Political, Economic & Social Contexts 1855-1894 Flashcards

1
Q

What held the empire together during this period?

A

Reverence for the Tsar

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2
Q

Along which lines was Russia largely divided during this period?

A

Geographic, social, intellectual, economic and religious.
Localism and lack of a national consciousness also an issue.

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3
Q

How large was the Russian empire in 1855?

A

21m km2.

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4
Q

What was the Church structure in this period?

A

Patriarch of Moscow provided Tsar with spiritual guidance, Over-Procurator of Holy Synod ran the Church and the Church was subject to Tsarist command.

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5
Q

What was the government structure during this period?

A

Imperial Council - 35-60 nobles to advise Tsar
Council of Ministers - 14 ministers in charge of different departments.
Regime relied on provincial nobility to keep order on their own estates.
Civil servants who made up bureaucracy all nobles.
14 levels - all riddled with corruption.
One-way system.

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6
Q

What was the military structure during this period?

A

1.5M serfs in military - 25 year service in military + 15 in reserves.
Army could be called in to fight wars or put down riots.
The Cossacks were 200,000 elite cavalry.

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7
Q

Who were the Third Section?

A

The police state - prevented freedom of speech, press or travel. Censorship harshly enforced.

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8
Q

What did the Intelligentsia want?

A

A civil society based on the rule of law.

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9
Q

Which countries were industrially more advanced in 1855?

A

Britain, Belgium, France and Germany. Mills, factories, coal pits, quarries and railways transformed European landscape.

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10
Q

What was the Russia village-town population ratio compared to Britain?

A

11:1 - 2:1

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11
Q

How much of Russia was unfarmable?

A

2/3 of the land above 50 degrees North.

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12
Q

What did Russia lead the world in in 1855?

A

Agricultural exports.

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13
Q

What was the main factor holding back economic development?

A

Serf-based economy, inhibiting the factors that drive change such as social mobility, and the over-reliance of cottage industries for the serfs.

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14
Q

What prevented the serfs from becoming wage-earners?

A

They often starved during winter and had to follow communal farming practices on miss.

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15
Q

What were the 3 main purchases?

A

Vodka, metal tools and salt, however these were mostly obtained through bartering so currency was largely useless - no internal market demand.

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16
Q

In what ways were the landowning elite failing to develop the economy?

A

There was no attempt to make money - they were self-sufficient on their farms and there was no opportunity for capital accumulation.

17
Q

Who constituted the nobility in 1855?

A

clergy, civil and military officials and the royal court/

18
Q

Who became more significant as a middle class started to develop?

A

Urban artisans, manufacturers and merchants/

19
Q

Who constituted the intelligentsia?

A

Those with a university education.

20
Q

Which 3 taxes constituted 90% of government income?

A

Obrok tax, poll tax and indirect tax.

21
Q

What was the Crimean Invasion over?

A

Christians in Turkey wanting independence since the 1920s - Nicholas was the ‘Protector of Slavs and Christians’.

22
Q

When was war officially declared?

A

June 1853 - the Turkish declared war and the Russians immediately sank a whole Turkish squadron.

23
Q

Who then interfered in the Crimean war to defend trade interest?

A

Britain and France - a joint force of 60,000 to attack Sebastopol.

24
Q

What did Russia suffer from in the Crimean War?

A

Lack of transport, leadership, equipment and technology (wooden ships as opposed to metal battleships.

25
Q

When did Sebastopol fall?

A

September 1855 - illustrating military and administrative inadequacies.

26
Q

What did the Treaty of Paris forbid?

A

Russia from entering the Black Sea.