1) Challenges to the Romanovs, 1881-19051) Challenges to the Romanovs, 1881-1905

B-A C-B

Can you choose 1 of the key features of summary section 1, and explain how the Romanovs ruled in this period.

Look at the summary section 1.Can you describe the key features of Russia in this period.

Summary Section 1a)Repressionb)Industrialisationc)1905 Revolution

1) Challenges to the Romanovs, 1881-19051) Challenges to the Romanovs, 1881-1905

• nature of the regime; • economic and social changes; • opposition parties; • the 1905 revolution.

Essay Questions:

1. Why did opposition to the Tsarist regime increase between 1881 and 1904?

2. How did the aims and agendas of the radical parties differ from one another?

3. In what ways did the Russo-Japanese War precipitate revolution in 1905?

Tsarism Autocracy Okhrana

Marxism Constitutional government Redemption Payments

Duma Sergei Witte Pobedonostev

October Manifesto Bloody Sunday Russo-Japanese War

1881 The Tsar agreed to the October Manifesto

1889 Land Captains were created

1891 Alexander III became Tsar

1894 Nicholas II became Tsar

1898 The Social Revolutionary party was formed

1901 Bloody Sunday. The 1905 Revolution began

1904 Major famine in Russia

Jan 1905 Russo-Japanese War began

Oct 1905 The Social Democratic Party was formed

1) Challenges to the Romanovs, 1881-19051) Challenges to the Romanovs, 1881-1905

B-A C-B

Put the events into the correct order and explain how the events in red caused major challenges to the Romanovs.

Put the events into the correct order and define each one

1881 Alexander III became Tsar

1889 Land Captains were created

1891 Major famine in Russia

1894 Nicholas II became Tsar

1898 The Social Democratic Party was formed

1901 The Social Revolutionary party was formed

1904 Russo-Japanese War began

Jan 1905 Bloody Sunday. The 1905 Revolution began

Oct 1905 The Tsar agreed to the October Manifesto

1) Challenges to the Romanovs, 1881-19051) Challenges to the Romanovs, 1881-1905

B-A C-B

Put the events into the correct order and explain how the events in red caused major challenges to the Romanovs.

Put the events into the correct order and define each one

• Write a paragraph defending Alexander IIIs policies

• Which policies do you find difficult to defend (explain your answer)

• Summarise Alexander IIIs system of government in no more than 25 words

• ‘Alexander was an unpopular yet effective ruler.’ To what extent do you agree with this statement?

Repression– Nationality, Autocracy and Orthodoxy

Russian Empire 1881 Russian Federation 2003

• Alexander III and Pobedonostev promoted a policy of Russificiation.• In 1885 Russian became the official language. Public office was closed to people

who couldn’t speak it fluently.• The rights of the Russian majority were put before the majority groups• Alexander III didn’t distinguish between minority groups who were traditionally

loyal to Tsarism and (e.g. Finns), and groups opposed to it (e.g. Poles and the Muslims of central Asia).

• This increased opposition to Tsarism from many different sections of society.

• Alexander III and Pobedonostev promoted a policy of Russificiation.• In 1885 Russian became the official language. Public office was closed to people

who couldn’t speak it fluently.• The rights of the Russian majority were put before the majority groups• Alexander III didn’t distinguish between minority groups who were traditionally

loyal to Tsarism and (e.g. Finns), and groups opposed to it (e.g. Poles and the Muslims of central Asia).

• This increased opposition to Tsarism from many different sections of society.

Russia was a huge country with millions of people of different cultures. Russificiation was introduced as a method of controlling them.

Repression– Nationality, Autocracy and Orthodoxy

Alexander III didn’t attempt any reform at all. He was reactionary (against reform) and inflexible. For example:

1. After Alexander IIs assassination, his more liberal ministers were sacked.

2. Temporary regulations gave provisional governors and officials the power to imprison people without power, ban public meetings and exile thousands of offenders to Siberia

3. The Okrhana (secret police) restricted the press and monitored revolutionary and socialist groups.

Repression– Nationality, Autocracy and Orthodoxy

Alexander was heavily influenced by his tutor

Pobedonostev

Alexander was heavily influenced by his tutor

Pobedonostev

Repression– Nationality, Autocracy and Orthodoxy

• The rights and the privileges of the Russian Orthodox church were championed above those of other beliefs

• Primary schools came under church control

Jews suffered the most under Russificiation•Anti-Semitism was common in Russia and Jews were made a target by Alexander III•Jewish people weren’t allowed to become doctors or lawyers•Very few were admitted to universities•Violent attacks called pogroms increased during the reign of Alexander III•There were over 200 pogroms

Repression– Nationality, Autocracy and Orthodoxy

Opposition to Tsarism – social and economic difficulties

1. The economic reforms carried out in this period strengthened the Russian economy. In 1881 Russia had the world’s 11th largest economy. By 1914 it had the world’s 5th largest

2. Industrialisation didn’t make for a happy society. The gap between rich and poor increased and society became divided between the countryside and the town.

