The Russian Autocracy Flashcards
(38 cards)
Who predominantly was in power of Russia?
The tsar and the Orthodox Church to demand obedience
What was the political context of Russia like?
Russia was an autocracy. At it’s head was a tsar, who enjoyed unlimited powers. The tsar’s imperial edicts were law
Who was the Tsar supported by?
-The church
-advisers and ministers
-the nobility
-the bureaucracy
-the army
-the police
What was the church like?
The Tsar was regarded as an embodiment of god on earth, controlling the church. The lands were his property and the people were his ‘children’. The church and state were closely entwined
What were the political developments like?
Liberal ideas were spreading from the west and many Russian intellectuals were arguing for a civil society based on the rule of law
When did Tsar Nicholas I reign?
1825-1855
Why did tsar Nicholas follow a path of repression?
He sought to maintain autocracy and to distance Russia from the west.
Why was tsar Nicholas seen as incompetent?
His reign culminated in military defeat in the Crimea, which finally brought the need for change to the new tsar’s attention
What was the economic situation like in 1855?
Britain, Belgium, France and the German states were industrially advanced. Meanwhile, the Russian economy remained predominantly rural. This was partly because the inhospitable territory and climate in much of Russia limited economic progress.
What was the main reason for Russia’s backwardness?
The main reason for the backwardness was the serf-based economy. This limited the forces that drive change (wage-earners, markets and entrepreneurs)
What were wage earners like?
Most only just managed to survive on the produce they grew, and starvation was coming in winter. Land management systems meant that individual sec families worked scattered strips, following communal farming patterns
What was the internal market demand?
Few goods were purchased; instead, goods were exchanged. Money was irrelevant and there was no internal market demand
What was the social context like in 1855?
Russia was divided between the privileged land-owning elite and the serf majority- also known as the non-productive and the productive classes
What was the non-productive classes (landowning elite) made of?
Royal court:
-clergy
-nobility
-civil and military officials
-army and naval officers
What was the non-productive classes (landowning elite) made of?
Royal court-
-clergy
-nobility
-civil and military officials
-army and naval officers
What is the population of the non-productive classes?
Around 10% of the population-owned 75%of the land. Exempt from direct taxation
What was the productive classes made of?
Peasant serf majority-
-urban artists
-manufacturers
-merchants
What’s do the productive classes do?
Provided 90% of imperial finance. Liable for direct and indirect taxes (and private serfs paid feudal dues to their masters)
Who were the intelligentsia?
the intelligentsia consisted of persons with a good modern education and a passionate preoccupation with general political and social ideas.
When was the Crimean war?
1853-56
What was the impact of the Crimean war geographically?
The Ottoman Empire stretched from the Middle East across the Black Sea straits and into the Balkan’s.
What did Nicholas I do politically?
Attempted to increase Russian influence they had caused the Turks to declare war in October 1853
What had happened internationally due to the impact of the Crimean war?
The British and French, protected their trade interests, entered the war in defence of Turkey
Failures of Russia due to the impact of the Crimean war?
The Russians proved no match for the west and suffered defeats at balaclava (October 1854) and Inkerman (November 1854)
