Russian Revolutions Flashcards
Great Schism
Division of western and eastern church
Eastern church believed that the pope should not have all this religious power because Christianity is for all
Romanoff Family
Peter the Great tied European concepts into Russia, really got things started
Takes part in a feudal system
Alexander II
Came to the throne in 1855-Crimean War
Liberals demanded changes and students demonstrated reform
Was a little bit of a reformer himself
1861- issued royal decree that emancipated surfs
Emancipation proved to be problematic because the serfs could not afford to but land to live off of
Many surfs then migrated to the city, where they slowly began Russian industrialization
Alexander II issued concepts that did not follow the traditional rule and it was different than what was in place for centuries
He challenged the feudal system
Associated by upset royalties
Crimean War
Russia, British, French, and Ottoman Turks
Russia wanted to “protect” the Orthodox subjects under the Ottoman Sultan
Russia had conflict with France regarding privileges of Russian orthodox vs. Roman Catholics in holy places like Palestine
Impact of Crimean War
Russia suffered a defeat
France, British, and Ottoman Turks were successful with the alliance of Austria
Alexander II realized that Russia needed to improve to compete with other European Powers, and he used westernization and industrial reformations to build Russia into a leading power
Austria would become dependent of Britain, France, and Germany, and then the lost conflicts with Italy and Germany, leading to unifications
Alexander III
Son of Alexander II, took over after he died
Hated all reforms and clung to autocracy (absolute power in a monarchy sense)
Anyone who questioned the Czar, worshiped outside of the Russian Orthodox Church, or spoke another language was labeled as dangerous
Alexander III censored public materials, teachers, and students
He forbade minority languages and targeted the Jews
Died of kidney inflammation in 1894
His son, Nicholas II took over
Move Towards Industrialization
Russia took its place as an integral art of the world economic system
European trade an economics entered Russia and circulated
Both Europe and U.S invested $4 Billion each towards Russian industry
Russia also adopted the gold standard to allow for easy exchange in currency
In the quarter century from 1888-1913…..
Russian Railway mileage more than doubled
The miles of telegraph wires multiplied fivefold
The number of post offices tripled
The number of letters carried by mail multiplied 7 times
Exports rose from 400 million rubles to 1.6 billion
After the revolution, the Soviet Union conducted less foreign trade
Nicholas II Early Life
Witnessed assignation of Alexander II (grandfather) when he was young
Raised on three concepts: The Russian Orthodox Church, The Czar, and Russia
Tsar was considered one step from God
Romanov Family Rule
Romanov land was 1/6 of the globe at one point
Russia was a nation of extremes: race, wealth, religion
Big disparity between those with and without money
Nicholas II Early life
Lived a luxurious life, traveling, attending up to 20 weddings a month
Once fell in love with a Russian Ballerina
Sent on a world tour at the age of 21 to Europe, Africa, and Asia
In Japan, he experienced some violence against him, but he did not hold any grudges against the people
Visited the town that his family would later be executed in
The Love Story of Alexandra and Nicholas II
1884: 12 year old Alix and 16 year old Nicholas II at the wedding of his sister with his uncle
Nicholas wrote in his diary that he was in love with Alix from that night on
He proposed 10 years later
Death of Alexander III
October 1894, Alexander III falls ill
On his death bed, Nicholas II is accounted by his sister of saying he is not fit to rule
Talks to his uncle about how he “is not ready to be Czar” and “I never wanted to become one”-Nicholas
Nicholas is 26 at the time
Coronation day Catastrophe
May 14th 1896
Large celebration for Nicholas II and Alexandra
Dignitaries from all over the land came
Nearly 50,000 people gathered outside to get food and celebratory mugs
The Czar was not prepared for that many people to show up
Meaning: Not enough mugs (coronation gift with gold cons inside that would bring good fortune and food), or food
Over 1300 people died in their pursuit of these mugs and food
Aftermath of the coronation
Most were unaware of tragedy in attendance, nd many celebrated Nicholas II as he arrived
One of the most expensive coronations in history
Nicholas II gained the title “ Nicholas the Bloody” after the people learned of what happened
That night, they attended a dinner at the French embassy concerned that French leaders might be offended
Example of how Nicholas II was misguided and mislead at the time
Became known as the Khodynka tragedy
Reforms of Alexander II and Alexander III
Russia is just behind everyone in the industrial front
Crimea and Ukraine are territories that have been Russian “hands” for a long time
Crimean War did not go well for Russia and Crimea
