4 - Russification & Anti-Semitism

Question 1

Alexander II
& Ethnic Minorities

Answer 1

> Mix of repression & concessions
Firmly suppressed a Polish rebellion 1863-4
Allowed Finns to have their own diet (Parliament)

Question 2

Alexander III
Russification

Answer 2

> Russification = merge all into a single nation with a feeling of shared identity, controlled by autocracy & Church
Finland = diet weakened, postal service abolished, Russian coinage replaced local currency

Question 3

Results of Russification

Answer 3

> Unrest broke out in many Russian provinces/districts - quickly suppressed
Increased resentment from more educated & wealthy Finns, Poles & Baltic Germans. They petitioned Tsar & language books were secretly published
Supporters - will unite the country
Long term - fuelled political opposition

Question 4

Alexander III
Anti-Semitism

Answer 4

> Tsar & many ministers anti-Semitic
Anti-Semitism encouraged
Fear of involvement in opposition
1892 forbidden to participate in local elections

Question 5

Anti-Semitism

Answer 5

> Radical group worst affected by Russian nationalism
5 million within the Empire, mainly confined to “The Pale of Settlement”

Question 6

Jewish Pogroms
1881-84

Answer 6

> April 1881 Yelizavetgrad Ukraine
Authorities did little to stop these
Affected around 16 cities
Jewish property burned & destroyed, homes & businesses. Many incidences of rape & murder

Question 7

Impact of Anti-Semitism

Answer 7

> After pogroms many Jews left Russia - voluntarily & expelled
1890+ foreign Jews who settled outside the Pale were deported from Russia
1891-2 30,000 Jewish artisans were expelled from Moscow
Many who remained joined revolutionary groups

Question 8

Alexander II
Anti-Semitism

Answer 8

> Initially allowed wealthy Jews to settle anywhere
After Polish Revolt 1863-4, withdrew concessions & reduced their participation in town government
May Laws 1882 confined Jews to ghettos in towns/cities, even in the Pale