Preserving Autocracy: The Russian Autocracy In 1855

Question 1

The political context

In 1855 what type of empire was Russia?

Answer 1

An autocratic empire

Question 2

The political context

Who was the head of Russia and what title did he take?

Answer 2

The Tsar Alexander II who took the title ‘Emperor and Autocrat of all Russia’

Question 3

The political context

What did Nicholas I do in 1832?

Answer 3

Compiled the ‘Collected Laws of the Russian Empire’

Question 4

The political context

What did the Collected Laws is the Russian Empire State about the emperor of all Russia

Answer 4

‘The Emperor of all the Russias is an autocratic and unlimited monarch; God himself ordains that all must bow to his supreme power, not only out of fear but also out of conscience’

Question 5

The political context

What does the term localism mean?

Answer 5

Loyalty to the local community or local area

Question 6

The political context

What is an empire?

Answer 6

An empire is made up of lesser states ruled over by one monarch.

Question 7

The political context

Nineteenth century Russia was a vast empire of around what million square kilometres?

Answer 7

21 million square kilometres

Question 8

The political context

How much larger was nineteenth century Russia than Europe?

Answer 8

Twice the size

Question 9

The political context

What percentage was nineteenth century Russia of the globes’s surface?

Answer 9

A sixth of the globe’s surface

Question 10

The political context

What was the Russian word for Edict?

Answer 10

Ukaz (ukazy for edicts)

Question 11

The political context

What is a ukaz?

Answer 11

An official order issued by a person of authority

Question 12

The political context

What was the Holy Synod in 1855?

Answer 12

A group of bishops, which forms the ruling body of the Orthodox Church; it is the highest authority on rules, regulations, faith and matters of Church organisation

Question 13

The political context

What was the highest church official and where were they appointed from?

Answer 13

The Over-Procurator, appointed by the Tsar from the laity - government minister appointed to run Church affairs

Question 14

The political context

What was the Tsar, in name only, head of?

Answer 14

The Orthodox Church

Question 15

The political context

What did Orthodox believers regard the Tsar as?

Answer 15

The embodiment of God on earth, the vast lands of the Russian Empire were his private property and he he people his children.

Question 16

The political context

What did Russian people usually refer to the Tsar as?

Answer 16

The little father

Question 17

The political context

What ‘archaic’ model of ruling did Russia follow and what did this mean?

Answer 17

‘Paternalistic model’ where the power of the Tsar was holy, universal and incontestable.

Question 18

The political context

What did the Patriarch of Moscow, who worked in close harmony with the Tsar, provide?

Answer 18

Spiritual guidance

Question 19

The political context

When was the Over-Procurator of the Holy Synod created position created?

Answer 19

1721

Question 20

The political context

The structures of Church and state were entwined. What were bishops and archbishops subject to tsarist co from over?

Answer 20

Appointments, religious education, finances and issues of administration.

Question 21

The political context

What were the law of the land?

Answer 21

The Tsars imperial edicts (ukaz)

Question 22

The political context

What was the issue with the Tsar’s advisors and ministers in 1855?

Answer 22

They were all chosen by the Tsar himself and no decision could be made without Tsar approval.

Question 23

The political context

What were the Tsar’s three main advisory bodies in 1855?

Answer 23

The Imperial Council or Chancellery

The Council of Ministers

The Senate

Question 24

The political context

How many nobles were in the Imperial Council, chosen by the Tsar to adobe him personally with their ‘expert’ opinion?

Answer 24

35 to 60 nobles

Question 25

The political context How many ministers were in the Council of Ministers and what were they in charge of?

Answer 25

8 to 14 ministers were in charge of different government departments.

Question 26

The political context What was the Senate supposed to do?

Answer 26

Oversee all the workings of government.

Question 27

The political context In practise what had happened to the senate by 1855?

Answer 27

It had become largely redundant.

Question 28

The political context The Tsar and the central government were based in the Imperial capital of what?

Answer 28

St Petersburg

Question 29

The political context What did the Tsar and central government depend upon for support?

Answer 29

The provincial nobility

Question 30

The political context Since when had the nobles not been obliged to serve the State?

Answer 30

1785

Question 31

The political context Many nobles continued to serve the State, what is an example of how so?

Answer 31

As provincial governors of one of the empire’s fifty provinces.

Question 32

The political context Who were the civil servants that made up the bureaucracy?

Answer 32

Paid noble officials.

Question 33

The political context What were the civil servants who made up the bureaucracy chosen from?

Answer 33

They were selected from a ‘table of ranks’ that laid down the requirements for office.

Question 34

The political context How many levels were there in the bureaucracy in 1855?

Answer 34

There were 14 levels.

Question 35

The political context Who held rank 1 positions within the bureaucracy in 1855?

Answer 35

Members of the Council of Ministers

Question 36

The political context What state positions did rank 14 cover within the bureaucracy?

Answer 36

Minor state positions, for example, collecting taxes or running a provincial post office.

Question 37

The political context What was the bureaucracy riddled with and in which way did idea travel

Answer 37

Corruption and incompetence and ideas travelled downwards only, there was no provision for suggestions to travel upwards from the lower ranks.

Question 38

The political context Orders were passed down from from the central government to who and then who etc. In he bureaucracy?

Answer 38

Orders were passed down from the central government to the provincial government, in turn, to the district government and town commandants.

Question 39

The political context How many conscripted serfs were in the world’s largest army?

Answer 39

1.5 million

Question 40

The political context How long were serfs forced into service for and where were they made to live?

Answer 40

25 years and in military colonies - for lower ranks discipline was harsh and life tough.

Question 41

The political context How much of the governments annual spending did the huge serf army and smaller navy absorb?

Answer 41

45%

Question 42

The political context Who were the higher, more prestigious ranks saved for within the army?

Answer 42

Nobles who bought and sold their commissions.

Question 43

The political context The elite regiments of mounted Cossacks, with special social privileges, acted both as a what?

Answer 43

Personal bodyguard to the Tsar and as police reinforcements.

Question 44

The political context What provinces did the Cossacks usually come from?

Answer 44

Ukraine and Southern Russia.

Question 45

The political context What were the Cossacks known for, and what did they watch ride?

Answer 45

They were known for their skills in horsemanship and their strong military tradition, they each rode a highly trained horse.

Question 46

The political context To maintain the autocracy the nation has turned into a what state? What did this prevent?

Answer 46

A police state, this prevented freedom of speech, freedom of the press and travel abroad?

Question 47

The political context The secret state security network was run by the what part of the Emperor ‘s Imperial Council.

Answer 47

The ‘Third Section’ ran the secret state security network.

Question 48

The political context What did the ‘Third Section’ have unlimited power to do?

Answer 48

To carry out raids, and to arrest and imprison or send into exile anyone suspected of anti-tsarist behaviour - they were greatly feared.

Question 49

The political context Following the French Revolution, what did Alexander I between 1801 and 1825 consider doing?

Answer 49

Setting up an advisory representative assembly and possibly giving it law-making powers - but he never did.

Question 50

The political context What followed Nicholas I, who ruled between 1825 and 1855 to totally reject reform?

Answer 50

A military uprising in December 1825 - he deliberately sought to distance Russia from the west - liberal ideas.