Russia 1855 to Russia 1855 to 19171917Reform and reactionReform and reaction

Russia in 1855Russia in 1855

Tsar – autocracyTsar – autocracy Backward country and very largeBackward country and very large Peasants, serfdom and aristocracyPeasants, serfdom and aristocracy

The Crimean war and The Crimean war and reformreform

Crimean war disaster Crimean war disaster Treaty of Paris humiliatingTreaty of Paris humiliating Alexander II saw Russia in crisis and Alexander II saw Russia in crisis and

believed that reforms would avoid a believed that reforms would avoid a revolutionrevolution

Emancipation of the serfsEmancipation of the serfs

Give serfs freedom and give Give serfs freedom and give compensation to landownerscompensation to landowners

Landowners against it but they were Landowners against it but they were greatly in debt and most govt greatly in debt and most govt compensation money sued for the debtscompensation money sued for the debts

Why was emancipation Why was emancipation unpopular?unpopular?

Peasants got small plots of landPeasants got small plots of land Peasants had to repay govt the costs of Peasants had to repay govt the costs of

the landlords compensation over 49 the landlords compensation over 49 yearsyears

Mir to collect dues, taxes etc, crop Mir to collect dues, taxes etc, crop rotation etc, movement of people.rotation etc, movement of people.

Landlords still very powerfulLandlords still very powerful

Reform of local and Reform of local and central govtcentral govt

1854 Zemstva set 1854 Zemstva set upup

Law courts – trial by Law courts – trial by jury, judges paidjury, judges paid

1870 town councils 1870 town councils reformed reformed

1874 Army reform1874 Army reform

BUT…..BUT….. Power remained with Power remained with

TsarTsar

Alex’s II policies change Alex’s II policies change 1870 - 811870 - 81

As he got older, less interested in As he got older, less interested in reformsreforms

For ordinary people, little actually For ordinary people, little actually changedchanged

Alex became more interested in Pan-Alex became more interested in Pan-SlavismSlavism

Threats from revolutionary groups Threats from revolutionary groups increased – Okhrana more importantincreased – Okhrana more important

Alexander IIIAlexander III

Abolished many of the earlier reformsAbolished many of the earlier reforms RepressionRepression RussificationRussification Rejected WesternisersRejected Westernisers

Attempts at reform 1906 Attempts at reform 1906 - 14- 14

Nicholas II weak willed, ruled as autocratNicholas II weak willed, ruled as autocrat Ignored the zemstvaIgnored the zemstva 1904 Union of Liberation set up – 1904 Union of Liberation set up –

Nicholas ignored itNicholas ignored it

1905 Revolution1905 Revolution

Protest against autocracy – by TUs, Protest against autocracy – by TUs, middle class, zemstva, workers in citiesmiddle class, zemstva, workers in cities

Nicholas survived because the army Nicholas survived because the army stayed loyalstayed loyal

October 1905 – OCTOBER MANIFESTOOctober 1905 – OCTOBER MANIFESTO Duma met – but ignored by NicholasDuma met – but ignored by Nicholas

Changes 1906 - 1914Changes 1906 - 1914

Stolypin PMStolypin PM Abolished Mir control of landAbolished Mir control of land 1911 end of reforms1911 end of reforms Unrest grew in RussiaUnrest grew in Russia Influence of Rasputin made Nicholas Influence of Rasputin made Nicholas

unpopularunpopular 1915 Tsar leaves for the front and never 1915 Tsar leaves for the front and never

returned.returned.

reactionreaction

Why did opposition develop Why did opposition develop to tsarist rule in 1870s and to tsarist rule in 1870s and 80s?80s?

No legal ways of complainingNo legal ways of complaining People’s hopes raised by Alex II reforms People’s hopes raised by Alex II reforms

– and then disapponted– and then disapponted 1876 – Land and Liberty set up1876 – Land and Liberty set up People’s will – terror groupPeople’s will – terror group Repression used by TsarRepression used by Tsar

The MarxistsThe Marxists

1898 Social Democratic Party – Marxist - 1898 Social Democratic Party – Marxist - 1901 Socialist Revolutionaries – marxist 1901 Socialist Revolutionaries – marxist

but work with peasantsbut work with peasants

Why did opposition Why did opposition become more important?become more important?

1903 SDs met in London – split1903 SDs met in London – split Plekhanov – use peaceful methodsPlekhanov – use peaceful methods Lenin – use revolution – bolsheviksLenin – use revolution – bolsheviks

Growth of WC in cities – eg St Growth of WC in cities – eg St PetersburgPetersburg

Russia under Nicholas IIRussia under Nicholas II

Backward, 80% pop Backward, 80% pop in agric, extremes of in agric, extremes of wealthwealth

Massive growth of Massive growth of cities – terrible cities – terrible conditions, growth of conditions, growth of working classworking class

Strikes!Strikes! Nicholas II weak willedNicholas II weak willed

Revolution 1905 - causesRevolution 1905 - causes

Humiliating defeats in Japanese warHumiliating defeats in Japanese war Protests – “Bloody Sunday”Protests – “Bloody Sunday” Strikes and protests across the countryStrikes and protests across the country

Revolution 1905Revolution 1905

Union of Unions demanded parliament Union of Unions demanded parliament and universal suffrageand universal suffrage

Unrest across the countryUnrest across the country October – general strike began, St October – general strike began, St

Petersburg soviet formedPetersburg soviet formed October Manifesto issuedOctober Manifesto issued

What was the October What was the October Manifesto?Manifesto?

Civil liberties grantedCivil liberties granted State Duma createdState Duma created Nicholas had no Nicholas had no

intention of sharing intention of sharing power reallypower really

Three more Dumas Three more Dumas met - powerlessmet - powerless

Impact of WWIImpact of WWI

Army poorly equiped and old fashioned- Army poorly equiped and old fashioned- machine guns, rifles, trainsmachine guns, rifles, trains

Radio messages not in code!Radio messages not in code! Industry and transport system can’t keep Industry and transport system can’t keep

army supplied, army supplied, Food shortages in the citiesFood shortages in the cities inflationinflation

Impact of WWIImpact of WWI

Nicholas takes over Nicholas takes over as C in Cas C in C

Rasputin left with Rasputin left with Tsarina in PetrogradTsarina in Petrograd

Petrograd in real Petrograd in real distress – prices, distress – prices, winter conditions etc.winter conditions etc.

Revolution breaks Revolution breaks outout

Feb / March 1917Feb / March 1917