General

Russia was a huge country. Population in

1850 was nearly 70 million and would double

by 1905 (fastest growing in Europe)

Rich in natural resources but economically

backward (very little industrialization). Mostly

agricultural – still practiced feudalism.

Most people were impoverished serfs that

worked the land owned by the small ruling

class.

Russia was very ethnically diverse and this

sometimes led to conflict.

Russia was an absolute monarchy (ultra-

conservative) under the rule of a Czar.

Russia had just been defeated in the Crimean

War. The Czar wanted to modernize Russian

society to catch up to the rest of Europe.

Flag of Imperial Russia during the

Romanov Dynasty

The “Czar Liberator”

He introduced some liberal reforms:

Emancipation of the Serfs (1861)

Ended feudalism and freed the peasants

from their obligations to the lords.

Why?

Believed it would increase agricultural

production and appease the rural population

How?

Technically all land now belonged to the Mir

(community) who determined who received

certain parcels of land.

The gov helped the peasants buy land by

offering loans to be repaid over several years.

Problems

The peasants were free from feudalism but still very

poor, burdened by taxation, and in debt to the gov.

The best lands (otrezki) were reserved for the nobles ,

sometimes restricting river and forest access to the

peasants.

Results

Somewhat successful (modest increase in

production, more freedoms)

Nobles were angry at loss of privileges

Many peasants were still very poor and moved to

the cities looking for work. These peoples would be

the ones most desirous of political change.

The Zemstvos (provincial councils)

Alexander II tried to introduce some democracy. Local affairs would now be controlled of councils made up of men from all the economic classes.

Alexander II also tried to reform the corrupt legal system and set up a system of public schooling.

Results of his Reign

His efforts to modernize and “fix” Russia mostly came to nothing. He faced strong opposition from the conservative nobles.

Others feared the “westernization” of Russia (making the country “un-Russian” by copying reforms of countries like Britain and France).

He became frustrated in his old age and began

to overturn many of his own liberal refroms.

As a result was assassinated by a liberal fanatic

in 1881. This was a sign of the growing

discontent against the monarchy.

The monarchy lost an opportunity to solve the

problems that would eventually lead to its

downfall.

Influenced by the death of his father he carried

on a reactionary campaign against liberals

and “foreign Influences” called Russification.

He strengthened his own power by reducing

the power of the Zemstvos and refusing to

create a parliament.

He increased the power of the police and

arrested political opponents.

Increased censorship of the press and

universities.

Used the Orthodox Church to preach

obedience to his rule.

Increased persecution of ethnic groups he saw

as threats (ex. POGROMS against Russian Jews)

Results

Growing frustration and disdain for the Czar and

the Church amongst the growing population of

impoverished peasants and urban workers.

Growth of left wing parties

Was a loving family man. However he lacked political sense and was prone to mysticism.

The monarchy would be weakened and then abolished under his reign.

He is often blamed, but he inherited many problems:› His predecessors policies failed to modernize Russia

to the extent of the rest of Europe.

› Industrialization was happening slowly with help from French investments after 1890.

› The army was large but poorly trained and equipped.

› Poverty and the lack of democracy angered the growing number of socialists and liberals.

1898

King George V of Britain(far

right) was his cousin. Kaiser

Wilhelm II of Germany

(right) was his wife’s cousin

1) The Russo-Japanese War

(1904-1905) Russia and Japan both sought to

expand their empires into northern

China (Manchuria).

China was wealthy in natural

resources but weak militarily at the

time.

Russia was encroaching on territory

claimed by the Japanese

(Liaodong Peninsula + Korea)

Russia sought Port Arthur (an all

season port) and the Czar hoped a

victory would distract people from

problems at home.

The Russian people

saw the Japanese as

inferior and thought

victory would be

assured.

However, the

Japanese routed the

Russian Pacific fleet at

Port Arthur and also

their Baltic fleet at

Tsushima.

After invading Korea

the Japanese

marched and laid

siege to Port Arthur.

Impact of Defeat

Japan won territory in Korea and in Manchuria and

continued their rapid development as a world power.

Opponents of the Czar used the defeat to a “lowly

Asian empire” to prove that Russia was stagnating

under the rule of the monarchy. It increased

discontent and the Czar was seen as incompetent.

Change was needed.

2) Bloody Sunday (Jan. 22, 1905)

The impoverished workers of St. Petersburg

march to protest living conditions. They are

fired on and many are killed (see handout).

Some saw this as proof that the Czar was

hostile to the people – increased his

unpopularity.

3) Poverty and Growth of Revolutionary Parties

80% were desperately poor and working conditions

in the cities were deplorable.

Illiteracy was rampant.

The country itself was in debt because peasants

defaulted on loans from E of S and Russia had taken

loans from France in order to industrialize.

Popularity of socialism was on the rise all over Europe

and illegal opposition parties were forming in Russia

(see handout)

4) Czar’s Actions

Actions after the disaster at his coronation.

Refusal to grant democratic reforms and open

hostility to moderate and radical opposition.

His German wife was also unpopular (Alix of Hesse)

5) The General Strike of 1905

The Czar hoped to avoid uprisings by

introducing a few reforms (cancelling of

peasant debt, dismissal of unpopular officials,

creation of a powerless parliament).

This was not enough – Bolsheviks encouraged

the people to strike anyways.

Major cities in Russia were paralyzed.

Workers began to organize themselves into

councils called soviets which represented their

interests and demanded political power.

The Czar was forced to make more serious

reforms.

The Czar and his Prime Minister (Count Witte) announced significant reforms, revolution ( a great change) had occurred.

It granted the Russian people:

› Freedom of speech, meeting, and association

› Freedom of the Press

› Freedom from arrest and imprisonment without trial

› Creation of a Duma (parliament) with the power to strike down czarist laws (responsible gov.). Elected by universal male suffrage.

Lots of seats allotted to peasants (attempt by Czar to woo SRs to his side and weaken Bols.)

Results:

Most Russians were satisfied – strikes eventually

stopped.

The Bolsheviks continued to organize strikes and

violence – they were not successful and many

moderates turned on the movement.

The Czar had succeeded in temporarily weakening

his most radical opposition by bringing the

Mensheviks, SRs, and Cadets on his side with the

Duma.

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