Transcript Russian Absolutism - Mr. jagelski's social studies' classes

Russian Absolutism
►
►
Russian Czar: Nicholas II
Judging the picture, what kind of goal or ideas might
Czar Nicholas II focus on?
Absolutism in Russia
► As
Western Europe went through an industrial
revolution, Russian czars refused to progress
with change as they did not want to lose
power.
► The czars wanted to continue with feudalistic
society that had a small dominant wealthy
class and a large serfdom class.
► Absolute rules such as Nicholas I put down
officers that tried a revolt known as the
Decembrists and threw people with
revolutionary ideas into mental hospitals.
► Rulers
rather please the upper class or nobles
than give lower classes more rights.
Alexander II
► Alexander
II realized how behind Russia was after
it was defeated in the Crimean Wars.
► Russia
lacked railroads and an effective military
and liberals demanded change.
► He granted emancipation in 1861 to all serfs, but
were not able afford land.
► Set up zemstvos throughout Russia which were
elected assemblies that repaired local schools,
roads, and agriculture.
Mini-Industrial Revolution
► Both
leaders focused on economic development
and built railroads that connected mines and
factories together.
► Russia also created foreign capital by building the
Trans-Siberian Railroad that connected Western
Russia with the pacific side.
► Peasants migrated to the cities to work in the
factories.
► Alexander II created a nationalistic pride as he
required one language only, Russian, one church
which was the Russian Orthodox Church.
► He also increased the persecution of Jews forcing
them to leave and go to America.
Revolutions
►
►
►
Russia was able to catch
up with the industrial
technology, but a
growing working class
and absolutism would not
mix well.
Workers went on strike
for shorter hours and
better wages.
The Bloody Sunday in
January of 1905 set off a
chain of events of more
strikes and rebellions and
Russians lost support for
the Czar.
Nicholas II Reforms
► Nicholas
II was forced to make changes by
granting freedom of speech and assembly.
► He agreed to a Duma, an elected legislature
which had to approve all laws before being
enforced.
► However, Nicholas II did not approve the
Duma as they criticized government, and tried
to use absolute force through a his own
election of a prime minister.
► By 1914, Russia was still had an Absolute
monarchy, but change was soon to come.