Reforms in Russia Conditions in Russia A Great

Reforms in Russia

Conditions in Russia • A Great World Power • • Largest country, most populated in the world Vast empire of trade Tons of natural resources Global interests and influence • Russia made other nations nervous • Autocratic ruler, looking to expand • Resistant to reform, modernization

Obstacles to Progress • Underdeveloped Society • • • Landowning nobles reject change, hold the power Middle class was too small, too weak Majority of Russians were serfs • Farm laborers bound to the land, nobles controlled them • Nobles had no reason to change society • Czars favor modernization, but thought it would limit their power

Absolutist Czars • Enlightenment, nationalism, revolutions had no effect on Russian society • All revolutions were suppressed ASAP • Controlled society – censorship • Newspapers, schools, imprisonment • Reform was on its way!

Reforms! • Czar Alexander II • Emancipated the serfs – freed them from the land • Majority still poor and unhappy • But still, good things happened • Many urbanized and worked in factories • Opened the door for more reforms • Local governments created • Town repairs, schools, agriculture • Russians gained experience on how to govern

Russian Reaction • Reforms did not satisfy Russians • Peasants were free, but had no land • Liberals wanted a constitution, more changes • Czars moved away from reform • • Alexander II assassinated Alexander III cracked down and removed reforms Secret police, censorship, exiled critics Russification – Suppress other cultures, only one – Russian • Persecute other groups: especially Jews

Drive to Industry • Russia finally enters the Industrial Age in 1890 • Building of railroads – connecting iron/coal mines • Gained foreign capital, build Trans-Siberian RR • Big Problems come with Industry: • Societal problems: slums, sickness, working conditions • Rise of Radical Russia – Marxists hand out fliers at factories • Crazy support from workers towards socialism

Crisis and Revolution • Humiliating military defeats versus Japan • Workers strike, protesting in the streets • Want constitution, reform government • March to Czar’s Winter Palace in St. Petersburg • Czar gets scared, flees • Palace guard lines up outside, opens fire into the crowd • Known as Bloody Sunday • People lost faith/trust in government

Revolution of 1905 • Anger from Bloody Sunday • Workers strike, take over local cities • Terrorists targeting politicians, assassinations • Czar Nicholas responds with October Manifesto: • Promises of personal and social freedoms • Creates Duma – an elected national legislature • No law would go into effect without approval • Russia still in trouble, more revolution to come • First Duma meets, criticizes government, disbanded