Section 4

1. Section 4 Reform and Revolution in Europe

2. The Russian Empire • Russia was huge but lacked industrialization • Russia had a lot of different ethnicities, religions and national groups within itself, which made unification very difficult

3. Russian Domestic and Foreign Policies • The liberal movement which swept through Europe did not affect Russia as much • The czar ruled as an autocrat • Nationalistic ideas appealed to the ethnic minorites in Russia, which conflicted with autocracy. • Because of this, Russian leaders harshly censored opposing politcal ideas • Russification was enacted in the 1830s. • Forced all people to use the Russian language, accept the Orthodox religion, and adopt Russian customs in place of their own

4. Alexander II and Reforms • Alexander II became czar in 1855 • Was basically conservative and autocratic, but paid attention to the public opinion • His actions were the first steps toward modernization • In 1861, Alexander II issued the Emancipation Edict which freed all serfs. • He did this because he believed that the serfs would eventually rebel and freeing them would effectively avoid this • Although this did free them, they still faced issues. They couldn’t buy sufficient land to make a living so they wandered around and became cheap sources of factory workers

5. Alexander II and Reforms • In 1864, Alexander II allowed rural districts to elect zemstvos • Councils at the provincial and county levels • Zemstvos could levy taxes and control many programs • Public health, education, assistance for the poor, local crafts, and some public works programs • Alexander II also reformed courts • Modeled after European courts • He made many other reforms regarding police, press, military, and education • His reforms did not please everyone

6. Radicals and Government Reaction • Nihilists emerged, who wanted to completely re-do Russia. They wanted to abolish everything. • The People’s Will used terrorism to try to force the government to grant its demands. • This was an offspring movement of the Populists • This activity made Alexander II more conservative. • After an assassination attempt in 1866, he repressed the radical groups but continued his reforms. • After repeated assissination attempts, Alexander II was killed in a bomb attack by People’s Will in 1881 • (After he made a LOT of reforms)

7. Radicals and Government Reaction • The death of Alexander II ended liberal reform and led to a time of intense repression • Alexander III and Nicholas II tried to completely get rid of liberalism • Many of Alexander II’s reforms were overturned. • Everything against the government and Russia was censored or outlawed completely. • Very many Jews were murdered in pogroms, which the government failed to stop • This all only caused radicals to become more prominent. The government failed.

8. The Revolution of 1905 • After a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Japanese, Russia’s broken government was exposed. On Jan 22, 1905, the czar’s troops shot unarmed people delivering a petition to him. This sparked the Revolution of 1905. • After a lot of bloodshed and the issue of the October Manifesto, the government halted the revolution using severe repression and executions.

9. The Revolution of 1905 • The government did not act on the October Manifesto. Autocracy resumed. • After a 1907 law’s passing, a more conservative Duma resulted. • This revolution failed because... • ...of a French alliance which helped Russia’s government control the uprising • ...of revolutionary groups differing in ideas • ...much of the army remained loyal and refused to end the czar’s regime