Chap 4: Political Authority in Tsarist Russia

Political Authority in Action

• Tsarist Russia as a Multinational Empire

  • Comprised over 100 different ethnic groups.

  • Two-thirds of the population were Slavs (Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians).

  • Included distinct groups: Finns, Estonians, Latvians, and Lithuanians, each with unique cultures.

  • Tension due to land ownership (e.g., Baltic Germans owning land).

• Ethnic and National Identity

  • The rise of national ideologies in the 19th century led ethnic groups, including Russian Slavs, to assert their identities.

  • Polish nationalism led to uprisings (e.g., 1830 rebellion).

  • Finnish language movements emerged; local newspapers founded.

  • Ukrainian national consciousness developed (e.g., Brotherhood of Saints Cyril and Methodius).

• Alexander the Second's Policies

  • Focused on control rather than racial superiority.

  • Reacted strongly to Polish rebellion in 1863; sent his brother to suppress it.

  • Engaged in temporary concessions to maintain control; allowed certain ethnic freedoms.

  • E.g., Decrees in 1864/1875 allowed Baltic minorities to practice Lutheranism.

• Growing Intolerance in Later Reign

  • Increased intolerance towards ethnic differences led to prohibitions (e.g., Ukrainian language ban in 1876).

• Russification under Alexander the Third

  • Cultural Russification aimed to merge all subjects into a single identity.

  • Poland and Finland faced aggressive measures:

  • Closure of Polish National Bank, forced teaching in Russian.

  • Diet of Finland recognized and later weakened.

  • Non-Russian cultures suppressed, particularly in education and administration.

  • Russian language enforcement in state institutions.

  • Military service expanded; efforts to prevent ethnic groupings in the army.

• Religious Policies and Oppression

  • Encouragement of Orthodox Church conversions, anti-Catholic measures in Poland.

  • Anti-Jewish measures escalated; forced conversions and restrictions imposed.

  • The All-Russian Orthodox Missionary Society's efforts to convert non-Orthodox.

• Resistance to Russification

  • National groups resisted, leading to disturbances and uprisings in multiple provinces.

  • Petitions for more liberties from national groups, despite repression.

• Impact on Jewish Populations

  • Jews concentrated in the Pale of Settlement, acting as targets for pogroms.

  • Antisemitism exacerbated; uprisings in 1881-1884 led to widespread violence against Jewish communities.

  • Response to Alexander the Second's assassination fueled hostility against Jews.

• Consequences of Antisemitism

  • Laws enforced ghettoization and limited Jewish rights.

  • Many Jews emigrated or were expelled during various purges.

  • Rise of revolutionary movements among Jews, many joining socialist organizations (e.g., Trotsky, Martov).

• Historical Analysis of Russification

  • Mixed views: Some saw it as necessary for unity; others viewed it as counterproductive.

  • Historian Peter Waldron noted Russification intensified national feelings and pushed some towards emigration or political opposition.

Overall, these events demonstrate the complexities of governance in a diverse empire and highlight the challenges faced by the autocracy in maintaining control while managing rising nationalist sentiments.