russia under the tsar

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Russia under the Tsar A snapshot: pre-1905

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A snapshot: pre-1905. Russia under the Tsar. Tsar Nicholas II … the last Tsar. Tsar Nicholas II– The last Tsar. Autocratic Divine Right Absolute Monarch Weak government Rules an area 1/6 of globe’s surface. Russia c.1900. His rule. His word was law He appointed his ministers - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Russia under the Tsar

Russia under the TsarA snapshot: pre-1905

Page 2: Russia under the Tsar

Tsar Nicholas II … the last Tsar

Page 3: Russia under the Tsar

Tsar Nicholas II– The last Tsar• Autocratic• Divine Right Absolute Monarch• Weak government• Rules an area 1/6 of globe’s surface

Page 4: Russia under the Tsar

Russia c.1900

Page 5: Russia under the Tsar

His rule• His word was law• He appointed his ministers• But did not have to listen to them• AND could ‘hire and fire’ them at will• He was a true autocrat.• (And truly deficient as a ruler and

intellect)

Page 6: Russia under the Tsar

…and yet• Many Russians

worshipped the Tsar and peasants

• typically had a picture of the Tsar on a wall of their hut.

• government/ bureaucracy blamed for problems

Page 7: Russia under the Tsar

Social Structure

Page 8: Russia under the Tsar

Social Structure stats.• Ruling class 0.5%• Upper class (nobility) 12%• Commercial class 1.5%• Working Class 4%• Peasants 82% (roughly half were serfs

until 1861 – property of the state/controlled by nobility)

Page 9: Russia under the Tsar

Political System• Non-democratic – different to European

democracy – political parties banned• Dissent suppressed – repression to keep

masses in check• Press censorship• Ruling class hold a tight grip on power – fear

of majority: the ‘dark masses’• Tight restrictions on travel

Page 10: Russia under the Tsar
Page 11: Russia under the Tsar

Army – largest in the world

• Bolstered by conscription from peasantry• One million soldiers• Brutal discipline• Rank linked to class• Tool of suppression

Page 12: Russia under the Tsar

Bloody Sunday 1905

Page 13: Russia under the Tsar

Administration• Bureaucracy/Government – used to

maintain Tsar’s authority• Corrupt, inefficient, incompetent,

upper classes

Page 14: Russia under the Tsar

Orthodox Church• Clergy – adored by some…• …seen as corrupt and self-serving by

others• Conservative• Used to control population (taught

obedience – a sin to not obey Tsar)

Page 15: Russia under the Tsar

Social Structure - Nobility• In decline• To 1861- controlled (owned) serfs• Better educated than majority of

population• Some more liberal

Page 16: Russia under the Tsar

Liberals• Slow emergence of a middle class • Creation of a Western-educated elite

who had travelled and seen other, freer political systems.

• Intellectual class – beginning to support democratic reform

Page 17: Russia under the Tsar

Industrial and urban• Russia industry had grown rapidly

and living and working conditions were horrendous

• Average working day was 14 hours• Trade unions banned but some

strikes took place• Potential for hotbed of political

activism

Page 18: Russia under the Tsar
Page 19: Russia under the Tsar

Peasantry• Backward, inefficient, ignorant,

illiterate.• Emancipation 1861• Lack of land. Debts from land bought

after 1861.• Bear full brunt of famines

Page 20: Russia under the Tsar
Page 21: Russia under the Tsar

And yet…• Some did prosper and it was

generally the shortage of land rather than shortage of food that was the irritant.

• Rural population grew but land owned by peasants and land size failed to keep pace.

• Faith in Tsar remained strong• BUT hunger for land would grow.

Page 22: Russia under the Tsar

Reform• Limited reforms to 1900• Emancipation of the serfs 1861• Sporadic – Tsar’s will – guards power

jealously• Under Alexander II

– some legal reforms– freedom of expression– very limited and eventually withdrawn– repression follows

Page 23: Russia under the Tsar

As a result … political instability and extremism thrive• No outlet for political frustrations• Extreme revolutionary groups emerging• Only offer radical solutions to Russia’s

problems• Secret police – Okhrana – repressive state

– spying on population• Pressure cooker political environment• Regular assassinations of officials…• …and even Tsars

Page 24: Russia under the Tsar