The Russian Autocracy 1855

Question 1

What is meant my localism

Answer 1

Loyalty to the local community or a local area.

Question 2

What is autocratic

Answer 2

Autocracy means having no limits on a rulers power such as rule was called a autocrat

Question 3

When years did Alexander the second rule Russia

Answer 3

1855-1881

Question 4

What problems did Alexander || face in 1855 Russia? (7)

Answer 4

1. Religion- tsar needed the church for funding and to support his moral image
2. The tsar couldn’t change problems in the country without changing everything. For example the social issues- 82% were peasants and they couldn’t be changed until the industry Improved and produced more industrial products.
3. Size of the industry meant it was hard to transport goods
   4 the cold climate meant that cold areas of Russia can’t produce goods
   5 the large amount of nationalities meant the tsar was confused who he was representing.
4. The industry had 400 years of catching up
5. All the different nationalities made it had to communicate to improve the industry

Question 5

Who was Robert service and what where his views on the idea of localism

Answer 5

Robert service was a well represented modern historian who painted a picture of tsarist Russia. He believed strongly in localism of Russia which meant loyalty to the local community or local areas.

Question 6

What is believed to be the role of the tsar

Answer 6

Emperor and autocrat of all Russia. Regarded by the Orthodox Church “God on earth”

Question 7

What where the potential areas for success in the Russia economy

Answer 7

They possessed vast amounts of timber, coal, oils, gold and other precious metals

Question 8

What where problems from the Russia economy in 1855

Answer 8

Rural economy
Other countries eg Britain and France where we’ll advanced industrially
Climate placed strains on economic development
Communication between the empire was poor
Little opportunity to develop into wage earners

Question 9

What is serfdom

Answer 9

Russian peasants. Classified as the property of their owners rather than as citizens, they could be bought and sold, Beaten and not allowed to marry without permission. They worked on village communes run by strict rule. Money was irrelevant, they where regarded in kindness.

Question 10

Who are the edicts

Answer 10

The law of the land. All edicts where chosen by the tsar

Question 11

Despite all the problems in 1855 why where Russia still considered a super power

Answer 11

As they had the biggest empire.

Question 12

What was the class distribution of the Russian population in 1855

Answer 12

82% serfs 
4% working class
1.5% commercial class (factory workers) 
12% upper class 
0.5% ruling class

Question 13

How many calories where produced per male in agricultural worker in Russia compared to Belgium

Answer 13

Russia - 7.5 million
Belgium - 11.0 million

Showing how behind they where industrially

Question 14

Why might the many nationalities in Russia be a problem to Russia

Answer 14

The many different nationalities show how the tsar had to try appease and provide for many different cultures and languages.

The fact that the orthodox dominated in the east and the Christian beliefs dominated in the west Made it harder for the tsar have an influence over the Christians.

Question 15

Outline the political problems in 1855 Russia. (4)

Answer 15

1. High percentage of nationalities made it difficult to make rules to suit everyone
2. One ruler means rules maybe imposed that are not necessarily right for Russia
3. If they tsar doesn’t want to trade with one county then they can’t - affecting trading
4. 0.5 % bourgeoisie are the only ones who have chance to change social structures but won’t find it necessary as it doesn’t affect them

Question 16

What where the social issues in 1855 Russia (4)

Answer 16

1. The cold climate made it hard to produce food leaving a high percentage of serfs starving causing a social split between the rich and the poor
2. Only one tsar so freedom of speech was banned
3. 0.5% ruling class meant that not all nationalities where represented in that percentage
4. Orthodox Church and Christian church cause a social split

Question 17

What where Economic issues in 1855 Russia

Answer 17

1. 82% peasants no strive to achieve a better economy. There skills were low and it was hard to make improvements
2. Cold climates make it hard o reproduce food meaning they can’t sell the food and the economy can’t make money through farming.
3. Fell behind every other county when it came to having cotton, raw, coal and steam power. His made their image weaker and meant they had to buy products from other countries and folk out money to produce for their huge population.
4. Serfdom prevented economic growth
5. 2/3 of the land were inhabitable
6. No form of transport - hard to trade
7. State of economy can’t be improved because the elites are happy with there social position

Question 18

What was the patriarch of Moscow

Answer 18

Worked in close harmony with the tsar and provided spiritual guidance

Question 19

What were the “over procurator of the holy synod”

Answer 19

Created in 1971- government ministers appointed by the tsar to run church affairs

Question 20

What made up the main advisory body and what was it known as

Answer 20

Imperial council

35-60 nobles chosen by the tsar and they advised him personally and provided their expert opinion

Question 21

Who were the council of ministers

Answer 21

8-14 ministers in charge of different government departments

Question 22

Who made up the bureaucracy

Answer 22

Civil servants
Selected from a “table of ranks”
14 levels
Rank 1- members of the council ministers
Rank 14- minor state positions eg- collecting tax
No position for suggestions to travel upwards

Question 23

How many conscripted serfs were there

How much did the government spend on the army

Answer 23

1.5 million - made to serve for 25 years and live in military colony

45% of government spending

Question 24

Who were the Cossacks

Answer 24

Personal body guard to the tsar

Question 25

What was censorship like

Answer 25

No freedom of speech, freedom of the press and no travelling abroad
Political meetings and strikes were forbidden

Question 26

Who ran the secret state security

What did they have the power to do

Answer 26

The third section of the emperors imperial council.

Carry out raids, arrest and imprison or exile anyone showing anti- tsarist behaviour

Question 27

What were the two types of serfs

Answer 27

A little over half were privately owned- 30% of them paid rent and 70% provided labour
Others were state serfs who paid tax and rent

Question 28

What was the most common purchase for serfs

Answer 28

Vodka, metal tools and salt

Question 29

Why might the economy of been failing due to serfdom

Answer 29

No opportunity for capital accumulation and income was falling due to no rural population growth and the agricultural changes in Western Europe that increased the competitiveness and productivity of the European markets

Question 30

What was society missing

Answer 30

A middle class

Question 31

What kind of taxes were paid by society 1855

Answer 31

Main= poll tax ‘tax on heads’ introduced 1719 to cover the costs of the army made up 25% of Russian income
Indirect tax including tax on vodka and salt - 30% of the government income in 1855
Taxes hit peasants hard who with the urban workers and tradesman provided 90% of the imperial finance