The decline of imperial power in

Tsarist Russia and the emergence

of the Soviet State

Why, in spite of his efforts to reform Russian institutions, was Alexander II assassinated?

How far is it true to say that Russia was transformed into a modern country between 1855 and 1900?

Compare and contrast the causes of the 1905 and February/March 1917 revolutions in Russia.

What factors led to the increase of opposition to the ruling Romanov dynasty in Russia between 1855 and 1905?

Ethnic diversityReligious diversityRussian economyAutocracy: the royal familyRussian Society

Barge Pullers on the

Volga, Ilya Repin

Nicholas I: ‘I am bequeathing you

[Alexander II] much worry and distress.’

Crimean War

Slavophiles vs. Westernizers

A Monastery Refectory, Vasily Perov

The debate: Why had

serfdom existed for so

long? How and Why

should it be ended?

The Terms of

emancipation

Was emancipation a

success?

Local Government

Military

Legal

Censorship

Education

Nationalities

Influence of ‘new’ literature.

Narodniks

Revolutionary Methods: Assassination

(attempt on Trepov, 1878)

Prison population increased

Political Trials

Main Reforms

Why was there opposition?

Ideas of Alexander III: influence of

Pobedonostsev, Ignatiev

Circumstances surrounding the death of

Alexander II

Russification

UNDOING REFORMS THE 1891 FAMINE

Centralised Police

Land Captains

Increased

censorship

Universities lose

control of teaching

“We ourselves will

not eat but we shall

export.”

Vyshnegradskii

Role of Witte

Fastest growing economy in 1900

Foreign investment

Trans-Siberian Railway

Personality

Policies

Anti-Semitism

Causes

Events

Consequences

Long term causes

Medium term causes

Short term causes

Bloody Sunday

The October Manifesto

The Fundamental Laws

Electoral college system

Role of Stolypin

Social Democrats 1898 Social

Revolutionaries

1901

Kadets 1905 Octobrists 1905

Bolsheviks 1903 Mensheviks

1903

(Trudoviks) a.k.a.

Constitutional

Democrats

Key People Lenin Martov,

Plekhanov

(Trotsky)

Chernov Milyukov Guchkov,

Rodzianko

Main

Beliefs

-Marxist

-Professional

revolutionaries

- centralized

leadership

-Marxist

-broad based

party, anyone

can join

-trade unions

should

improve

workers

conditions

- democratic

party

-Peasant

revolution

-land

redistribution

-rural socialism

based on the mir

-constitutional

monarchy,

tsar’s power

restricted by

elected

representatives

-equality and

rights for all

-free education

-end of

censorship

-loyalty to Tsar

-preservation of

the Russian

Empire

-a strong regime

working with the

peoples

representatives

-support of the

October

Manifesto

Impact of War: Crimean, Russo-Japanese,

World War I

Opposition: Narodniks, Peoples’ Will, SRs,

SDs

Middle Class Aspiration: Kadets,

Octobrists, growth of bourgeoisie

Modernisation: Reforms, urbanisation,

transport

Russian Prestige: Leader of the Slavs

Personalities of the tsars

Foreign Policy – from Europe to Asia and

back again….

February/March 1917

Provisional Government: Kerensky,

Petrograd Soviet, April Theses, July Days,

Kerensky Offensive, Kornilov Revolt

October/November 1917

Then onto Lenin’s rule….