Question 1

Why was there discontent in Russia 1861-1914 and how was the discontent expressed?

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Start with the reasons for discontent:

• Gulf between rulers and rules for centuries
• All-powerful Tsar backed by orthodox Church and aristocracy
• Huge peasant population mainly serfs till 1861
• Peasants poor, legally and economically oppressed by nobles
• Small middle class in towns – no political power or social standing
• Social change increased discontent
• Land shortage by 1900 through growth of rural population
• Rapid industrialisation – appalling conditions in industrial towns
• Larger and better educated middle class less willing to tolerate its powerless situation

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Tsar Alexander II’s reign

• Reforms – serf emancipation, zemstvos, military and judicial
• But – emancipation meant serfs had to pay compensation
• Also – zemstvos local not national
• Later in reign Alexander became repressive – secret police and censorship
• Alexander assassinated

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Alexander III’s reign

• Russian society changing faster than at any time in history
• But – extreme conservatism following Alex II assassination

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Nicholas II’s reign

• Still conservative but less determination
• Aggressive expensive foreign policy
• Russo-Japanese War 1905 – defeated led to 1905 Revolution
• Tsar failed to learn the lessons
• Ignored Dumas 1906-14
• Aggressive foreign policy in Balkans
• Ruinous influence of Tsarina and Rasputin

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Expression of discontent

• Peasant risings
• ‘to the people’ student movement (1873)
• Liberal demands for reforms through the zemstvos
• Formation of Marist revolutionary parties eg Social Democrats
• Revolutionary terrorism (Social Revolutionaries)
• 1905 general strike and revolution