22.5

By 1815, Russia was the largest and most populous nation in Europe and had become a world power. The Russian colossus was part Asian and European. It possessed vast natural resources, yet its leadership did not want to industrialize. Peter and the Catherine the Great attempted to westernize, but later tsars did not want to risk losing their power. Social Hierarchy- nobles, merchants, and serfs  Serfdom was inefficient and also held back Russia’s economic growth.  The Enlightenment and French Revolution had nearly no effect on Russia's autocratic government.

 Alexander II came to power in 1855 during the Crimean War.  The war began when Russia tried to take Ottoman lands on the Danube River. Britain and France allied with the Ottomans to defeat the Russians.  In 1861 Alexander II agreed to emancipate the serfs.  Serfs had to buy land, but did not have the money. Plots given to them were too small to support their families. Many peasants moved to the cities to work in new industries.

 Alexander II established a system of local government called the zemstvos. Local leaders were made responsible for issues at the local level.  Legal reforms included trial by jury, eased censorship, and a reduction in required military service. Peasants wanted affordable land, liberals wanted a constitution and an elected legislature.  Socialist radicals tried to appease to peasants, but were ignored or turned into the police. These radicals assassinated Alexander II on March 13,  Alexander III took over for his father and reenacted harsh methods of past regimes.  He used Russification to suppress all non-Russian cultures.  Jews were attacked in pogroms. Many Jews became refugees and left Russia for America.

 Russia entered the industrial under the rule of Alexander III and his son Nicholas II.  They built railroads to connect mines across Russia. The Trans-Siberian Railroad linked western Russia to the Pacific Ocean.  Industrialization made nobles and serfs fear the inevitable change. Government and business leaders welcomed the economic growth.

 Russia and Japan fought the Russo-Japanese War in Russia lost miserably.  The military’s defeat caused an uproar in Russia. On January 22, 1905 a march took place in St. Petersburg. The marchers were on the way to the tsar’s Winter Palace. The tsar fled and called in soldiers. The soldiers fired on the crowd and hundreds of men and women were murdered on “ Bloody Sunday ”. The Revolution of 1905  Strikes and protests ensued over Bloody Sunday”. The tsar was forced to make reforms. He agreed to summon a Duma, or elected national legislature. The Duma was dissolved after the 1 st meeting.

 Strikes and protests ensued over “Bloody Sunday”. The tsar was forced to make reforms. He agreed to summon a Duma, or elected national legislature. The Duma was dissolved after the 1st meeting due to their criticism of the government.  Peter Stolypin was appointed the new Prime Minister. He reinstated the strict practices of past oppressive Soviet regimes.  He later saw the need for reform. He timidly made land reforms, strengthened local government, and improved education. He was assassinated in  Each newly elected Duma became totally conservative.