What have we learnt so far? Russian Revolution

“Russia is not a State, but a World” Russian Proverb

History of RussiaWidespread discontent

Tsarist rule Autocratic

Nicholas the II Tensions between different nationalist groups

Orthodox church System of Serfdom System of privilege

Varied state in every sense Geography

Industrialisation of the 1890’s created a new working class of peasants moving to the city.

Poor working conditions Severe overcrowding in cities

Job losses Despite censorship - Marxism and marxist

ideologies started to seep into Russia Ideas of rebellion and revolution began to

emerge. Power at a central level was sometimes weak and poorly organised leading to abuse of power at a

local level.

Build up to 1905

Social Classes - Quickly growing population (largest population in all of Europe) -Included many different ethnicities.

Ruling Class - 0.5% Upper Class - 12%

Commercial Class - 1.5% Working Class - 4%

Peasants - 82%

The Tsars Tsar Timefram

eSignificance

Ivan the Terrible

Mid 1500’sAutocratic practices

Connection between church and state

Michael Romanov

Late 1500’s early 1600’s

Beginning of the Romanov dynasty

Peter the Great 1600’s- 1700’s Period of Westernisation and Modernisation

Catherine the Great

1700’s- 1800’s Foreign wars and Imperial expansion

Nicholas I 1800’sConservatism and authority - censorship, obedience,

service

Nicholas II

Late 1800’s early 1900’s

Over 1000 people killed in a surging crowd at his coronation. Thought himself to be ill-fated and

inadequate to be Tsar. “Weakness of Will”

Nicholas the II

Tsarist Political Structures Based on theory of absolute authority

divinely appointed by God Unlimited executive, legislative and judicial power

Tsar’s word was law - not to be questioned Would traditionally be cherished and revered by the masses who viewed their ruler as their ‘Little

Father’ Other western nations had incorporated representative or democratic government Russia was at odds with this/traditional

Holiday Homework (on wiki and blog)

*Read the next reading - Term 2, week 11 *Write - Fill in the table for your summarising *Watch - Youtube clip on the Russian Revolution