Russia under the Tsar

1. A snapshot: pre-1905 Russia under the Tsar

2. Tsar Nicholas II … the last Tsar

3. Tsar Nicholas II– The last Tsar • Autocratic • Divine Right Absolute Monarch • Weak government • Rules an area 1/6 of globe’s surface

4. Russia c.1900

5. His rule • His word was law • He appointed his ministers • But did not have to listen to them • AND could ‘hire and fire’ them at will • He was a true autocrat. • (And truly deficient as a ruler and intellect)

6. …and yet • Many Russians worshipped the Tsar and peasants • typically had a picture of the Tsar on a wall of their hut. • government/ bureaucracy blamed for problems

7. Social Structure

8. Social Structure stats. • Ruling class 0.5% • Upper class (nobility) 12% • Commercial class 1.5% • Working Class 4% • Peasants 82% (roughly half were serfs until 1861 – property of the state/controlled by nobility)

9. Political System • Non-democratic – different to European democracy – political parties banned • Dissent suppressed – repression to keep masses in check • Press censorship • Ruling class hold a tight grip on power – fear of majority: the ‘dark masses’ • Tight restrictions on travel

11. Army – largest in the world • Bolstered by conscription from peasantry • One million soldiers • Brutal discipline • Rank linked to class • Tool of suppression

12. Bloody Sunday 1905

13. Administration • Bureaucracy/Government – used to maintain Tsar’s authority • Corrupt, inefficient, incompetent, upper classes

14. Orthodox Church • Clergy – adored by some… • …seen as corrupt and self-serving by others • Conservative • Used to control population (taught obedience – a sin to not obey Tsar)

15. Social Structure - Nobility • In decline • To 1861- controlled (owned) serfs • Better educated than majority of population • Some more liberal

16. Liberals • Slow emergence of a middle class • Creation of a Western-educated elite who had travelled and seen other, freer political systems. • Intellectual class – beginning to support democratic reform

17. Industrial and urban • Russia industry had grown rapidly and living and working conditions were horrendous • Average working day was 14 hours • Trade unions banned but some strikes took place • Potential for hotbed of political activism

19. Peasantry • Backward, inefficient, ignorant, illiterate. • Emancipation 1861 • Lack of land. Debts from land bought after 1861. • Bear full brunt of famines

21. And yet… • Some did prosper and it was generally the shortage of land rather than shortage of food that was the irritant. • Rural population grew but land owned by peasants and land size failed to keep pace. • Faith in Tsar remained strong • BUT hunger for land would grow.

22. Reform • Limited reforms to 1900 • Emancipation of the serfs 1861 • Sporadic – Tsar’s will – guards power jealously • Under Alexander II • some legal reforms • freedom of expression • very limited and eventually withdrawn • repression follows

23. As a result … political instability and extremism thrive • No outlet for political frustrations • Extreme revolutionary groups emerging • Only offer radical solutions to Russia’s problems • Secret police – Okhrana – repressive state – spying on population • Pressure cooker political environment • Regular assassinations of officials… • …and even Tsars