6. Why did revolutionary movements develop in
Russia?
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Alexander II had attempted to implement reforms to Russia
Some reforms included: reorganization of Russian navy & army;
freeing the serfs, building railways, setting up a system of local
government where elected officers (zemstovs) would be
responsible for schools, roads, agriculture, etc., legal reforms
Many did not feel his reforms went far enough as Russia still
lagged behind Europe economically & politically
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Some called for anarchy; others were nihilists
(a youth movement made up of a new
intellectual class that that grew rapidly due
to increased attendance at schools by
commoners, increased wealth in the middle
class & the development of independent
presses)
Autocracy‐government of Russia; one person
rules with unlimited authority
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Alexander was the target of several assassination attempts
In 1881, a "terrorist" group (the People's Will ­­ a Nihilist group) was successful and he was killed by a bomb explosion Alexander II's assassination in 1881
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• His son, Alexander III = was a reactionary
• He wanted to return to how Russia had been = promoted
Russification ‐ imposing Russian language & customs on other
people; persecute non‐Russian speakers, non‐Eastern Orthodox
believers, especially Russian Jews
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His political ideal was a nation containing only one nationality, one language, one religion and one form of administration; and he did his utmost to prepare for the realization of this ideal by imposing the Russian language and Russian schools on his German, Polish and other non­Russian subjects (with the exception of the Finns), by fostering Eastern Orthodoxy at the expense of other confessions, by persecuting the Jews and by destroying the remnants of German, Polish and Swedish institutions in the outlying provinces. 5
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Pogroms ‐ violent attacks on Russian Jews (beaten,
killed, destroyed homes/stores, etc.)
This is when thousands of Russian Jews move to the U.S.
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•
When Alexander died, his son, Nicholas II took over = not
very strong leader, revolutionary groups threatened his
authority…protests and workers’ councils (soviets) were
formed; demanded representative government and the
right to vote
•
Nicholas II formed the duma‐originally just as
advisors; forced to allow them to make laws
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