2. The crimean war and emancipation of the serfs

How did the Crimean war start?

In 1853 Russia provoked the Ottoman Turks into declaring war, which provoked Britain and France

WHERE were the 2 locations that Russia was defeated in the Crimean war and WHEN

Inkerman 1854

Sebastopol 1855

What was the treaty that ended the Crimean war called?

The Treaty of Paris

When was the Treaty of Paris signed?

1856

What did the war highlight (militarily)? 4

• Russian transport war poor (took longer)

• Russian conscript army was no match for opponents

• Russia’s military leadership was poor

• Technologically behind with inferior ships and weapons

When did Alexander II come to the throne?

1855

What did Alexander II recognise during the Crimean war?

Reform must be done for Russia to remain as a great power

Which 2 groups pressured Alexander II, and how?

Intelligentsia demanded reform

Peasants were revolting

Did Alexander II favour reform?

Yes

When were serfs emancipated?

1861

How many serfs were emancipated?

51 million

What were the terms of emancipation 6

Private serfs free after 2 years, state after 5

Serfs received their house and small plot of land near

Land owners kept meadows, pasture, woodland

Serfs gained control over marriage

Serfs were allowed to set up businesses

Serfs allowed to travel

How long did serfs have to pay redemption payments for?

49 years

What was interest on redemption payments?

6%

How did redemption payments limit peasants?

They had to stay in the mir

What group supervised mirs?

Volosts

When did Volosts start running courts?

1863

What was the role of the mirs from 1861? 3

Allocated land

Controlled what was farmed

Collected taxes

Why were the serfs emancipated? 4

War humiliation showed need for action

Alexander II believed it was right thing to do

Free peasants would work harder, producing more for state

Freedom of movement required for industrialisation, because peasants needed to move from villages to towns

What were the successes of emancipation? 5

Peasants finally emancipated without violence

Peasant disturbances became less of a problem

Kulaks developed

Stimulated growth of business and industry, because nobles free from debt invested

Industry grew

What were the limitations of emancipation? 4

Suited nobles not peasants

Peasants remained impoverished, did not provide consumer demand to stimulate economy

Peasants remained tied to the mir through passports

Nobles used payment to pay off debts, not invest in modernisation

What was the average holding of land for peasants after emancipation?

9 acres

What dubious thing did landlords do in before emancipation?

Inflated the value of land to increase compensation