Ethnic Minorities

Question 1

What was the problem posed by ethnic minorities

Answer 1

-over 100 different ethnic groups
-each had own language, religion + culture
-with diverse empire there was continuous challenge to autocracy — development national ideology provoked ethnic groups to assert their identities
-polish nationalism surfaced + brought rebellion 1830
-1840s Finnish language PG set up + local language newspapers founded in Baltic region
-Ukraine — secret ‘brotherhood of saints Cyril + methodins provoked national consciousness that sought separate Ukraine Slavs from Russian counter parts

Question 2

Alexander II and the ethnic minorities

Answer 2

-more concerned with control than matters of racial superiority
-reacted swiftly + strongly with Polish rebellion 1863
-over 200,000 Poles joined forming underground gov’t — waged ‘guerilla warfare’ against imperial masters but crushed 1864 (fighting by soldiers + armed civilians with ambushes + raids)
-used concessions to keep control — decrees 1864-75 Latvians + Estonians allowed revert to Lutheranism
-allowed Finns to have own ‘diet’

Question 3

What happened to the ethnic minorities during the reactionary period under Alexander II

Answer 3

-growing intolerance of national differences
-led prohibition on use of Ukrainian language in publications or performances 1876