Condition Of Russia In 1855 Flashcards
Who ruled Russia
Tsar
When did Nicholas 1 die
1855
When did Alexander II take over
1855
How was the tsar seen by the people
Protector and father of the Russia people
Who could make new laws
The tsar
No democracy
Ministers merely advisers
What was the Tsar the head of. What did he possess
Leader of the Russian Orthodox Church
God given right to rule
What type of power did the Tsar have
Political
Military
Religious
In 1855 what % of the population were nobles
1-2%
Who held senior positions in the Tsarist bureaucracy
The nobles
What were jobs based on
Birth over ability
What did the church teach
That the Tsar had been chosen by God
The social and political system had been chosen by God
What was impressive about the Russian army
Biggest in the world
Who ran the army
The nobility
Who made up the army
Peasant conscripts
What was the secret police known as
Third section
What did the third section do
Censorship - reports about political reform
- criticisms of social conditions
How many people were the third section shadowing? Why?
About 2000
Suspected of having anti-Tsarist beliefs
What was the Russian view of Russian culture
Seen as superior
What caused the Tsar to consider reform
The defeat in the Crimean War
What made up the majority of Russian society
Serfs
What could happen to the serfs
Bought
Sold
Beaten
Conscripted
Who did the serfs belong to
Private and state owned
About 50-50
Who paid tax
Serfs
Urban workers
Tradesmen
Who didn’t pay tax
Nobility
Clergy
What percentage of the population were Russian
55%
What percentage of the population were Ukrainian
22%
What percentage of the population were Polish
8%
How would you describe Russia economically?
Backwards and rural
How many people lived in villages to every one in a town
11-1 in Russia
2-1 in Britain
What resources did Russia fail to utilise
Timber, coal, oil and gold
What type of method did farms use
Strip farming
Lacked machinery and fertilisers
Inefficient
