1. LO: What was the state of Russia in 1855?
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this lesson you will be able to…
Describe Russia in 1855 E-D
Explain the key problems facing it C-B
Assess the most important issue A-A*

3. LO: What was the state of Russia in 1855? Task: Once you are in
Describe Russia in 1855 E-D
Explain the key problems facing it C-B
Assess the most important issue A-A
Task: Once you are in
and settled…
What does this cartoon
Suggest about the reign
of Tsar Alexander
II? (r ).
Punch cartoon produced in
1855. Depicting Alexander II

5. LO: What was the state of Russia in 1855? Describe Russia in 1855 E-D
Explain the key problems facing it C-B
Assess the most important issue A-A
What were the key problems facing Russia in 1855?
80% of the
Russian population
Were Serfs.
Hierarchical and hereditary
Structure was backward.
No national parliament or
Elected government. It was
An autocracy.
1831
1/6 of land
surface
56.1m people.
(UK 10m)
Crimean War
( ) saw
Russia defeated
Heavily.

7. LO: What was the state of Russia in 1855? Describe Russia in 1855 E-D
Explain the key problems facing it C-B
Assess the most important issue A-A
Siege of Sevastopol, by Roubaud (1905)

8. LO: What was the state of Russia in 1855? Was protected by duties
Describe Russia in 1855 E-D
Explain the key problems facing it C-B
Assess the most important issue A-A
The Russian Economy was a particular concern
Was protected by duties
on Foreign Imports
Government monopolies
Joint Stock Companies
Restricted.
Banks were unstable
Serf labour was too
plentiful
Capital tied up in land
No burgeoning
middle class.
Transport a nightmare.
Social-Economic Classes
Nobles (Landowners)
Free Peasants (Tenant Farmers)
Serfs (Farmers tied to land)

9. LO: What was the state of Russia in 1855? Describe Russia in 1855 E-D
Explain the key problems facing it C-B
Assess the most important issue A-A

10. LO: What was the state of Russia in 1855? Describe Russia in 1855 E-D
Explain the key problems facing it C-B
Assess the most important issue A-A
Autocracy
Tsar appointed by God
Not bound to listen to advisers
Laws made by decree
Absolute Rule
Orthodoxy
Orthodox Church
Left Constantinople in 1453
Enjoyed state protection
Patriarch of Moscow chief.
“Conditions on Earth were God’s
Will”. (v. Protestant Work Ethic)
Nationality
Many non-Russian. 170 ethnic groups.
Russification
Regime favoured Russians and East
Slavs.
Serfdom
Peasants legally fixed to land.
Mir (Village Commune)

11. LO: What was the state of Russia in 1855? Alexander II has
Describe Russia in 1855 E-D
Explain the key problems facing it C-B
Assess the most important issue A-A
Alexander II has
been crowned.
What are his
priorities?

12. LO: What was the state of Russia in 1855? Describe Russia in 1855 E-D
Explain the key problems facing it C-B
Assess the most important issue A-A

13. LO: What was the state of Russia in 1855? Describe Russia in 1855 E-D
Explain the key problems facing it C-B
Assess the most important issue A-A