1. World History Chapter 10 Section 5 “Russia: Reform & Reaction”
November 11 & 12, 2013
Woodridge High School
Mr. Bellisario

2. Lesson Objectives Describe major obstacles to progress in Russia.
Explain why Tsar followed a cycle of absolutism, reform, and reaction.
Understand why the problems of industrialization contributed to the outbreak of revolution.

3. Conditions in Russia Affected Progress
1815 Russia was largest, most populated nation in Europe & world
1600’s explorers expanded across Siberia to Pacific
Peter & Catherine the Greats added lands on Baltic & Black Seas
1800’s expanded into Central Asia

4. Conditions in Russia Affected Progress
Looked on as a colossus (giant), but disliked by Western Europe because of autocratic government & ideas of expansion
Russian czar’s need to be in absolute control, kept the nation from modernizing
Rigid social structure
Land- owning nobility did not want to change
Most Russians were serfs (peasants bound to the land) and were controlled by land-owning masters
Had no desire to work hard
Kept Russian economy backward
Czars Followed Cycle > Absolutism > Reform > Reaction

5. Czars had ruled with absolute power
Alexander I (1801)
Seemed open to liberal ideas
Eased censorship, promoted education, talked about freeing serfs
Napoleon invaded Russia in 1812, reforms stopped
Tried to limit power of landowners over serfs

6. Czars had ruled with absolute power
1825, December Revolt
By army officers
Demanded constitution

7. Czars had ruled with absolute power
Nicholas I
Suppressed Decembrists & cracked down on dissenters
Used police spies, banned books
Russian liberals were shut up in mental hospitals or 150,000 sent to Siberia
Three pillars of Russian absolutism:
Orthodoxy – strong ties between Russian Orthodox Church & govt
Autocracy – absolute control of govt by czar
Nationalism – respect for Russian traditions & suppression of non-Russians
New law code
Some economic reforms
Tried to limit power of landowners over serfs

8. Russian Reform: Alexander II
Crimean War – between Russia & Ottomans over lands on Danube River
Britain & France helped Ottomans & invaded Crimean peninsula
Russian defeat

9. Russian Reform: Alexander II
Liberals demanded reforms; students demonstrated
1861 Alexander II emancipated (freed) the serfs
Problems
Serfs had to buy land they’d worked for so long
Too poor to do so
Led to discontent among peasants

10. Russian Reform: Alexander II
Alexander II set up local governments, elected Zemstovs (local assemblies)
Road repair, schools, agriculture
Some self-government
Trial by jury, eased censorship, tried to reform military,
Encouraged industrial growth

11. Reaction: Revolutionary Groups
Revolutionary group – People’s Will, bombed Alexander II’s carriage March 1881
Alexander III Increased secret police, restored censorship & sent critics to Siberia (gulags)
Program of Russification
Suppress non-Russian cultures
One language = Russian
One church = Russian Orthodox

12. Reaction
Large Jewish population severely persecuted – pogroms (violent mob attacks & massacres on helpless people, like the Jews)
Limited number of Jews allowed in universities & to be lawyers, doctors
Forced Jews to live in restricted areas or to become refugees (people forced to flee from their homelands)

13. Problems of Industrialization Contributed to Growing Crisis & Outbreak of Revolution in Russia
Building Russian industry
1890’s finally entered industrial age (100 years behind western Europe)
Nicholas II’s finance minister, Count Witte, his key goal was economic development
Railroad building
Connect coal & iron mines with factories
Move goods across Russia
Foreign money to build Trans-Siberian Railroad
Problems – slums bred discontent (Vladimir Ulyanov = Lenin)

14. Russo-Japanese War
1904, Russia was defeated & humiliated

15. Protestors & Bloody Sunday
After the Russo-Japanese war, protestors, workers went on strike for shorter hours & better wages, wanted corrupt government out
March let by Orthodox priest to Czar’s palace in St. Petersburg, Jan. 1905
Czar ordered soldiers to protect palace
Hundreds were killed or injured
“Bloody Sunday” – people’s faith & trust in czar gone

16. Results of “Bloody Sunday”
More strikes
Workers took over local governments
Peasants revolted & demanded land,
Minorities wanted independence,
Terrorists killed officials
Result> Led to minor changes in Russia

17. Nicholas II’s Reforms October Manifesto
Summoned Duma (elected national legislature)
Freedom of speech & assembly

18. 1906 1906 disbanded Duma & appointed new prime minister Peter Stolypin
Arrests, pogroms, executions > 1st step to restore order
Some reforms
Land reforms – to get peasant support
Strengthened Zemtovs
Improved education