History AII - Crimean War + Feudal System

Crimean War (Pre-AII), Feudal System and how it affected the peasantry.

What is Autocracy? What are the three pillars?

Autocracy is the idea of one person being above everyone, and in the political sense, the only person ruling and passing laws. The three pillars of Autocracy are Orthodoxy, Nationality and Russification.

What was life in Russia like in 1855?

Russia was still under the Feudal System, holding private and state serfs, and had significant agricultural issues. There was little to no industrialization, leading to widespread poverty and a lack of social mobility.

What were the key groups and institutions?

Orthodox Church

• Had most control over Russian political policies

• Widely accepted religion at the time

• Used as a form of control

Nobility / Intelligentia

• 2% of population

• Held land, allowed peasants to use it

• Collected taxes

• Conscripted

• Well educated

What was the military side of Russia like?

Army

• Extremely underfunded and underdeveloped

• Lost the Crimean war

• Conscription - General and punishment

Third Section

• Secret police

• Method of control

• Maintained censorship and surveillance

What was the political condition of Russia in 1855?

• Previous revolution attempts (failed)

• Distanced from the west

• Russian culture seen as superior (Russification)

• Tight censorship

What was the impact of the Crimean War?

Lost - realised how industrially and agriculturally backwards Russia was.

AII took control midway through war - decided it was a sign for change in Russia.

What were key social facts about Russia in 1855?

• Only 55% of population was Russian - rest was empire

• Nobles didn’t pay taxes

• Class based on birth

• Social mobility illegal

What was the economic situation in Russia in 1855?

• Industrially backwards - unable to access key resources

• Poor agriculture

  • Reliance on serfdom

  • No private enterprises

  • Majority of land was inhospitable

  • 11 people in a village for each 1 in a town