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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 -Serfsŕpeasants 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 opportunityŕDecembrist 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 landŕgovernment 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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