Russia in the Age of Mass Politics By Miss Raia

Nicholas I to Alexander II Defeat in Crimean War marked a turning point in Russian history by fostering modernization Defeat in Crimean War marked a turning point in Russian history by fostering modernization Alexander II ): perhaps most liberal ruler in Russian history prior to 20th century. Alexander II ): perhaps most liberal ruler in Russian history prior to 20th century. –Agriculture: 90% of Russian people lived on farm land –Serfdom had led to peasant uprisings, poor agricultural output, and exploitation of serfs by lords –Serfs could be bought or sold with or without land in early 19th century –Serfs could be conscripted into the army for 25 years.

The Serfs Emancipation Act (or Emancipation Edict), 1861 Emancipation Act (or Emancipation Edict), 1861 –Abolished serfdom: peasants no longer dependent on the lord; free to move and change occupations; could enter contracts and own property Most Russians not impacted by the Emancipation Edict (lived in mirs) Most Russians not impacted by the Emancipation Edict (lived in mirs) –mirs: most Russians lived in communes which were highly regulated Collective ownership and responsibility made it difficult for individual peasants to improve agricultural methods or leave their villages Collective ownership and responsibility made it difficult for individual peasants to improve agricultural methods or leave their villages

Liberal Reforms Zemstvos established in 1864: assemblies that administered local areas Zemstvos established in 1864: assemblies that administered local areas Significant step towards popular participation Significant step towards popular participation Yet, Lords controlled Zemstvos having more power than towns and peasant villages Yet, Lords controlled Zemstvos having more power than towns and peasant villages Other reforms: judiciary improved, censorship relaxed (but not removed), education liberalized Other reforms: judiciary improved, censorship relaxed (but not removed), education liberalized

Industrialization and the Economy Industrialization in Russia stimulated by railroad construction Industrialization in Russia stimulated by railroad construction –Russia had fallen behind major industrialized nations in Western & Central Europe –Russia needed better railroads, better armaments and reorganization of the army –Agriculture was in a poor state, largely the result of centuries of serfdom –Between 1860 and 1880 railroad mileage grew from 1,250 to 15,500 –Railroads enabled Russia to export grain and earn profits for further industrialization Stimulated domestic manufacturing: industrial suburbs grew up around Moscow and St. Petersburg, and a class of modern factory workers began to emerge Stimulated domestic manufacturing: industrial suburbs grew up around Moscow and St. Petersburg, and a class of modern factory workers began to emerge Strengthened Russia’s military giving rise to territorial expansion to the south and east Strengthened Russia’s military giving rise to territorial expansion to the south and east

Industrialization Cont. Count S. Y. Witte oversaw industrialization in the 1890s Count S. Y. Witte oversaw industrialization in the 1890s –Aggressively courted western capital & advanced technology to build great factories –Resulted in rise of a small Russian middle-class Gov’t built state-owned railroads doubled to 35,000 miles by 1900 Gov’t built state-owned railroads doubled to 35,000 miles by 1900 Construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway helped to modernize Russia. Construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway helped to modernize Russia. Connected Moscow with Vladivostok—5,000 miles Connected Moscow with Vladivostok—5,000 miles

Russian Economics Russia put on the gold standard to strengthen the government’s finances Russia put on the gold standard to strengthen the government’s finances By 1900, Russia 4th in steel production (behind U.S., Germany & Britain) By 1900, Russia 4th in steel production (behind U.S., Germany & Britain) By 1900, Russia exported half the world's refined petroleum By 1900, Russia exported half the world's refined petroleum Industrialization contributed to spread of Marxist thought and the transformation of the Russian revolutionary movement after 1890 (as industrial workers felt exploited) Industrialization contributed to spread of Marxist thought and the transformation of the Russian revolutionary movement after 1890 (as industrial workers felt exploited) Despite economic and social reforms, Russia's economic problems still staggering by 1900 Despite economic and social reforms, Russia's economic problems still staggering by 1900 –1/3 of Russian farmland not used; food could not keep pace with increasing population –Depression of 1899 wiped out gains since 1890 resulting in tremendous unemployment Situation aggravated by Russo-Japanese War of 1905 Situation aggravated by Russo-Japanese War of 1905

