The Russian Empire The Russian Empire In the

The Russian Empire

The Russian Empire � In the 1800 s, Russia lagged behind European modernization and industrialization � Society dominated by nobles � Estates worked by serfs � No real middle class � Rural � Poor infrastructure � Weak military (as seen in the Crimean War)

Russia and Europe � Tsar Nicholas I worked to industrialize Russia, but was resistant to ideas that questioned the old order � Due � to Decembrist Revolt Slavophiles: Russian intellectuals who favored resisting western European influences � Promoted Orthodox Church, rule of the Tsar and the system of serfdom

Russia Implements Change � � 1861, Tsar Alexander II emancipated serfs Created district assemblies (zemstvos) � � Encouraged industrialization in the form of infrastructure � � Trans-Siberian Railroad Trade unions and strikes outlawed � � Elected representatives for all classes, but still under czarist authority Resulted in poor conditions for the lower classes 1881, Alexander II assassinated

Russian Expansion � By the late 1800 s, Russia had expanded East to the Pacific � Incorporated � Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, etc. Border expansion caused conflict with Japan � 1904, Russo-Japanese War � Russia again suffered an embarrassing defeat