Download RUSSIA – A BACKGROUND

RUSSIA BEFORE THE
REVOLUTION
Russia was…..
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Only 40% ethnic Russians
80% were peasants – subsistence farmers
60%+ = illiterate
Life expectancy = 40
Low tech and low investment
Land ownership rare
Peasants
• Peasants could not leave the farm without
permission
• Discipline and punishments harsh – even to
exile in Siberia
• Drought and crop failure common
• 1891 = famine + cholera and typhus = 400,000
dead
• 1890 – 64 % of peasants called up for military
service were declared unfit.
Industrial and Urban
• Number of factories doubled from 1863-1900
– Still behind western Europe
• Russia was 4th largest steel producer
• Tran-Siberian Railway built
• However, industrialization brings problems with
living/working conditions, low wages, and child labor
• Trade unions banned but some strikes took place
• Marxism becomes popular  Power of the Proletariat
SOCIAL
Major Russian Rulers
Ivan
the Terrible
1553 - 1584 •First czar of Russia
Michael
Romanov
1613 - 1645 •First of Romanov Dynasty, which rules for
300 years
Peter
the Great
1682 - 1725 •One of Russia’s greatest reformers
•Tried to westernize
Catherine
the Great
1762 - 1796 •Enlightened Despot – Philosophe’s fave
•Expanded Empire
•Tried to reform laws
Nicholas I
1825-1855
•Lost the Crimean War
•Married daughter of Prussia’s Wilhelm I
Alexander II
1855-1881
•Sold Alaska to US
•Assassinated
Alexander III
1881-1894
•Institutes autocratic rule, Russification,
pogroms
Nicholas II
1894-1917
•Last Czar of Russia
Political Issues - Alexander III
• Clung to autocracy
• “Dangerous” people
– anyone who questioned his
authority
– wasn’t Russian Orthodox
– or didn’t speak Russian
• Used harsh measures to wipe out
“dangerous” people
– Strict censorship
– reports from all teachers
– pogroms
• At best, would be exiled to Siberia
The Russian Revolution
The Romanovs
• From 1613 to 1917
– Romanov Dynasty in Russia
• Czar Nicholas II ruled Russia during World
War I
– He failed to solve Russia’s political, social and
economic problems after the Revolution of
1905
• Two revolutions would topple the Romanov
Dynasty
Political Issues – Nicholas II
• autocratic & ineffective
• Ruler of 1/6 of earth’s
total land surface
• Backed by an army of 1
million and secret police
• More interested in his
family and hobbies than
ruling
• Out of touch
• Had massive personal
wealth
Richest King EVER
• Nicky’s wealth was valued at up
to US$ 881 million in 1916,
– Adjusted for inflation, equals more
than US$300 billion in today's
money.
• Wealthiest monarch and head of
state in history
– Usually ranked somewhere
between #1-5 richest person ever
– #12 Bill Gates –$136 Billion
– #24 Sam Walton –$65 Billion
Faberge Eggs
The Romanovs
Tsar Nicholas II
Alexandra
Tatiana
Marie
Olga
Alexei
Anastasia
Czar Nicholas II and his Family
Czar Nicholas II and his Family
The Romanov
children
Tsarevich Alexei
Hemophilia
•Caused by a single, recessive allele.
•This allele codes for a blood-clotting
protein. If the protein is defective, then
the blood does not clot properly.
•Untreated, victims often die in
childhood or teen years, rarely live to
adulthood.
Grigory Rasputin
Poet. Magician. Healer. Prophet. Holy Monk.
• Peasant from Siberia
• At 18, joined monastery to
turn life around
• Mystic & healer
• Trusted advisor to
Romanovs
• Favorite of Czarina
Alexandra
• Hated by the public