Critics of Alexander II Alexander increasingly turned to more traditional (conservative) values (realism in Russia replaced romanticism) Alexander increasingly turned to more traditional (conservative) values (realism in Russia replaced romanticism) Radical populist movement emerged that sought a utopian agrarian order Radical populist movement emerged that sought a utopian agrarian order –Intelligensia: hostile group of intellectuals who believed they should eventually take over society –nihilism: intellectuals who believed in nothing but science and that the social order should be completely wiped out and built up from scratch. Alexander II assassinated in 1881 by radicals who bombed his carriage in St. Petersburg Alexander II assassinated in 1881 by radicals who bombed his carriage in St. Petersburg

Alexander III ( ) Became most reactionary czar of the 19th century: Became most reactionary czar of the 19th century: “Autocracy, Orthodoxy, and Russification (nationalism)” “Autocracy, Orthodoxy, and Russification (nationalism)” Encouraged anti-semitism: pogroms resulted in severe persecution of Jews (many emigrated) Encouraged anti-semitism: pogroms resulted in severe persecution of Jews (many emigrated) –Theodore Herzel: zionism -- advocated a Jewish homeland in the Holy Land

Nicholas II (r ) Russo-Japanese War ( ) Russo-Japanese War ( ) –Russians had established a sphere of influence in Manchuria and now sought Korea –Humiliating defeat of Russian fleet by Japan and bloody war on land resulted in Russia turning away from east Asia and focusing instead on the Balkans The Revolution of 1905 The Revolution of 1905

The Tsar & His Family

1. Early 20 c : Russian Social Hierarchy Causes

2. First Stages of Industrialization An Early Russian Factory

3. Weak Economy 1905 Russian Rubles

4. Extensive Foreign Investments & Influence Building the Trans-Siberian RR [Economic benefits only in a few regions.]

5. Russo-Japanese War [ ] The “Yellow Peril”

Russo-Japanese War [ ]

Russian & Japanese Soldiers

Russia Is Humiliated

Treaty of Portsmouth [NH] President Theodore Roosevelt Acts as the Peacemaker [He gets the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.]

6. Unrest Among the Peasants & Urban Working Poor Leader of the People OR Police Informer? Father Georgi Gapon: Leader of the People OR Police Informer?

Bloody Sunday January 22, 1905 The Czar’s Winter Palace in St. Petersburg

The Revolution Spreads

Russian Cossacks Slaughter The People in Odessa Anti-Jewish Attacks

7. The Battleship Potemkin Mutiny [June, 1905]

Results

1. The Tsar’s October Manifesto October 30, 1905

2. The Opening of the Duma: Possible Reforms? 1906  The first two tries were too radical.  The third duma was elected by the richest people in Russia in 1907.

The Russian Constitution of 1906  Known as the Fundamental Laws [April 23, 1906].  The autocracy of the Russian Tsar was declared.  The Tsar was supreme over the law, the church, and the Duma.  It confirmed the basic human rights granted by the October Manifesto, BUT made them subordinate to the supremacy of the law.

3. Jewish Refugees Come to America in 1906

4. The Path to October, 1917

Why did the 1905 Revolution Fail?

Duma: Assembly created that would serve as an advisory body to the Czar Assembly created that would serve as an advisory body to the Czar Granted freedom of speech, assembly and press Granted freedom of speech, assembly and press Tsar retained absolute veto Tsar retained absolute veto Revolutionaries were divided resulting in Duma having no real influence Revolutionaries were divided resulting in Duma having no real influence Propertied classes benefited at expense of workers peasants and national minorities Propertied classes benefited at expense of workers peasants and national minorities

Economic Recovery Russia experienced mild economic recovery between 1907 and 1914 Russia experienced mild economic recovery between 1907 and 1914 Peter Stolypin: pushed through important agrarian reforms to break down collective village ownership of land and encourage the more enterprising peasants Peter Stolypin: pushed through important agrarian reforms to break down collective village ownership of land and encourage the more enterprising peasants After 1911, czar's court increasingly dominated by Gregorii Rasputin resulting in widespread doubts about the czar's ability to lead. After 1911, czar's court increasingly dominated by Gregorii Rasputin resulting in widespread doubts about the czar's ability to lead. The next question will be which direction does country go now – conservative, liberal or communist? The next question will be which direction does country go now – conservative, liberal or communist?