RUSSIA: REFORM AND REACTION LEQ(s)- How did industrialization and reform come to Russia? Why was this process slower than in the rest of Europe?

Reading Focus How did conditions in Russia affect progress? Why did czars follow a cycle of absolutism, reform, and reaction? How did problems of industrialization contribute to the growing crisis and outbreak of revolution?

VOCABULARY With a partner, define the following words and use them in a sentence: *colossus *emancipation *zemstvo *pogrom *Duma USE PAGES 282-287

vocabulary Colossus- giant Emancipation- freeing (the serfs) Zemstvos- elected assemblies responsible for road repair, schools, agriculture (local self government) Pogroms- violent mob attacks on Jews Duma- elected national legislature

CONDITIONS IN RUSSIA I.By 1815, Russia was the most populous nation in Europe and a great world power. II. Russia had acquired a huge, multinational empire, part European, part Asian. III. Russia had immense natural resources/it’s great size gave it global influence. IV. Western Europeans disliked its autocratic government and feared its expansionist aims.

OBSTACLES TO PROGRESS I.Economically undeveloped. a. Czars saw the need to modernize, but resisted reforms to accomplish this. Why? It would undermine their absolute rule. Russia fell even further behind Western Europe in economic and social development. II. Rigid social structure a. landowning nobles dominated society b. rejected any change that would threaten their privileges. c. Middle Class too small to have much influence/majority of Russians were… SERFS. What is a serf? pp.282 and 283 Write a description of SERFDOM.

SERFDOM- Laborers bound to the land and to masters who controlled their fates Peasants Servants Artisans Soldiers forced into czar’s army Some masters sent serfs to work in factories, but took most of their pay

RUSSIAN ABSOLUTISM Alexander I- *started out with reforms: eased censorship, promoted educations, talked of freeing the serfs. *When Napoleon invaded, he drew back from reform. (1812) *He feared losing the support of the nobles. *Congress of Vienna- joined conservative powers in opposing liberal and nationalist impulses in Europe.

REVOLT AND REPRESSION *Alexander died and in 1825 army officers led an uprising known as the Decembrist Revolt. *Decembrists demanded a constitution and other reforms. *New Czar Nicholas I suppressed the revolts and cracked down on all dissent. *Nicholas used police spies to hunt down critics, banned books about liberal ideas, and many Russians who were considered “liberal” were deemed to be insane and placed in mental hospitals and sent to Siberia. (150,000 were exiled here)

REFORMS OF ALEXANDER II With a partner, and using your textbook pp. 283-284, explain the rule of Alexander II and include all the reforms he made. 10 min.