russia under the tsar a snapshot: pre-1905. tsar nicholas ii the last tsar
DESCRIPTION
Tsar Nicholas II– The last Tsar Autocratic Autocratic Divine Right Absolute Monarch Divine Right Absolute Monarch Weak government Weak government Rules an area 1/6 of globe’s surface Rules an area 1/6 of globe’s surfaceTRANSCRIPT
Russia under the TsarA snapshot: pre-1905
Tsar Nicholas II … the last Tsar
Tsar Nicholas II– The last Tsar• Autocratic• Divine Right Absolute Monarch• Weak government• Rules an area 1/6 of globe’s surface
Russia c.1900
His rule• His word was law• He appointed his ministers• But did not have to listen to them• AND could ‘hire and fire’ them at will• He was a true autocrat.• (And truly deficient as a ruler and
intellect)
…and yet• Many Russians
worshipped the Tsar and peasants
• typically had a picture of the Tsar on a wall of their hut.
• government/ bureaucracy blamed for problems
Social Structure
Social Structure stats.• Ruling class 0.5%• Upper class (nobility) 12%• Commercial class 1.5%• Working Class 4%• Peasants 82% (roughly half were serfs
until 1861 – property of the state/controlled by nobility)
Political System• Non-democratic – different to European
democracy – political parties banned• Dissent suppressed – repression to keep
masses in check• Press censorship• Ruling class hold a tight grip on power – fear
of majority: the ‘dark masses’• Tight restrictions on travel
Army – largest in the world
• Bolstered by conscription from peasantry• One million soldiers• Brutal discipline• Rank linked to class• Tool of suppression
Bloody Sunday 1905
Administration• Bureaucracy/Government – used to
maintain Tsar’s authority• Corrupt, inefficient, incompetent,
upper classes
Orthodox Church• Clergy – adored by some…• …seen as corrupt and self-serving by
others• Conservative• Used to control population (taught
obedience – a sin to not obey Tsar)
Social Structure - Nobility• In decline• To 1861- controlled (owned) serfs• Better educated than majority of
population• Some more liberal
Liberals• Slow emergence of a middle class • Creation of a Western-educated elite
who had travelled and seen other, freer political systems.
• Intellectual class – beginning to support democratic reform
Industrial and urban• Russia industry had grown rapidly
and living and working conditions were horrendous
• Average working day was 14 hours• Trade unions banned but some
strikes took place• Potential for hotbed of political
activism
Peasantry• Backward, inefficient, ignorant,
illiterate.• Emancipation 1861• Lack of land. Debts from land bought
after 1861.• Bear full brunt of famines
And yet…• Some did prosper and it was
generally the shortage of land rather than shortage of food that was the irritant.
• Rural population grew but land owned by peasants and land size failed to keep pace.
• Faith in Tsar remained strong• BUT hunger for land would grow.
Reform• Limited reforms to 1900• Emancipation of the serfs 1861• Sporadic – Tsar’s will – guards power
jealously• Under Alexander II
– some legal reforms– freedom of expression– very limited and eventually withdrawn– repression follows
As a result … political instability and extremism thrive• No outlet for political frustrations• Extreme revolutionary groups emerging• Only offer radical solutions to Russia’s
problems• Secret police – Okhrana – repressive state
– spying on population• Pressure cooker political environment• Regular assassinations of officials…• …and even Tsars