russia

what was the okhrana?

• tsarist ‘secret police’

• found anyone who questions the regime (no individual freedom to speak out)

• raids, arrests and imprisonment and general harassment was common

what was life like before nicholas?

• past monarchs Alexander II wanted more democracy + reform to be more liberal

• he was assassinated in 1881 by the terrorist group “People’s Will”

• so Alexander III lead a series of repressive measures to limit the freedoms of lower classes

(focuses on everyone being a threat)

what happened in 1881?

1881 - Russification, emphasises the Russian language, religion + empire

(Nicholas varies on these ideas

explain the Russian Orthodox Church

• staple of Russian culture

• conservative

• encourages people to commit to the Tsar (has a close relationship)

• didn’t move with urbanisation, so Russia’s behind its time

explain the state of Russias economy at the start

• lack of urban workers, lack of transport too

-needed to move supplies and people around the country

• haven’t developed a system of investment yet

• land + weathers bad for farming, so they’re bad at agriculture

• Emancipation Decree if 1861 allowed peasants to purchase land, but it was too expensive because mortgages were made too high

what are westerners?

those who believe that for russia to remain a great nation, they have to adopt the best features of the advanced countries of western europe

what are slavophiles?

those regarded Western values as corrupting and urged that the nation should preserve itself, glorifying in the slav culture and traditions

(for russification)

explain the state of the russian army at the start

• majority of the government’s money (45%) spent on it

• not all trained + official, peasants sent as punishment

-(not eaten enough / looked after)

• therefore very weak army, over a million deaths of soldiers

• soldiers not treated properly either

what was the bureaucracy and who created it?

• made by Peter I

• a civil service meant to maintain central control, but corrupt by 19th century and full of nepotism

what was the local gov. reform and who was is introduced by?

• Alexander II started w the Emancipation of the Serfs in 1861

• Zemsta (local Councils of elected bodies) created in 1864

-added a deceee of democracy (hope for political rights)

what were mir?

• traditional village people

• who were an easy way to keep order

• and cheaply collect taxes

what were the legal reforms?

• more freedom to the universities and press

• led to the development of the intelligentsia

-who were educated and enlightened, will get high-paying jobs + contribute to the economy well