The Russian Revolution Chapter 27-3

Review of Russian Czars from Congress of Vienna Alexander I Alexander I Initially rather enlightened: Initially rather enlightened: 1803 Gave nobles permission to free their serfs but few did 1803 Gave nobles permission to free their serfs but few did Prussia had freed serfs, Russia was the only one left with serfdom Prussia had freed serfs, Russia was the only one left with serfdom Alexander promoted more government efficiency Alexander promoted more government efficiency

Alexander I Became more reactionary near the end of his rule Became more reactionary near the end of his rule Opposed to Liberal reforms Opposed to Liberal reforms Used the Russian Orthodox Church to keep subjects under control Used the Russian Orthodox Church to keep subjects under control Watched universities carefully Watched universities carefully Illegal to travel abroad to study Illegal to travel abroad to study

Alexander I Introduced the Holy Alliance Introduced the Holy Alliance First major attempt after defeat of Napoleon to stop liberalism First major attempt after defeat of Napoleon to stop liberalism Few took it seriously Few took it seriously Liberals believed it to be an alliance of monarchies against liberty and progress Liberals believed it to be an alliance of monarchies against liberty and progress Died in 1825 Died in 1825

Nicholas I Defeated Decembrist Uprising Defeated Decembrist Uprising Brother, Constantine, was supported by liberal nobles but Constantine did not want the throne Brother, Constantine, was supported by liberal nobles but Constantine did not want the throne Nicholas was supported by conservatives Nicholas was supported by conservatives Decembrist Uprising was the first upper-class revolt against Russia’s autocratic system of government Decembrist Uprising was the first upper-class revolt against Russia’s autocratic system of government

Nicholas I Relied on advice from military leaders Relied on advice from military leaders Believed in “Divine Right” Believed in “Divine Right” Tried to prevent Western ideas from entering Russia Tried to prevent Western ideas from entering Russia Foundation of the state: Autocracy, Orthodoxy, Nationality Foundation of the state: Autocracy, Orthodoxy, Nationality European revolutions in 1830 and 1848 convinced Nicholas that suppression was necessary European revolutions in 1830 and 1848 convinced Nicholas that suppression was necessary

Nicholas I Russia became a police state Russia became a police state Secret Police: The Third Section Secret Police: The Third Section State-sponsored terrorism State-sponsored terrorism No representative assemblies No representative assemblies Education limited and monitored Education limited and monitored Intellectuals driven underground Intellectuals driven underground Slovolphiles: The culture of the Mir superior Slovolphiles: The culture of the Mir superior Westernizers: industrialize and end serfdom Westernizers: industrialize and end serfdom

Nicholas I The Crimean War: Say Russia as the “Protector” of Eastern Orthodoxy The Crimean War: Say Russia as the “Protector” of Eastern Orthodoxy Fought England, France, Sardinia Fought England, France, Sardinia Austria threatened to enter Austria threatened to enter Rejected the Four Points Rejected the Four Points Died 1855 Died 1855

Alexander II Accepted the Four Points Accepted the Four Points Recognized problems Recognized problems Tried to Industrialize Tried to Industrialize Tried to modernize the Army Tried to modernize the Army Emancipation Act of 1861: freed the serfs Emancipation Act of 1861: freed the serfs Recognized that serfdom held Russia back Recognized that serfdom held Russia back

Alexander II Peasants free to move or change occupations Peasants free to move or change occupations Peasants could enter into contracts, own property Peasants could enter into contracts, own property Peasants were given land via the Mirs Peasants were given land via the Mirs Nobles were compensated for loss of land by the state Nobles were compensated for loss of land by the state Peasants had 50 years to pay back the state gradually for the land Peasants had 50 years to pay back the state gradually for the land

Alexander II BUT mirs were owned collectively BUT mirs were owned collectively Was difficult to leave or improve agricultural methods Was difficult to leave or improve agricultural methods Mirs were regulated by nobles who ended up with most of the payments to the state Mirs were regulated by nobles who ended up with most of the payments to the state Many serfs migrated to cities Many serfs migrated to cities

