Russian Autocracy in 1855 Flashcards
Why was Russia seen as an Autocratic Empire in the 19th Century?
There was one Tsar at the head of state who took the title of ‘Emperor and Autocrat of all of Russia.’
What religion dominated Russia at this time?
The Russian Orthodox Church.
How many people of the many ethnic groups living in Russia at this time were actually Russian?
Less than half, estimated 69 million people.
How many ranks made up the Council of Ministers?
14.
14 being the lowest rank
What would members of rank 14 in the Council of Ministers be responsible for?
collecting taxes, running a provincial post office etc.
What were the members of the Council of Ministers also known as?
the Bureaucracy
How many ‘conscripted serfs’ made up the Tsar’s army?
1.5 million
How many years were ‘conscripted serfs’ forced to serve
25 years
Where did the ‘conscripted serfs’ live?
a military colony
How much of the government’s annual spending was absorbed by the army? (percentage)
45%
Explain the term, Cossacks
A specially skilled military class serving the Tsar. Cossacks often came from Ukraine or Southern Russia.
Russia at this point could be described as a police state, explain what this means.
the activities of the people are closely monitored and controlled for political reasons.
What was the effect of the French Revolution of Tsar Alexander I?
He considered setting up an advisory representative assembly but failed to do so.
How did Nicholas I react to his father’s plans of setting up an advisory representative assembly?
He rejected the idea completely
What date was the military uprising against Nicholas I?
December 1825
How did Nicholas I react to the military uprising against him in Dec. 1825?
he followed a path of regression and sought to distance Russia from the west and the influence of the French Revolution.
What name was given to the secret police at this point in Russian history?
The Third Section.
What year did Alexander II come to the throne?
1855
How did the serf-based economy hinder progress?
inhibited economic development and limited the forces that drive change.
Was money relevant to serfs at this point in time?
Hardly, there was no internal market demand.
What was the landowning elite?
those who owned land and who were a privileged minority in Russian society.
How was Russian society divided?
divided between the privileged land-owning elite and the serf majority, the former (clergy, nobility, military etc) and the royal court.
After Russians, what was the second biggest ethnic group in Russia?
Ukrainians.
What years were the Crimean war?
1853-56
What date did Nicholas send a Russian army to Moldavia & Wallachia?
June 1853
How did the Turks react to Nicholas’ army in 1853?
They declared war in October 1853
What made Russia unsuccessful in the Crimea war?
Backwards technology, outbreak of cholera increased death rates, poor transport, inadequate leadership.
Where/When were the Russian’s defeated in the Crimea war?
Balaclava, Oct 1854 & Inkerman Nov, 1854.
When did Nicholas I die?
March 1855
What were the direct effects of Russia’s failure in the Crimea war?
Trade was disrupted, peasant uprisings
What year was the Treaty of Paris agreed?
1856
What were the conditions of the Treaty of Paris?
humiliatingly, Russia warships were banned from using the Black Sea in times of peace.
