Russia Revolution
• Discuss with your elbow partner reasons Russia was
behind the times in the at the turn of the 20th century?
Characteristics of Russian Society (1800 -1900)
Political
Social
Economic
Absolute rule - Czar
Large gap between
rich and poor
Feudal farming
practices
Rich – nobles;
privileges, control of
land, had political
rights
Very little
industrialization
Autocracy – total
power
Cruel & harsh
No voice for the
people
Poor – mainly peasants/former serfs,
few urban workers; no political power,
peasants want land reforms to be selfsufficient
Tyranny
Very small middle class
due to limited
industrialization
Lots of ethnic diversity
Limited food and
basic consumer
goods
One _________
characteristic of Russian
society that caused
discontent was….
This causes discontent
because….
Setting the stage…
• In the early 1800’s the people of Russia lived
under autocratic rule (absolute monarch),
economic backwardness, and social injustice.
– The czars resisted reform because they
believed that it would undermine their
absolute power.
How do each of the following details support
the initial claim? What other facts do you
have to support the claim?
Setting the stage…
• The czars resisted reform because they believed
that it would undermine their absolute power.
Setting the stage…
• The middle class was too small to have any
influence.
Setting the stage…
• Landowning nobles resisted change that would
threaten their privileges.
Setting the stage…
• The majority of the Russian population were
serfs who were bound to the land.
Russia Revolution
• Russia in the 1800’s
– Autocratic rule
– Peasants & serfs
– Little effort to modernize
Russia Revolution
• Alexander I (1801-1825)
– Open to liberal reforms
• Censorship
• Education
• Free the serfs
– Napoleonic War ended
reform efforts
Russia Revolution
• Nicholas I (1825-1855)
– The Decembrist Revolt
– Suppressed the Revolt
• Promoted:
– Autocracy (tyranny)
– Orthodoxy (Christianity)
– Russian nationalism
Decembrist Revolt (1825)
Russia Revolution
• Nicholas I (1825-1855)
– The Decembrist Revolt
– Suppressed the Revolt
• Promoted:
– Autocracy (tyranny)
– Orthodoxy (Christianity)
– Russian nationalism
Russia Revolution
• Alexander II (1855-1881)
– Crimean War
• Promoted industrialization
• Emancipation of the serfs
• Local councils
• Trial by jury
• Assassinated by terrorists
Crimean War
Russia Revolution
• Alexander II (1855-1881)
– Crimean War
• Promoted industrialization
• Emancipation of the serfs
• Local councils
• Trial by jury
• Assassinated by terrorists
Russia Revolution
• Alexander III (1881-1894)
– Revived harsh autocratic rule
Rapid Industrialization
Revolutionary Movement Develops
Terrible
working
conditions in
factories
Very low
wages
Child labor
Government
outlawed labor
unions
Huge gap
between the rich
and the poor
Social Unrest
Discontent
among the
Russian
People
Labor
Strikes
Revolutionary
Activity