Alexander II Zemstroves: were established in 1864 by Alexander II’s decree Zemstroves: were established in 1864 by Alexander II’s decree These were assemblies to administer local areas These were assemblies to administer local areas Again, Nobles controlled the Zemstroves so not much change Again, Nobles controlled the Zemstroves so not much change

Other Reforms: Alexander II Judicial system improved Judicial system improved Trial by jury (Public trials) Trial by jury (Public trials) BUT Czar could overturn court decisions and political cases heard by military tribunals BUT Czar could overturn court decisions and political cases heard by military tribunals Military service reduced from 25 years to 6 Military service reduced from 25 years to 6 Brutal corporal punishment was eased Brutal corporal punishment was eased Censorship temporarily relaxed Censorship temporarily relaxed Education liberalized Education liberalized

Alexander II Industry was stimulated by railroads Industry was stimulated by railroads RR mileage grew from 1,250 to 15, RR mileage grew from 1,250 to 15,500 RR’s allowed Russians to export grain and earn profits to further industrialize RR’s allowed Russians to export grain and earn profits to further industrialize Industrial suburbs grew up around Moscow and other major cities Industrial suburbs grew up around Moscow and other major cities Strengthened the military for future expansion Strengthened the military for future expansion

Alexander II Became more conservative over time Became more conservative over time Was assassinated in 1881 Was assassinated in 1881 His carriage was bombed in St. Petersburg His carriage was bombed in St. Petersburg

Anarchists in Russia Mikhail Bakunin: believed the state should be destroyed and rebuilt from scratch Mikhail Bakunin: believed the state should be destroyed and rebuilt from scratch Nihilism: embraced by some intellectuals who believed in nothing but science and that the social order should be completely wiped out and rebuilt Nihilism: embraced by some intellectuals who believed in nothing but science and that the social order should be completely wiped out and rebuilt

In response to Nihilism A radical populist group emerged who promoted a utopian agrarian order A radical populist group emerged who promoted a utopian agrarian order They shared the beliefs of Slovolphiles They shared the beliefs of Slovolphiles

Alexander III Reactionary and embraced” Autocracy, Orthodoxy & Nationalism” Reactionary and embraced” Autocracy, Orthodoxy & Nationalism” Judicial power shifted to the police and military Judicial power shifted to the police and military Zemstvos influence was reduced Zemstvos influence was reduced Tighter control of education Tighter control of education Russian Orthodox Church persecuted other religious groups Russian Orthodox Church persecuted other religious groups

Alexander III Encouraged anti-Semitism Encouraged anti-Semitism Pogroms = severe persecution of Jews Pogroms = severe persecution of Jews Many Jews emigrated Many Jews emigrated Theodore Herzel author of Zionism Theodore Herzel author of Zionism Advocated the creation of a Jewish homeland in the Holy Land to remedy to persecution of Jews in eastern and central Europe Advocated the creation of a Jewish homeland in the Holy Land to remedy to persecution of Jews in eastern and central Europe

Alexander III Languages other than Russian were banned Languages other than Russian were banned (only 40% of population spoke Russian) (only 40% of population spoke Russian) Count S.Y. Witte: oversaw Russian industrialization in 1890’s Count S.Y. Witte: oversaw Russian industrialization in 1890’s Built great factories by courting Western investment and superior technology Built great factories by courting Western investment and superior technology

Growth of Industry The rise of a small Russian middle class The rise of a small Russian middle class Railroads doubled by 1900 (35,000 miles) Railroads doubled by 1900 (35,000 miles) Trans-Siberian Railway linked Moscow with Vladivostok (5,000 miles) Trans-Siberian Railway linked Moscow with Vladivostok (5,000 miles) Went on the gold standard to strengthen government finances Went on the gold standard to strengthen government finances By 1900, Russia was the world’s 4 th largest steel producer (after U.S., Germany, Brits) By 1900, Russia was the world’s 4 th largest steel producer (after U.S., Germany, Brits)

