Introduction into the Imperial Russia https www youtube

Introduction into the Imperial Russia • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=FR 1 lt 5 vowt. Y&lis t=RDFR 1 lt 5 vowt. Y#t=0

Fyodr Tutchev • • Russia cannot be understood with the mind alone, No ordinary yardstick can span her greatness: She stands alone, unique In Russia, one can only believe.

Land of Tsars • Episode 16 • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=r. XPP 1 j 1 yahg

Introduction into Russia • • • 1. Russia was not a nation but an empire, spanning an enormous area and covering one-sixth of the Earth’s landmass. 2. Russia was inhabited by more than 128 million people of considerable ethnic, cultural, religious and linguistic diversity. 3. Until the mid-1800 s Russia’s social structure was semi-feudal, most Russians living in rural areas as bonded serfs. 4. Defeat in the Crimean War exposed the need for social and economic reform, a process initiated by Tsar Alexander II. 5. During the second half of the 1800 s, Alexander’s reforms – as well as some attempts to wind back those reforms – triggered significant change, social unrest and revolutionary sentiment in Russia

Russian Society • • • 1. Russia was a population of more than 130 million people with great diversity of ethnicity, language and culture. 2. The dominant classes were royalty, aristocracy and landowners, who wielded significant political influence. 3. Russia’s middle class was small in comparison to other nations but was growing by the early 1900 s. 4. The peasantry made up by far the largest section, most living in small communities scattered across the empire. 5. Russian society was intensely patriarchal, with men dominant in most spheres of decision-making and women denied many legal and civil rights.

Imperial Russian Empire in last half of nineteenth century - vast expanse of land; Siberia rich in natural resources 1891 Trans Siberian Railway 1891 widespread famine - “Golodnyi Khleb” Peasant conditions extreme high taxes; speculators export grain little organized rebellion

Tsarist Russia • • • Tsarist government was predicated on the tsar’s supreme autocratic power, which was inviolable. 2. Tsarism had no democracy, representation or accountability at higher levels. All officials were chosen by the tsar. 3. Beyond the capital, tsarist decrees were implemented and enforced by provincial governors and bureaucrats. 4. The bureaucracy was the public face of the government but was widely despised for its corruption and officiousness. 5. Tsarism was also supported by conservative groups like the Black Hundred that sprang up in the early 1900 s.

Alexander III Tsar - autocratic regime; Alexander - rejected any form of constitutionalism; “Father to all the Russians” anti-semitic his father assassinated by the People’s Will, March 1881 supported new military alliance with France in 1883

Russian Peasants Russia in 1890’s - 80% of peasants lived in tiny villages short lifespan peasants - “Narod” - dark people intermarriage - genetic disorders “izby” - cottage - dark, filthy ikons, vermin, “cockroaches”?

Peasants village communes - insufficient land to support families low technology; inefficient farming bad diet - high mortality rate; vodka incessant labor superstitious, fatalistic, ignorant, and illiterate Tsar viewed as “little Father”

Peasants and Intelligentsia educated Russians ignorant of realities of peasant life Turgenev - revealed grim lives of peasants 1874 - young radicals go into the countryside; many believe village commune would be the basis for a new socialist society 1891 - experts carry out research on peasant life and suggest solutions

Industrialization by early twentieth century Russia had expanded its heavy industry Sergei Witte - 1892 finance minister proletariat lived and worked in dire conditions workers - long hours, low wages, child labor emergence of intelligentsia among the working class - adopted puritan lifestyle

Russian Marxism 1883 - Plekhanov establishes first Marxist group Plekhanov criticizes terrorist approach of “People’s Will” - need to educate the masses workers viewed as source of revolution, not peasants Plekhanov helped prepare the way for Lenin Plekhanov in exile in Switzerland

Lenin - expelled from university; later studied law; convinced Marxist; his brother executed 1895 - arrested for political activities and exiled to Siberia. Wrote “Development of Capitalism in Russia” 1896 - widespread strike action 1898 - Russian Social Democratic and Labor Party founded in Minsk

Lenin’s Political Philosophy newspaper founded “Iskra” The Spark; Lenin and Plekhanov disagree on political strategy 1902 - Lenin writes “What is to be Done? ” Lenin believed party must consist of professional revolutionaries, an elite conspiratorial group

Differences between Bolsheviks and Mensheviks

the party would guide the working class to victory 1903 Brussels Congress party split between Mensheviks and Bolsheviks Lenin authoritarian approach to party discipline

Russo-Japanese War changes in nineteenth century warfare repeating rifles, longrange artillery, railroads and costs - placed Russia at a disadvantage building of the TSR increased Russia’s involvement in the affairs of the Far East - China, Korea and Japan

Russian involvement in Manchuria and Korea led to conflict with Japan in the late nineteenth century had modernized her economy and military

Japan short of natural resources - oil, iron Japan had already defeated China in 1894 minister Witte had warned against a war with Japan Nicholas II decides on war “ little short-tailed monkeys” Japanese fleet attack Port Arthur - January 1904

patriotic outpouring in support of the war Russian navy - ships and tactics lead to catastrophe Japanese lay siege to Port Arthur - Russians finally surrendered war continued until August 1905, when peace terms were finally agreed Nicholas II humiliated by defeat