priest was the central figure in cities and villages Used sacred rituals and saints Ranking of priests: archbishop, bishop, village priests (less power for the village priest) Russian life revolved around the church rituals

Peasants 90% of the Russian people were peasant farmers Difficult life Russian commoners were serfs Serfs had no legal rights, not own land, and not free to move Serfdom ended in 1861 with Alexander II, but peasants still paid high taxes, had limited access to land, and lived in poverty well into the 1900s

Nicolas I Romanov Csar/tsar believed in ABSOLUTE POWER Was against revolution and change so when his own military revolted, he crushed it Against democracy and a constitution It was illegal to speak up against him (no freedom of speech) Aristocrats wanted rights like England Csar used secret police to squash all rebellions He assisted other monarchs from other countries to stop rebellions so they could remain in power He attacks the Ottoman Empire who get backed by England and France causing the Crimean War…Russia loses because their military is not equipped like other countries with new weapons! His push for military might ends up killing him (stop at 8:22)

Alexander II Wanted to modernize Russia He abolishes (ends) serfdom in Russia at the end of the 19 th century Relaxed censorship and had trial by jury Willing to share power in the country Built railway to the sea The poor classes in Russia admire him BUT he is killed by radicals who want change (start at 8:22 to end) (beginning to 7:30)

Alexander III Son of Alexander II (so power is still in the same family) Hated that his father was killed by the people, so he did not allow the sharing of power Has an advisor that is very distrustful of Westerners He feared free speech and democracy Tried to “Russianize” others (start at 7:31 – end talks about Lenin) (show first 27 seconds)

Nicholas II Son of Alexander III and not prepared to rule Believed in absolute, divine right to rule Russian Industrial Revolution Trans-Siberian Railroad Steel producers Lost Russo-Japanese War People are growing unhappy with the rule of the czars – revolts begin and the end of 300 years of Romanov family rule will die with him!

Video Clips Alexis and Rasputin (start at 3min to 7:33)Alexis and Rasputin Alexis and Rasputin (STOP at 6:40)Alexis and Rasputin Unrest (1:35min to 10:41)Unrest Rasputin’s Death (4:45 to 10:41)Rasputin’s Death Rasputin’s Death II (9:41)Rasputin’s Death II Death of the Romanovs from Rasputin (6:22)Death of the Romanovs from Rasputin

Road to Revolution There were many causes of the Russian Revolution: –Russo-Japanese War –A weak leader –Poor working conditions –Problems with serfs –Bloody Sunday –The Duma –Rasputin –WWI –Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks (Land of the Tsars min.) (Land of the Tsars min.) (Land of the Tsars 20 6:43min.)