Industry in Russia Just like in Western Europe, industrial growth and growth of a proletariat contributed to the spread of Marxist ideas. Just like in Western Europe, industrial growth and growth of a proletariat contributed to the spread of Marxist ideas. Workers felt exploited Workers felt exploited After 1890, Marxist revolutionary movement After 1890, Marxist revolutionary movement

Economic Problems In spite of industrial growth and reforms, still major economic problems by 1900 In spite of industrial growth and reforms, still major economic problems by /3 of the Russian farmland was not used 1/3 of the Russian farmland was not used Population grew faster than food supply Population grew faster than food supply Russia was the most populous country in Europe by late 19 th Century Russia was the most populous country in Europe by late 19 th Century Depression of 1899 wiped out gains made since 1890 Depression of 1899 wiped out gains made since 1890

Economic Problems High unemployment High unemployment 60% of population was illiterate 60% of population was illiterate BUT literacy was growing in urban areas BUT literacy was growing in urban areas Problems were made worse by loss to Japanese in 1905 Problems were made worse by loss to Japanese in 1905

Nicholas II Russo-Japanese War: Russo-Japanese War: Conflict with Japan over Russia’s Sphere of influence in Manchuria Conflict with Japan over Russia’s Sphere of influence in Manchuria Defeat of Russian fleet Defeat of Russian fleet Treaty of Portsmouth Treaty of Portsmouth Russia focused on the Balkans again Russia focused on the Balkans again

Revolution of 1905 Peasants, urban proletariat and small middle class wanted reform Peasants, urban proletariat and small middle class wanted reform Bloody Sunday: Jan ,000 workers and peasants marched peacefully to the Winter Palace asking the tsar for reforms Bloody Sunday: Jan ,000 workers and peasants marched peacefully to the Winter Palace asking the tsar for reforms Nicholas II not at home Nicholas II not at home Army fired on marchers. Army fired on marchers. 300 killed 300 killed 1,000 injured 1,000 injured

Revolution of 1905 Massacre led to a general strike Massacre led to a general strike Included peasant revolts, troop mutinies Included peasant revolts, troop mutinies Nicholas II was forced to make concessions: Nicholas II was forced to make concessions: Agreed to a national parliament the Duma Agreed to a national parliament the Duma Serfs did not have to repay state for land Serfs did not have to repay state for land Poles and Lithuanians allowed to use their own languages Poles and Lithuanians allowed to use their own languages Political trials returned to courts Political trials returned to courts Some restrictions on Jews were lifted Some restrictions on Jews were lifted

The October Manifesto 1905 created the Duma 1905 created the Duma Met in 1906 Met in 1906 Most liberals (Kadets) (Constitutional Democrats) Most liberals (Kadets) (Constitutional Democrats) Served as an advisory body to the Tsar Served as an advisory body to the Tsar Elected by universal male suffrage Elected by universal male suffrage

The October Manifesto Granted freedom of speech, assembly and press Granted freedom of speech, assembly and press Tsar had absolute veto Tsar had absolute veto Duma had no real influence Duma had no real influence Representatives often divided Representatives often divided Tsar did not have to accept advise, had veto Tsar did not have to accept advise, had veto Duma was dissolved twice in 1906 by the tsar Duma was dissolved twice in 1906 by the tsar 1907 Duma was more conservative 1907 Duma was more conservative

Nicholas II Repression was used to weaken opponents and critics of tsar Repression was used to weaken opponents and critics of tsar Government-sponsored violence in Latvia and Government-sponsored violence in Latvia and Estonia in 1906 = 1,000+ deaths Jews savagely persecuted Jews savagely persecuted German and Polish property-owners were attacked German and Polish property-owners were attacked Over 1,000 political prisoners executed in 1906