2. Imperial Russia Imperial Russia Russian Empire in last half of nineteenth century - vast expanse of land; Siberia rich in natural resources 1891 Trans Siberian Railway 1891 widespread famine - “Golodnyi Khleb” Peasant conditions extreme - high taxes; speculators export grain little organized rebellion

3. Alexander III Alexander III Tsar - autocratic regime; Alexander - rejected any form of constitutionalism; “Father to all the Russians” anti-semitic his father assassinated by the People’s Will, March 1881 supported new military alliance with France in 1883

4. Russian Peasants Russian Peasants Russia in 1890’s - 80% of peasants lived in tiny villages short lifespan peasants - “Narod” - dark people intermarriage - genetic disorders “izby” - cottage - dark, filthy ikons, vermin, “cockroaches”?

5. Peasants Peasants village communes - insufficient land to support families low technology; inefficient farming bad diet - high mortality rate; vodka incessant labor superstitious, fatalistic, ignorant, and illiterate Tsar viewed as “little Father”

6. Peasants and Intelligentsia educated Russians ignorant of realities of peasant life Turgenev - revealed grim lives of peasants 1874 - young radicals go into the countryside; many believe village commune would be the basis for a new socialist society 1891 - experts carry out research on peasant life and suggest solutions

7. Industrialization Industrialization by early twentieth century Russia had expanded its heavy industry Sergei Witte - 1892 finance minister proletariat lived and worked in dire conditions workers - long hours, low wages, child labor emergence of intelligentsia among the working class - adopted puritan lifestyle

8. Russian Marxism Russian Marxism 1883 - Plekhanov establishes first Marxist group Plekhanov criticizes terrorist approach of “People’s Will” - need to educate the masses workers viewed as source of revolution, not peasants Plekhanov helped prepare the way for Lenin Plekhanov in exile in Switzerland

10. Lenin Lenin Lenin - expelled from university; later studied law; convinced Marxist; his brother executed 1895 - arrested for political activities and exiled to Siberia. Wrote “Development of Capitalism in Russia” 1896 - widespread strike action 1898 - Russian Social Democratic and Labor Party founded in Minsk

11. Lenin’s Political Philosophy newspaper founded “Iskra” - The Spark; Lenin and Plekhanov disagree on political strategy 1902 - Lenin writes “What is to be Done?” Lenin believed party must consist of professional revolutionaries, an elite conspiratorial group

12. the party would guide the working class to victory 1903 Brussels Congress - party split between Mensheviks and Bolsheviks Lenin authoritarian approach to party discipline

13. Russo-Japanese War Russo-Japanese War changes in nineteenth century warfare - repeating rifles, long- range artillery, railroads and costs - placed Russia at a disadvantage building of the TSR increased Russia’s involvement in the affairs of the Far East - China, Korea and Japan

14. Russian involvement in Manchuria and Korea led to conflict with Japan Japan in the late nineteenth century had modernized her economy and military

15. Japan short of natural resources - oil, iron Japan had already defeated China in 1894 minister Witte had warned against a war with Japan Nicholas II decides on war - “ little short-tailed monkeys” Japanese fleet attack Port Arthur - January 1904

16. patriotic outpouring in support of the war Russian navy - ships and tactics lead to catastrophe Japanese lay siege to Port Arthur - Russians finally surrendered war continued until August 1905, when peace terms were finally agreed Nicholas II humiliated by defeat