Political Developments

Alexander II

began reforms in russia to modernize the country and used secret police to consolidate control

emancipation edict

issued by alexander ii; abolished serfdom but was ineffective

trans-siberian railroads

a network of railways that connects European Russia with the far east, facilitating transportation and trade; invested by the same

industrialization

russia was driven towards; implemented protectionaist tariffs, provided subsidies to key industries, mainly concentrated in european empire —> grew wealth gap

the people’s will

a revolutionary socialist group in Russia; asserted itself against monarchy

russification

supppression of anything anti-russia; expected to learn russian language and convert to russia or else persecution

crimean war

Britain and France worried that Russia would take over the eastern Mediterranean if the Ottoman Empire fell → tried to keep the Ottoman Empire going with sovereignty

decline of ottoman

fought russia for control of the balkans —> russia mostly won and greece, egypt, and arabia became independent

monroe doctrine

U.S. policy that opposed European colonialism in the Americas; any intervention by external powers in the politics of the Americas would be seen as a threat to the U.S.

roosevelt corollary to monroe doctrine

stated the United States would intervene in financial disputes between European powers and American countries if it would help maintain peace

spanish-american war

Originally Spain vs. Cuban revolutionaries, US took revolutionary side —> Cuba given independence in exchange for concessions to United States (two US naval bases on island)