1. Precursor to the Revolution
Russia during the 1800s
Precursor to the Revolution

2. Russia before Reform French revolution makes Russia nervous
Concern about international defense (Napoleon)
Move toward isolation
Paternalistic
Serfs>Masters
Bureaucratic
Holy Alliance
Monarchs of Prussia, Russia, Austria defend religion and established order
Intellectualism
Some fascinated with western ideas
Advocate for political freedom, education, scientific advances
Romantic art (Tchaikovsky)
Government response to ideas
Censorship of liberal/radical values
Repression of political opponents and secret police after Decembrist uprising (1825)
Western-oriented army officers rise up against conservative government
Repression likely prevented revolutions
Territorial expansion
Partition of Poland
Expansion into Ottoman lands (against France and Britain, Crimean War)
Support of nationalist movements in Balkans and Greece (against Ottomans)

3. Problem of Peasants Russia at standstill as the west industrializes
Landlords and aristocracy see no need to modernize/industrialize
Keep status, oppress serfs
Import grain and resources from the west
Some aristocrats import western industry for status only, little impact on economy
Remain peasant-soldiers/landlord-patrons

4. Crimean War (1854-56) Russia wants to expand into Crimea
Protector of Christian interest in Holy Land
Britain nervous about possibility of Russian invasion of India, France sees itself as champion of Christianity
British strength pushes Russian forces back
Industrial advantage with ships and weapons
Convinces Alexander II that reform is essential
Russia must keep up with military technology
Must eliminate serfdom and industrialize

6. Reform Russia realizes serfdom is holding them back in 1861
Emancipation of serfs more “fair” than freedom of slaves in America (1865)
Serfs get most land, but must pay for land (get loans from aristocrats)
Tsar Alexander II does not want to alienate aristocrats
Ardent supporters and bureaucrats
Serfs have no political rights, still tied to villages
Freedom of serfs create free, mobile labor force
Lead to more political uprisings
Zemstvoes: Local political councils
Regulate schools, roads, regional policy (bureaucracy)
Essential now that aristocrats no longer have control
Maintenance of tsar’s absolute authority
Improvement of army
Promotion based on merit
Recruitment of peasants and training
Education
Improved literacy rates
Women get higher education
Medicine, professions
Industrialization
State-sponsored industry
Trans-Siberian Railroad
Iron and coal
Growth of urban working class
4th: steel production, 2nd: petroleum
Maintains absence of middle class

7. Causes of Revolution
Minority nationalities began agitating for independence
Social protest
Famines, taxes
Intelligentsia: radical intellectuals that sought political voice, new rights, and freedoms
Supported by student groups
Aspire for reform and freedom while maintaining Russian culture
Anarchists, Marxism
Terrorism leads to crackdown and repression by tsar
Censorship, gulags, persecution of minorities and religions
Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov and Russian socialism
Bolsheviks
Labor unions, strikes

8. Revolution of 1905 Russia focuses on unprecedented expansion
China, Persia, Afghanistan, Manchuria
Risk of overextension, no real military power
Japan feels threatened by Russia in Manchuria
Russo-Japanese War, Japan wins
Japan moves into Korea
Massive protest begins due to Russian defeat
Urban working strikes, insurrections
Leads to police repression
Liberals seek representation by creating the Duma (parliament)
Stolypin Reforms gives peasants freedom from redemption payments, buy land, move freely
Leads to rise of kulak landlord class
Duma falls apart under Nicholas II, rise of police repression