Theme 1-Russian Empire 1855

Question 1

What was Alexander II’s epithet and why?

Answer 1

The Liberator, as he abolished serfdom in Russia.

Question 2

In what year did the Emancipation of the Serfs take place?

Answer 2

1861

Question 3

What year did the Crimean war start and end?

Answer 3

1853-1856

Question 4

How big was nineteenth century Russia?

Answer 4

~21 million km2

Question 5

Who was the most prolific Supreme Procurator of the Holy Synod?

Answer 5

Konstantin Pobedonostsev

Question 6

For how long did the Russian military conscription of Serfs usually last in 1855?

Answer 6

25 Years

Question 7

Approximately how many conscripted serfs did the Tsar Alexander II have at his disposal?

Answer 7

1.5 Million (the world’s largest army)

Question 8

What was the ratio of rural to urban population in Russian in 1855, compared to 2:1 in Britain?

Answer 8

11:1

Question 9

Name 3 major Russian exports in 1855.

Answer 9

Timber, Coal, Oil, Gold, Furs etc.

Question 10

What was viewed by many as the primary factor holding back Russian social, economic and military success in the years following the Crimean War?

Answer 10

Serfdom.

Question 11

What was the name for the fees that liberated serfs had to pay back to the government to provide recompense for their former masters?

Answer 11

Redemption payments.

Question 12

What are cottage industries?

Answer 12

Extremely small-scale manufacturing, often done inside one’s own home, such as weaving or small-scale metalwork. Extremely prevalent in mid-19th century Russia.

Question 13

What were the three types of serfs?

Answer 13

Of the roughly half of the serfs were privately owned, 30% paid dues in rent, while the other 70% paid in labour to their masters. The other 50% of state serfs were also liable to pay taxes and rent directly to the government.

Question 14

What were Mirs?

Answer 14

Traditional Russian village peasant communes

Question 15

Why was there little innovation in industry efficiency in mid-19th century Russia?

Answer 15

The landowning elite were mostly content with their current conditions, with little incentive for more capital accumulation, so there was no reason for private investment into new advanced manufacturing industries.

Question 16

What percentage of Russian state income was made up of the poll tax (literally a tax on every head)?

Answer 16

25%

Question 17

What percentage of Russian state income was made up by more indirect taxes such as those on salt and vodka?

Answer 17

By 1855, 30%

Question 18

Why did Britain and France join the Crimean war?

Answer 18

To promote their own trading interests in the region, as they preferred the weaker Ottomans’ inability to enforce their jurisdiction and would have been threatened by a stronger power (Russia) in the region.

Question 19

What battles were there in the Crimean war?

Answer 19

Battle of Balaclava, Battle of Inkerman both 1854 and the Siege of Sevastopol ending in 1855.

Question 20

What treaty concluded the Crimean war?

Answer 20

Treaty of Paris 1856

Question 21

How many serfs did Russian have in 1861?

Answer 21

51 million.

Question 22

What group of people, based in the Russian capital provided support for the emancipation and other liberal reforms?

Answer 22

The Party of St Petersburg Progress.

Question 23

What treaty concluded Russia’s 1877-78 war with Turkey?

Answer 23

Treaty of San Stefano

Question 24

What Government reforms took place 1864-70?

Answer 24

Zemstva- elected local councils were established using a system of electoral colleges to choose members. However, its power was limited and it was designed in such a way that the nobility could dominate it. They had no control over state or local taxes and provincial governors could overturn decisions.

Question 25

What were the characteristics of the 1864 judicial reforms?

Answer 25

Equality before the law, official, tsarist appointed Judges, presumption of innocence, Justices of the Peace were to be elected by the Zemstva every 3 years and criminal cases were allowed to be publicly reported. However , political crimes were tried in secret courts to prevent things like jury nullification etc not that that exact practice was used in Russia but things of the same sentiment e.g. vera zasulich.