Read he cards showing 6 problems in urban and rural areas. Sort them under these headings and then explain how these problems increased social unrest

In the countryside

In the Towns

Opposition to Tsarism – political difficulties

The opposition parties didn't get very far…1.Although many political parties emerged in Russia in the early 20th century they were too small and infective to achieve their aims2.There were major divisions between he parties which made them less effective at opposing the government3.The political parties faced constant harassment and violence from the Okhrana

The opposition parties didn't get very far…1.Although many political parties emerged in Russia in the early 20th century they were too small and infective to achieve their aims2.There were major divisions between he parties which made them less effective at opposing the government3.The political parties faced constant harassment and violence from the Okhrana

Who supported these parties and what aims did they have?

The 1905 Revolution

Did the events of 1905 strengthen or weaken Tsarism?

Did the events of 1905 strengthen or weaken Tsarism?

List 3 factors for each event or cause to show how each problem multiplied. Then answer the question above.

The 1905 RevolutionDid the events of 1905 strengthen or

weaken Tsarism? Did the events of 1905 strengthen or

weaken Tsarism?

Some historians argue that the 1905 revolution, strengthened Nicholas’s position:1.The army and the police remained loyal to the government.2.The political parties were taken by surprise and didn’t coordinate an effective opposition to the Tsar.3.Many revolutionary leaders were in exile and couldn’t capitalise on the unrest.

The October Manifesto split the opposition to Tsarism•The Bolsheviks, Mensheviks and the Socialist Revolutionaries remained hostile to the Tsar.•The Liberals welcomed the Manifesto – it was a milestone towards the reform they wanted .•Some Liberals wanted a full written constitution and became known as constitutional democrats (better known as the Kadets).•One group felt the October Manifesto was final – they were known as ‘Octobrists’.

Why did opposition to the Tsarist regime increase between 1881 and 1904?

Why did opposition to the Tsarist regime increase between 1881 and 1904?

What do I do?1) Decide on three key factors – big causes

2) Write a brief intro:Respond to the question – do you agree with the statementWhat are the key factors?

3) Explain whether the factor in the question is important (Paragraph 1)

4) Explain what other factors are important (Paragraph 2 and 3)

5) Conclude (overall do you agree? What was the main factor?)

Exam AnswersExam Answers

• Now look at the exam answers

• Give each a mark and a target to improve

Most peasants were still paying redemption payments imposed in return for the land they were given when they became free

The peasants now farmed smaller land holdings than they’d had before emancipation, The nobles kept the best land for themselves – leaving the peasants with poor soil

Farming practices hadn’t evolved much since the middle ages – e.g. old fashioned crop rotation was still common

Peasants couldn’t leave their village without permission of the Mir (the whole community), so they were really free still.

Many town workers earned barely enough to survive from one week to the next

The gap between rich and poor peasants grew. Richer peasants (kulaks) gained more land and ran local business

Factory hours were not regulated by the state until Witte introduced an 11 ½ hour working day in 1897. However, this law was often ignored.

Factories were supposed to be inspected regularly, but rules in health and safety were not followed.

The rapid growth of towns meant that workers lived in overcrowded and insanitary tenements

Health and education services were poor creating more social inequality.

Life expectancy was under 30 years.

Many peasants migrated to the towns to earn extra money when they weren’t needed for sowing and harvesting.

Tsarism – A form of government run by a Tsar.

Autocracy – One person rules with absolute power.

Okhrana – The Russian Secret Police

Marxism – A set of theories put forward by Marx

Constitutional government – A government based on an agreed set of rules

Redemption Payments – Money owed to the government by the peasants for their land

Duma – The Russian parliament

Sergei Witte – Finance minister 1892-1903

Pobedonostev – Alexander III and Nicholas II’s tutor

October Manifesto – The Tsar promised concessions to ease tensions of 1905 revolution

Bloody Sunday - unarmed, peaceful demonstrators marching to present a petition to Tsar were gunned down by the Imperial Guard

Russo-Japanese War – embarrassing defeat of Russian forces by supposedly weak country

The October Manifesto

The manifesto promised…•Freedom of speech, religion and free press.•An elected Duma which had actual authority, laws issued by the Tsar needed approval from the Duma.•In November a second manifesto was published. It promised to improve the peasants’ land bank and to abolish redemption payments within a year

• The October Manifesto worked and strikes were called off.• Spontaneous demonstrations in favour of the Tsar were held in St.

Petersburg• The St. Petersburg Soviet was dissolved – this was a council (soviet) elected

by factory workers and organised strikes and demonstrations. It was dominated by Mensheviks including Leon Trotsky.

• A December uprising in Moscow, led by the Bolsheviks, was easily crushed.

• The October Manifesto worked and strikes were called off.• Spontaneous demonstrations in favour of the Tsar were held in St.

Petersburg• The St. Petersburg Soviet was dissolved – this was a council (soviet) elected

by factory workers and organised strikes and demonstrations. It was dominated by Mensheviks including Leon Trotsky.

• A December uprising in Moscow, led by the Bolsheviks, was easily crushed.