Russian Autocracy in 1855 Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Russian Autocracy in 1855 Deck (32)
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1
Q

Why was Russia seen as an Autocratic Empire in the 19th Century?

A

There was one Tsar at the head of state who took the title of ‘Emperor and Autocrat of all of Russia.’

2
Q

What religion dominated Russia at this time?

A

The Russian Orthodox Church.

3
Q

How many people of the many ethnic groups living in Russia at this time were actually Russian?

A

Less than half, estimated 69 million people.

4
Q

How many ranks made up the Council of Ministers?

A

14.

14 being the lowest rank

5
Q

What would members of rank 14 in the Council of Ministers be responsible for?

A

collecting taxes, running a provincial post office etc.

6
Q

What were the members of the Council of Ministers also known as?

A

the Bureaucracy

7
Q

How many ‘conscripted serfs’ made up the Tsar’s army?

A

1.5 million

8
Q

How many years were ‘conscripted serfs’ forced to serve

A

25 years

9
Q

Where did the ‘conscripted serfs’ live?

A

a military colony

10
Q

How much of the government’s annual spending was absorbed by the army? (percentage)

A

45%

11
Q

Explain the term, Cossacks

A
A specially skilled military class serving the Tsar.
 Cossacks often came from Ukraine or Southern Russia.
12
Q

Russia at this point could be described as a police state, explain what this means.

A

the activities of the people are closely monitored and controlled for political reasons.

13
Q

What was the effect of the French Revolution of Tsar Alexander I?

A

He considered setting up an advisory representative assembly but failed to do so.

14
Q

How did Nicholas I react to his father’s plans of setting up an advisory representative assembly?

A

He rejected the idea completely

15
Q

What date was the military uprising against Nicholas I?

A

December 1825

16
Q

How did Nicholas I react to the military uprising against him in Dec. 1825?

A

he followed a path of regression and sought to distance Russia from the west and the influence of the French Revolution.

17
Q

What name was given to the secret police at this point in Russian history?

A

The Third Section.

18
Q

What year did Alexander II come to the throne?

A

1855

19
Q

How did the serf-based economy hinder progress?

A

inhibited economic development and limited the forces that drive change.

20
Q

Was money relevant to serfs at this point in time?

A

Hardly, there was no internal market demand.

21
Q

What was the landowning elite?

A

those who owned land and who were a privileged minority in Russian society.

22
Q

How was Russian society divided?

A

divided between the privileged land-owning elite and the serf majority, the former (clergy, nobility, military etc) and the royal court.

23
Q

After Russians, what was the second biggest ethnic group in Russia?

A

Ukrainians.

24
Q

What years were the Crimean war?

A

1853-56

25
Q

What date did Nicholas send a Russian army to Moldavia & Wallachia?

A

June 1853

26
Q

How did the Turks react to Nicholas’ army in 1853?

A

They declared war in October 1853

27
Q

What made Russia unsuccessful in the Crimea war?

A

Backwards technology, outbreak of cholera increased death rates, poor transport, inadequate leadership.

28
Q

Where/When were the Russian’s defeated in the Crimea war?

A

Balaclava, Oct 1854 & Inkerman Nov, 1854.

29
Q

When did Nicholas I die?

A

March 1855

30
Q

What were the direct effects of Russia’s failure in the Crimea war?

A

Trade was disrupted, peasant uprisings

31
Q

What year was the Treaty of Paris agreed?

A

1856

32
Q

What were the conditions of the Treaty of Paris?

A

humiliatingly, Russia warships were banned from using the Black Sea in times of peace.