19 th century Russia

Red: 1800 Pink: Additions to 1900

Ethnicities of Russian Empire Great RussiansUkrainiansPoles White RussiansJewsKirghiz TartarsFinnsGermans LatviansBashkirsLithuanians ArmeniansRoumaniansEstonians MordviniansGeorgiansTadzhiks TurkmensAnd many other smaller groups Ethnic Russians made up less than HALF of the total population!

How was Russia Ruled? Unlimited or absolute monarchy Nobility served the crown Nobility also ran central government

Orthodox Church Most deeply religious ‘Red corner’ at home Priests paid by state Blind obedience to God = Blind obedience to Tsar

Alexander I (19 th Century) “Savior of Europe” in 1812

Grande Army Defeated!

Tsar Royal Family Nobles/Landlords/ (Gentry) Middle Class WORKERS Freed Peasants (Controlled) Semi-Free Peasants (Indentured Servants) Serfs (Slaves) Russian Society: ~80% ~1% ~5-6% ~2-3% 6-8%

Russian Society: In 1855, 5/6 of European Russians are peasant serfs –1/2 private –1/2 state-owned Owners supply means to live Serfs treated like slaves –Physically punish –Send to army –Sale, trade, mortgage Diet –Cabbage soup –Rye bread –Gruel Permission to: –Marry –Travel ~90% serfs/ ~5% Middle Class/~5% Gentry

Life Expectancy =35 Years

Nobility/Landowners Upper classes supported serfdom Mortgaged land & peasants Fabulous wealth for some “Best police force” for the Tsar

Middle Class Very Few Professionals Enlightenment ideals –Critical of ‘backward Russia’

Decembrist Revolt! 1815

Nicholas I Autocracy Orthodoxy Nationality - est. Third Section (Secret Police) to enforce

Crimean War 1855

Growing Problems in Russian Society Serfdom becoming outdated Failure to join the Industrial Revolution Weak systems –Banking –Transport –Government

Two Distinct Views Emerge Conservative Suspicious of the west Suspicious of Enlightenment ideas Believed Russians naturally superior Believed in own traditional view of the world Supported the tsar Liberal More critical of Russia More education led to questioning of Russia’s ways Believed Russia was backward Believed Russia was out of step w/modern world Disagreed over what to do about it -Limit tsar -Overthrow tsar

Alexander II “Tsar Liberator” Enacted radical reforms over: –Serfs “It is better to abolish serfdom from above than to wait for the time when it will begin to abolish itself from below.” –Local Government –Education –Law –Army Despite well-intentioned reforms –Assassins threatened constantly –Forced to travel w/armed guard

Growth of Opposition Despite reforms, political climate grew more threatening Reform allowed dissent to grow Demands never granted -Constitution -National Assembly Student movement Study abroad

Assassination(s) of Alexander II 1866 Student shot & missed 1867 Polish man failed attempt in Paris bombs on trains from Crimea –1st Tsar took another route –2nd Bomb failed to explode –3rd Exploded under wrong train 1880 bomb in Winter Palace –Carpenter infiltrated –Killed 40 Finnish soldiers in dining room but not the tsar 1881 bomb thrown –Killed Cossack guard –Alexander stepped out to help –2nd bomb thrown kills tsar –Blew his legs off

Aftermath Alex III Alexander Ulyanov ‘Savior of the Spilt Blood’ Built on site of assassination

Alexander III and Nicholas II REACTIONary!!! Abandonment of Alexander II’s liberal reform policies Abandonment of Alexander II’s liberal reform policies Series of repressive measures Series of repressive measures Censorship Censorship Russification Russification Implemented by son Alexander III & grandson Nicholas II Implemented by son Alexander III & grandson Nicholas II In “reaction” to terrorist movement In “reaction” to terrorist movement

Industrialization Continues Trans Siberian Railway Working Class expands -see article in Stearns on p.742

Reaction to “Bloody Sunday” (and the other problems to an extent)

(…or why did it end?)