Section 1 - Chapter 1 Flashcards
The Russia Autocracy in 1855
What type of Empire was Russia?
autocratic
How many square kilometres was the Russian Empire in 1855?
21 million
Who ran Russia in 1855?
Tsar Nicholas
What religion was followed by Russians?
Russian Orthodoxy
Who was the highest member of the Russian Orthodox Church after the Tsar?
Over-Procurator
What were laws created by the Tsar called?
Edicts (ukazy in Russian)
Main advisory bodies of the Tsar?
Imperial Council / Chancellery, Council of Ministers, and Senate.
What is the Chancellery
A group of 35 to 60 nobles picked by the Tsar to advise him.
What was the Council of Ministers?
A group of 8 to 14 ministers in charge of different government dr
What was the Senate?
It was supposed to oversea all the workings of government.
What was the role of the nobles in the running of Russia?
Nobles had not been obligated to serve the state since 1785 but many still did. The Tsar often put loyal nobles on committees.
How big was the serf army?
1.5 million serfs.
How long did the serfs have to spend in the army?
25 years when conscripted.
How much of Russia’s annual spending did the military consume?
45%
Who were the Cossacks?
An elite military regiment that acted as both personal bodyguards to the Tsar and police reinforcements.
What kind of state was Russia?
Police state - prevented the freedom of speech, the press, travel abroad, and strikes. There was censorship at every level of government.
What did Alexander I consider doing after the French Revolution?
Setting up an advisory representative assembly and possibly giving it law making powers - this never happened.
What were Nicholas’ I views?
He encourage the path of repression and believe in strict autocracy.
What was the split of town to village dwellers in Russia in the 1850s?
11:1 (village:town)
Population of St Petersburg in 1855?
50,000
What was serfdom?
They were Russian peasants classified as the ‘property’ of the owners. They weren’t allowed to marry without permission and were liable for conscription.
What percentage of the population was literate?
Only 28% of the population was literate.
What percentage of the population were peasants/serfs?
85% of the population were peasants.
What percentage of land to did the landowners own?
Landowners (who made up 10% of the population) owned 75% of the land.
Where did most of the country’s funding come from?
Lower classes provided 90% of revenue through taxation.
Which groups were exempt from paying taxes?
Nobility and clergy
Social hierarchy in Russia in the 19th century?
God → Tsar → Hereditary nobles → Non-hereditary nobles → Christian priests → Merchants → Peasants → Serfs
Strengths of Russia’s geography?
→ They have a lot of resources, large areas can be used for farming, other areas contain lots of natural resources that can be traded and sold, providing Russia with income.
→ In a military sense the vastness of Russia is an asset as it means Russia has access to the Pacific and Arctic Oceans as well as the Baltic and Black Seas.
Weaknesses of Russia’s geography?
→ Takes up 1/6 of the world’s land mass, making it very difficult to govern as communication was difficult.
→ Russian climate made it difficult to govern; with unpredictable rainfall patterns and droughts the people of Russia often faced famine.
→ The main cities are in the West, so difficult to maintain control across the country.
→ Over 100 different nationalities means culture and language barriers makes it difficult for rulers to understand their people.
Who was involved in the Crimean War?
First major conflict in 40 years. It included the Ottoman Empire, Britain, France, Austria and Russia.
What was the excuse given by Russia to attack Crimea?
Believed to be started by religious disputes as Russia demanded that all Orthodox land to be placed under Russian protection - but the Ottomans refused.
Why did Britain and France join the Crimean War?
Britain didn’t want Russia to gain more land around the Black Sea.
What was the result of the Crimean War?
Russia lost. After winning the Northern War, Russia-Turkish War and Russo-Persia War this lost was humiliating to the Romanov dynasty.
What were the main reasons that Russia lost the Crimean War?
- Poor transport
- Outdated equipment
- Incompetent commanders
- Poor hygiene
What did the Crimean War highlight to Russian officials?
→ It emphasised the poor communication system in Russia - there was a lack of large transport systems such as railways.
→ Questions about how Russia’s money was being spent and whether spending 45% annually on the military was a good decision.
→ Russia’s inability to harness and deploy human and material.
→ It was clear to Russia that their weaponry was outdated.
How many Russian troops died in the war?
450,125 men
What was signed after the Crimean War?
Treaty of Paris (1856)
When did Alexander start to rule Russia?
1855
