Revolutions Unit 2 Lesson 4 Russia, Austria, and Ottoman Empire Revolutions

Serfs/Serfdom

Workers bound to nobles land by the feudal system

Feudal System

Social structure where nobles give serfs shelter on their land in return for labor-no revenue and few rights for serfs.

Decembrists Revolt

A revolutionary movement in 1826 at the end of Alexander I’s reign in an attempt to make change and influence liberal ideas.

Modernization

Efforts to advance industrialization and technology to compete with other nations.

Crimean War

Russia attempted to take over the Balkan area of the Ottoman Empire so they could have access to Mediterranean sea trade. This then caused war between Russia and their Congress of Vienna allies (France, Great Britain, Sardinia, and the Ottoman Empire) and resulted in Russia losing.

Russification

Romanov Dynasty forced Russian culture on all ethnic groups in the empire in an attempt to connect the country. This ended up backfiring and disunified Russia leading for the dynasty to crumble in 1917.

Austro-Prussian war (7 weeks war) 1859

Austria and Prussia fought over lands and Prussia challenged the leadership of the German Confederation. Bismarck from Prussia negotiated non-interference treaties with the major powers so nobody could back up Austria. Prussia successfully defeated Austria. Austria lost German and Italian territory and the German Confederation dissolved. The Northern German Confederation was created under Prussian leadership.

Austro-Hungarian Empire

After feeling pressures from rising nationalists movements, military failures from the Austro-Prussian war, and economic considerations like Hungary’s money from fertile lands, Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria splits Austria and Hungary while still ruling over both (dual monarchy). Nationalist pressures later led to its collapse in 1914.

Grossdeuich

A unified Germany with Austria

Kleindeuich

A unified Germany without Austria

Tzar Alexander I

The Decemberists' revolt was planned during his reign. He kept serfdom.

Tzar Nicholas I

Crushes Decemberists, starts the Crimean war and loses.

Tzar Alexander II

Initiated modernization and social reforms like a decree freeing the slaves and was eventually assassinated by terrorists.

Tzar Alexander III

Strengthened czarrist control and suppressed reforms and promoted industrial development to enhance RUssia’s power.

Romanov Dynasty

370 years old. Had control of Russia, Ukraine, Poles, Lituania, Estonia, Romania, etc. Created Russification resulting in their dynasty to crumble.

Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria

Emperor of Austria who created Austro-Hungarian Empire

Why did Alexander III strengthen czarist control and suppress reforms after his father’s assassination?

He wanted to both industrialize Russia and keep some traditional ways after his fathers assassination to appeal to both liberals who wanted to modernize Russia as well as conservatives.

How did nationalism both unify and divide people within the Russian Empire?

It helped people connect because they shared being citizens together, but also divided people because the country was so large and they identified with their own cultures and ethnicities in their territories in Russia, making it difficult to unify with each other.

What was the purpose of Russification, and why did it fail?

Russification was designed to unify the country by forcing one culture on all groups. It however didn’t work as intended and ended up pushing people away like the Polish who were forced to speak Russian in their schools, which wasn’t their native language and they didn’t understand.

What were the problems in Russia that led to the Decemberists' revolt?

After fighting Western wars like the Napoleonic wars, people were exposed to their ideas of liberalism, democracy, and nationalism. Decembrists wanted a constitution to limit the Tsar’s power rather than an absolute monarchy and to end serfdom and create a fairer society.

In the 1800s, other empires also struggled with nationalism and modernization. Briefly explain the similarities or differences faced by either the Austrian Empire or the Ottoman Empire in comparison to Russia.

Both Austria and Russia faced Nationalism revolutions in Europe in the 1800s. Both countries attempted to repress these uprisings and Nationalism and modernization ideas. Emperor Ferdinand I was able to put down 3 revolutions in 1848 over liberalist ideas and Czech and Mygar independence. However, he promised liberal reforms which he did not implicate, causing tensions to rise. After the 7 Weeks War, Austria was crushed by Prussia. Their government was fragile and Hungary revolted again for independence. Because of liberal pressures and war loss, Emperor Francis Joseph wouldn't risk losing Hungary completely and needed to still have economic control over their valuable fertile lands. So, he finally agreed to create a dual monarchy establishing the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Throughout Russia’s liberal and Nationalism revolutions, they were able to remain dominant and crush the rebellions. At each revolt, rather than making promises for reforms, they repressed these ideas to continue to maintain authority with the exception of a modern reform made to compete with other European countries. Russia was able to maintain power throughout their revolts by keeping dominance and not feeding into reforms while Austria struggled, making promises they couldn’t keep growing tensions throughout the country and eventually feeding into the rebellions.