1. Chapter 24.4 Notes
Unrest in russia

2. Government and Society
In the 1st half of the 1800’s Russia was a great power in Europe
Russia’s empire was huge it stretched far eastward into Asia
To govern this large empire with many ethnic groups they ruled with absolute and unlimited power and controlled many aspects of Russian lives
Rules were called czars
Russian was mainly agricultural
Much of the population was peasants, many were serfs
Russian serfdom was a way of life for many Russians

3. Reform and Repression The Decembrist Revolt
Revolutionary ideals began to grow in Russia
Russian wanted more freedoms and democracy
Russian czars were resistant to reform which led to revolution
Czar Alexander I died in 1825 which was an opportunity for revolutionist
The revolutionist later named the Decembrist rebelled against the government
Many Decembrist were in the military and military leaders
The groups of 5,000 assembled near Winter Palace refusing to pledge their allegiance to the new Czar, Nicholas I
Nicholas I responded and crushed the revolution
Even though it failed it help fuel later Russian revolutions

4. Reform and Repression Reforms of Alexander II
After Nicholas II died Alexander II came to power in 1855
Russia did not have modern technology or industry necessary to build a military that could compete with Europe’s other powers
1861 Alexander II freed all of the serfs and allowed them to own land.
He thought that is terrible living condition continued for the serfs they would rebel
He thought giving serfs their own land would help with the market economy
Alexander II set up a new judicial system and allowed some local self-governments
He reorganized the army and military
Industrialization began
Despite reforms revolutions movements were growing and calling for radical change
1881 the radical group The People’s Will assassinated Alexander II

5. Reform and Repression Unrest Under Alexander III
Alexander III was the next czar
He was a reactionary and want to go back to an autocracy or absolute rule
He went against certain people groups that opposed him
He ended all of the reforms his father put in place
A different sort of unrest was occur at the time, mobs were attacking, killing, and destroying the properties of Jews in Russia… this was known as pogroms
Some people blamed the Jews for Alexander II assassination
Authorities in Russia did nothing to stop to pogroms

6. Reforms and Repression
Industrialization under Nicholas II
Nicholas the II was the next czar in 1894
Ruled as an autocrat- absolute ruler
Industrialization grew rapidly in Russia during his reign
Russia began building the Trans-Siberian Railroad to link western and eastern Europe

7. War and Revolution War with Japan
1900’s Japan was building an empire in the east and viewed eastern Russia as a threat
In 1904 the Japanese attacked and eventually defeated the Russians in the Russo-Japanese War
Russian lost control of some of their territory in the East and it shocked the people that they could be defeated by such a small country
This resulted in the growing unrest and call for change with the Russian people

8. War and Revolution Marxist Ideas
One group calling for change in Russia were the Marxists, who were Russian who followed Marxist communist theories
Marx’s followers wanted to create a socialist republic- a society in which there would be no private property and that state would own and all factors of production and distribution
In 1902 a Marxist named Vladimir Lenin published his works that advocated for overthrowing the czar he called for Russians to rise up against “ the shame and the curse of Russia”

9. War and Revolution The Revolution of 1905
By 1905 many Russians were ready to rebel against the czar
On Jan 22, 1905 an orthodox priest, Father Gapon, planned to bring a petition with a list of demands to Nicholas the II
When Gapon and protestors neared Winter Palace troops fired at the group killing hundreds. This day became known as Bloody Sunday
After this rebellion broke out throughout the countries
Works went on strike
University students protested
Peasant rebelled against their landlords
People were disobeying the czar’s strict rules
This began the Revolution of 1905
Scared of rebellion the czar promised reform but by October did not follow through
2 million workers went on strike and the construction of the Trans-Siberian RR stopped

10. War and Revolution The October Manifesto
In response to the strike Nicholas II issued the October Manifesto- an official promise for reform and more democratic government
Manifesto Promised:
A constitution
Individual freedoms to all Russians
Freedom of speech and freedom of assembly
Many Russians gained the right to vote
Established the Duma- the representative legislative body in Russia (like Congress)
They could approve all new laws
The Czar would continue to rule Russia he promised not to pass any laws without the approval of the Duma

11. War and Revolution Nicholas II did not want to give up absolute power
When the Duma first met he ended the meeting because they made to many demands
After the Revolution of 1905 Nicholas did make more reforms
However, there was not a balance of power and did not help the demands for democracy
People still wanted more reforms…