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Background and Context of Russian Revolution

  • Post-Napoleonic Era:

    • French revolutionary ideas spread widely after Napoleon's fall.
    • By 1815, Russia is part of the coalition that defeats Napoleon.
    • Tzar Alexander considers dissent as treasonous.

  • Decembrists' Revolt (1825):

    • Occurred after the death of Tzar Alexander I.
    • Officers aimed to establish a constitutional monarchy, focusing on modernization rather than abolishing the czar.
    • They were arrested or executed by the new Tzar, Nicholas I, who ruled from 1825 to 1855.

Nicholas I and Reactionary Policies

  • Known as the "prison warden of Europe" for harsh repression.
  • Reactionary Definition:
    • Enforces the old system with no desire for change.
    • Strong contrast to conservatism, which allows for gradual reforms.

Intellectual Climate in 19th Century Russia

  • Censorship and Socialism:

    • Radical ideas, whether liberal (John Locke) or socialist (Karl Marx), are suppressed; perceived as treason.
    • Liberalism focuses on human rights and the government’s responsibility to protect freedoms.

  • Diverging American Ideologies:

    • North (industrial, liberal) vs. South (agricultural, reactionary).
    • Expansion west raises questions about slave/free state status, eventually leading to civil war.

Nationalism and Revolution in Europe

  • Rise of national consciousness in multi-ethnic empires (Austria, Russia).
  • Industrialization spurs various social changes leading to different forms of socialism:
    • Christian Socialism: Focused on improving the plight of the poor.
    • Utopian Socialism: Visionary approaches to new social structures.

1848 Revolutions

  • Widespread revolts across Europe (Vienna, Berlin, Paris).

  • Monarchs promise reforms to quell unrest but revert to conservative policies afterward.

  • Result of social tensions between old aristocracy and rising middle/working classes.

  • Nationalism grows, especially in fragmented nations like Germany and Italy.

Emergence of Karl Marx and His Ideas

  • The Communist Manifesto (1848):
    • Marx declares history as class struggle; posits that social classes are in constant conflict.
    • Advocates for radical change; believes in the downfall of capitalism.
  • Key Phrase: "From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs."

Philosophical Underpinnings

  • Materialism and Scientism:
    • Materialism dismisses spiritual aspects of existence; focuses on the physical world and interactions.
    • Scientism implies unquestionable authority of science in social contexts.

Racialism and Social Darwinism

  • Advocates of social Darwinism argue that societal progress is akin to natural selection, which becomes a justification for class and racial inequalities.

Summary of Revolutionary Ideas

  • Locke vs. Hobbes:
    • Locke: Government based on consent and the protection of rights.
    • Continued Impact of the French Revolution:
      • Ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity challenged aristocratic privileges, leading to debates on women's rights (e.g., Olympe de Gouges).

Cultural Movements and Class Dynamics

  • Exploration of new social movements due to industrialization.
  • Majority of ideas about political and economic structures persist in a culture increasingly divided along class lines.