Russification

What is Russification? To put it simply….. Make everything Russian!!!! Nicholas’s grandfather Alexander III brought it in as a policy during his reign He wanted one nation with one nationality, one language, one culture and one religion! Do you see a problem here?????

LITERACY BANK PAN SLAVISM The movement, especially in the 19 th Century, for the union of the Slavic peoples, especially under the control of Tsarist Russia

Why did he do this? To bind all the Russian people together around one person….. the Tsar! No other religion, culture or nationality can become more important than Russia so just make everyone Russian! Another layer of control over the Russian people under the autocracy To make Russia strong and united like other powers e.g. Germany

What did it involve? School education was changed and had to be delivered or translated into Russian Russian was spoken in the courts of law No religions to be practiced or tolerated except Russian Orthodoxy No ethnic minority culture to be celebrated – only Russian customs Only Russian clothing to be worn Non- Russians had to become Russian citizens!!

Discontent Russians were the minority of the empire – only made up 44% Catholic Poles and Asiatic Muslims were pressurised to convert to Russian Orthodoxy Russian officials were put in to run regional governments Jews were persecuted for being ‘anti-Russian ’ – a series of POGROMS were introduced

Resistance Okhrana and army used against those protested People were encouraged to ‘seek out’ those who were anti-Russian ‘Scapegoating’ = when things were going well the Russians took the credit but during hard times the ethnic minorities got the blame – this encouraged more people to turn against them.

LITERACY BANK POGROM A violent mob attack generally against Jews, and often allowed by the forces of law. Can involve killings and/or destruction of homes and properties, businesses, and religious centers. The word is now also sometimes used to describe attacks against non-Jewish ethnic or religious groups