Russia, 1861-1905

Read Part I (pages 1 - 12) The Beginning of the End - 1861 - 1905.
Russia from the end of serfdom to the Russo-Japanese War of 1905.

1. List the general goals of the:
a. socialists
-hoped to create a classless society that would end the exploitation and suffering of the peasants and workers.
-dismantle the capitalist economic system by taking the "means of production" (land, factories...) from the owners and placing them in the hands of the state.

b. liberal reformers
-based on the ideas on Enlightenment
-believed that they could put in place wester constitutional practiced and the rule of law to solve Russia's problems and correct the injustices of the past.

2. List a few characteristics of serfs' lives.
-extremely harsh, lasted an average of thirty-five years
-lived in small, dark, dank cottages shared with farm animals
-lived in remote villages that lacked schools or communication with the rest of the world
-grouped together in communes

3. List four reforms of Tsar Alexander II.
-Liberation of Serfs in 1861, and a new system of land transference was established (serfs payed yearly mortgages)
-He introduced jury trials and relaxed censorship laws.
-He created local elected assemblies (zemstvos) to address local issues
-He made reforms to increase industrial production, build factories

4. Why did the populists go "to the people" in 1873-1874?
The populists didn't want to break up communes and didn't think that industrialization was good for Russia. They didn't want to compromise, they felt the only way to get what they wanted was to overthrow the government. They wanted to establish personal connections with the peasantry. Many of them were propagandists, convinced that they could persuade the simple folk to join the revolutionary cause.

5. List two consequences of the famine of 1891.
-Many communities staged small scale revolts and land seizures
-Half a million peasants died because of famine and disease during this time

6. Why was Karl Marx important to Russian intellectuals?
His ideas explained the social world systematically. He argued that through the efforts of the working class, a socialist, classless society would develop that would end exploitation and provide for all members of society.

7. What were the Goals and Methods of the following political groups in early twentieth century Russia? (see page 8 of the reading)
a. Liberal Democrats
-supported evolving to a more Western European system of government
-valued individual liberty and saw the role of the state as protecting the rights of citizens

b. Socialist Revolutionaries
-worked to gather the support of workers and peasants for revolutionary change in Russia
-very radical, supported terrorism
-intellectuals helping the peasants cause

c. Social Democrats
-Marxism
-believed that as Russia industrialized and became more capitalistic, it was starting to lean towards socialist activity focusing on the working class instead of the peasants
-eventually split into the Mensheviks and the Bolsheviks

8. How did Bloody Sunday change people's attitudes toward the Tsar?
It permanently altered the attitudes of the people toward the Tsar and his government. The views of the Tsar as a benevolent protector of the people was destroyed. People became angry.

9. List four reforms in Tsar Nicholas's October Manifesto.
-expansion of civil liberties
-a limited monarchy
-a legislature elected by universal suffrage
-legalization of trade unions and political parties