The Russian Empire

Government and Society

        -Russia was HUGE

                -Included many ethnic groups

        -Absolute monarchs (czars)

                -Autocracy (gov’t with 1 ruler with unlimited power)

        -Mainly agricultural society

                -Serfsàpeasants tied to the land (like slaves)

                        -Controlled by wealthy lords (landowners)

Revolts and Reforms

        -Nationalism, revolutions made their way to Russia

                -People wanted more freedoms, democracy

        -Czar Alex I died in 1825

                -Some saw their opportunityàDecembrist Revolt

                        -Rebelled against Nicholas I (new leader)

                        -Revolt brutally crushed

                                -Some rebels sent to Siberia

        -Alex II came to power in 1855

                -Saw Russia lost Crimean War

                        -Saw how Russia was far behind other countries

                                -Decided to make some reforms

                -Freed serfs

                        -Could own landàgovernment helped

                -Set up new judicial system, reorganized military

                -Assassinated in 1881 by radical group (People’s Will)

        -Alex III (son) becomes new czar

                -Wanted to go back to the old ways

                -Ended reforms

                -Went after revolutionary people/groups

                -Russians started attacking Jews (pogroms)

-Blamed them for assassination

                        -Very violent, gov’t did nothing

        Nicholas II becomes czar in 1894

                -Helped develop industry in Russia

                        -Trans-Siberian Railroad built

War and Revolution

        -Russo-Japanese War (1904)

                -Japan saw Russia as a threat in Asia

                        -Attacks and defeats Russia

        -Marxism growing in Russia

                -Followed communist ideas of Karl Marx

                -Wanted a “socialist republic”

-No private property, state would collectively own and distribute goods

-Vladimir Lenin publishes book calling for revolution (1902)

                        -Supported overthrowing czar

        -Revolution of 1905

-Father Gapon wanted to present a list of reforms to czar

                        -Russian troops fired at Gapon and others

                                -Bloody Sunday (hundreds died)

                -Other groups rose up against czar everywhere

                        -Workers went on strike

                        -Students protested in streets

                        -Peasants revolted against landlords

                -Nicholas II issued October Manifesto

                        -Promised reforms

                        -Guaranteed liberties to Russians

                        -Citizens would elect representatives to Duma

                                -Legislature would approve all laws

                                -Czar still ruled though

-When Duma first met in 1906, Nicholas ended meeting b/c Duma making too many demands

        -Nicholas II did make some more changes

                -Russians WANTED MORE!!!

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