internal problems of russia 185581: timespan 1855 (death of … · 2011. 10. 17. · russia 1855...
TRANSCRIPT
1
nov 1013:41
RUSSIA 1855 1914
How effectively did the reforms of Alexander II solve the internal problems of Russia?
The reforms of Alexander II
Timespan 1855 (death of Nikolas I) 1881 (assassination of A II)
nov 1113:41
Internal problems of Russia 185581:
2
nov 1113:41
How well were the problems solved:
nov 1113:50
Background: The humiliating defeat in the Crimean War. The war thought Russia a lesson. West European efficiency and industrialisation defeated the stagnated and old fashioned Russian Empire. This alarmed the Russian government and the new ruler. Russia had to be reformed in order to compete with the west.Social reform was also inevitable to prevent revolution by the peasantry.
3
nov 1717:12
'Repression and reaction were the particular marks of the rule of the last Tsar, Nicholas II'. Discuss the validity of this verdict on his reign to 1914.
Define 'repression' Political repression, the oppression or persecution of an individual or group for political reasons'reaction' reactionary (attempt to slow down development, progress)'Particular marks comparison with other czars. Alexander II, Alexander III
nov 1814:20
To what extent the system caused its own downfall.Nicholas II was in favour of preserving the Tsarist state intact as he had inherited it, he was prepared to repress any attempt to undermine the autocracy
The role of his advisersThe family tragedy with Michael (hemophelia), the Tsarina and Rasputin.Nicholas wasn't prepared to take over as a ruler when he had to.The RussoJapanese war 190405The Bloody Sunday, the greatest act of repressive stateterrorism on the own
people.
4
nov 1814:25
But at least after 1905 one can easily find arguments against the statement as well:The democratic reforms which Nicholas was forced to carry out after the revolution of 1905
universal male suffrage, the elected Dumas, the returned rights of the ethnic minoroties.The reform policy of Witte and Stolypin boosted the economic development.The impact of the Great War
nov 1814:28
If Russia wouldn’t have been pulled in to the Great War would the system have survived. It wasn’t the strength and unity of the opposition which brought the downfall it was the defeats in the war and the unpopularity of the imperial house. Without a war there would probably not have been any revolution.
5
nov 1717:12
How extensive and how effective in promoting change was the opposition to the Tsarist system in Russia from c. 1881 to 1914?
EXTENSIVE WIDTH, how vast was the opposition (quantity)EFFECTIVE accomplisment (quality)
Promoting change
nov 1814:34
Define ‘opposition’The opposition which brought the downfall wasn’t organised, united or planned. The RussoJapanese war 190405 had already clearly warned the rulers that a major conflict with defeat could shake the existing powerstructure of Russia.Opposition to the Tsar:a. Political groups
Socialists divided in Social Revolutionaries Mensjeviks Bolsjeviks Anarchists
Liberals
Cadets
6
nov 1814:43
b. Nonpolitical groups The farmers The industrial workers The Bourgeois The landless peasants The poor Nobility The poor priests The ethnic minorities
nov 1814:48
Most groups divided and unorganised. The political parties often small and with minimal resources to premote any change in practice. The secret police controlled most of the political groups. E.g. the socialists party which was founded in London and of which most leaders were forced to imprisonment or or activity in exile.The nonpolitical groups were only united by their opposition towards the existing order or part of the rule carried out e.g. the russification policy.
7
nov 1814:52
THE EVENTS 19041905The RussoJapanese war and the Bloody Sunday had an enormous impact as these proved that the Empire could tremble. The events resulted in spontaneous protests so big that they paralysed the regime. The successes of the opposition weren’t longlasting as the oppositional groups were so divided but e.g. the events in Finland were revolutionary. All oppositional elements had been given a proof of possible change but this needed a major crises in which Russia was part of. When the First World War started this was the signal many of the oppositional elements had been waiting for.
nov 1814:56
Conclusion: Most of the oppositional groups were unsuccessful in promoting lasting change in Russia but those who aimed in replacing the old powerstructure with a new one would be successful. In the struggle againt the russification policy the successes of 190506 showed the nonrussian elements that unity existed and change was possible.The only political groups which promoted change from within were the quite conservative cadets and ‘Octobrists’. These parties had minor successes in reforming e.g. the economic legislation of Russia (wexsternisation).