22.5 russia reform and reaction
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Russia industrialized and reformed more slowly than Western Europe for several reasons: 1) Russia had an autocratic government where Tsars ruled with absolute power and resisted reforms to maintain support from landowning nobles. 2) Russian society had a very rigid class structure in the early 1800s with serfs bound to the land at the bottom and resistance to change from nobles at the top. 3) While some reforms like emancipation of serfs were enacted under pressure, Tsars often reversed reforms to placate nobles, resulting in a pattern of reform and reaction under different rulers.
22.5 russia reform and reaction
- 1. 22.5 Russia: Reform and Reaction
- 2. LEQ: Why did industrialization and reform come more slowly to Russia than to Western Europe?
- 3. Russia was the largest and most populous nation in Europe by 1815, but it was also economically undeveloped. • Russia had many resources. • However, it had a very autocratic government. • Russian rulers resisted reforms that would lead to modernization.
- 4. • Landowning nobles Russia had a at the top resisted very rigid social change and reforms. structure in the early 1800s, • The middle class was which was one weak and small. obstacle to • Most people in Russia progress. were serfs, bound to the land.
- 5. Tsars ruled Russia with absolute power. Whenever the tsars made liberal reforms, they eventually canceled them to maintain the support of the nobles. While the governments of other European nations changed, Russia remained an absolute monarchy.
- 6. • Alexander II – ruler of Russia who came to the throne in 1855; responsible for some reforms in Russia, but was eventually assassinated by radicals • Crimean War – a war that broke out when Russia invaded Ottoman lands along the Danube; ended in Russian defeat Alexander II inherited the throne during the Crimean War in 1855. • The war began when Russia tried to seize Ottoman lands, and ended in Russian defeat. • The war showed how backward Russia was. People demanded change. Though peasants In response to pressure, remained poor, Alexander agreed to the emancipation was emancipation a turning point that (freedom) of the serfs. led to the drive for more reform.
- 7. zemstvo – an elected assembly in Russia that was responsible for road repair, schools, and agriculture at a local level The Reforms of Alexander II Emancipation of the serfs Establishment of local government in the form of zemstovs, or elected assemblies Introduction of legal reforms such as trial by jury Reduction in military service
- 8. The reforms did not satisfy the Russians, who wanted a constitution or more revolutionary changes. Socialists tried to convince peasants to rebel, which didn’t work. Radicals became angry and assassinated Alexander II. Alexander III took the throne and embarked on a crackdown. He increased the power of the secret police and exiled critics.
- 9. pogrom – a violent mob attack on Jewish people refugees – people who flee their homeland to seek safety elsewhere • He forced them to live Persecution of in restricted areas. Jewish people also increased • Pogroms against the under Jewish people became Alexander III. common. • Many Jews left Russia and became refugees.
- 10. Russia finally industrialized during the late 1800s. Nicolas II, son of Despite this Alexander III, focused on industrial progress, economic development in political and social Russia. His government problems worsened encouraged the building as workers faced of railroads and secured bad conditions in foreign investment. factories and urban slums.
- 11. Russia entered a war with Japan in 1904 and suffered many defeats. As discontent mounted, protesters poured into the streets and workers went on strike. A priest organized a peaceful march on a Sunday in 1905 in St. Petersburg. The tsars’ soldiers fired on the crowd.
- 12. Duma – an elected national legislature in Russia • Discontent grew, strikes Bloody Sunday increased, and rural was a turning peasants demanded land. point for Russians, who • Nicholas announced big felt they could reforms, including a pledge no longer to summon a Duma. trust the tsar. • However, the tsar dissolved the Duma in 1906. The pattern of reform and reaction continued.
- 13. Peter Stolypin – prime minister appointed by Tsar Nicholas to restore order through arrests, pogroms, and execution; attempted reforms, but was ultimately assassinated Nicholas appointed Peter Stolypin prime minister in 1906. • Peter Stolypin worked to restore order with arrests and executions. • He recognized the need for change, and introduced several moderate reforms. • It wasn’t enough, though, and Russia still roiled with unrest in 1914.
- 14. LEQ: Why did industrialization and reform come more slowly to Russia than to Western Europe? Russia was an autocracy that was still largely agricultural and based on serf labor. The tsars and nobles did not want to make changes or improvements that might undermine their authority and way of life.