RECAP RUSSIA AS
CONTENT 1855-1881
, WHAT WAS MID 19TH CENTURY RUSSIA LIKE?
• 85% OF THE POPULATION WERE ILLITERATE PEASANTS- EITHER PRIVATE OR STATE
OWNED SERFS.
• VILLAGE ELDERS CONTINUED TO USE PRIMITIVE STRIP FARMING, FAR LESS
EFFICIENT THAN THE INCREASINGLY MECHANISED METHODS OF THE WEST.
• CLIMATE WAS DISPARATE AND AS SUCH, PRODUCTION & CULTIVATION WASN’T
GUARANTEED.
• THE TSAR RULED BY DIVINE RIGHT, HIS POPULATION WERE INDOCTRINATED BY THE
ORTHODOX CHURCH, OF WHICH HE WAS HEAD.
• HE ALSO SELECTED HIS OWN ADVISORS, MEANING HE WAS CONSTANTLY
UNQUESTIONED, AS HE CHOSE ONLY THOSE ENTIRELY IN SUPPORT OF HIS REGIME.
THIS SECURED THE ROMANOV DYNASTY.
, THE CRIMEAN WAR
• ON ALEXANDER’S ACCESSION TO THE THRONE, RUSSIA WAS IN IT’S LAST
STAGES OF THE DISASTROUS CRIMEAN WAR. RUSSIA HAD BEEN FIGHTING
THE FRENCH, TURKS AND BRITISH SINCE 1853.
• MAJOR DEFEATS INCLUDED THE BATTLE OF BALACLAVA, 1854 AND
SEBASTOPOL (NAVAL BASE) IN 1855.
• SERF CONSCRIPTION OF 25 YEARS PROVED INEFFECTIVE AND HIGHLIGHTE
RUSSIA’S BACKWARDNESS- IT LACKED TRANSPORT AND EQUIPMENT.
THIS FED INTO ALEXANDER’S LIBERAL BELIEFS. HIS DESIRE FOR REFORM WA
NOW CONFIRMED. EMANCIPATING THE SERFS WOULD (IN HIS MIND)
ALLEVIATE TENSIONS HEIGHTENED DURING THE CRIMEAN WAR.
CONTENT 1855-1881
, WHAT WAS MID 19TH CENTURY RUSSIA LIKE?
• 85% OF THE POPULATION WERE ILLITERATE PEASANTS- EITHER PRIVATE OR STATE
OWNED SERFS.
• VILLAGE ELDERS CONTINUED TO USE PRIMITIVE STRIP FARMING, FAR LESS
EFFICIENT THAN THE INCREASINGLY MECHANISED METHODS OF THE WEST.
• CLIMATE WAS DISPARATE AND AS SUCH, PRODUCTION & CULTIVATION WASN’T
GUARANTEED.
• THE TSAR RULED BY DIVINE RIGHT, HIS POPULATION WERE INDOCTRINATED BY THE
ORTHODOX CHURCH, OF WHICH HE WAS HEAD.
• HE ALSO SELECTED HIS OWN ADVISORS, MEANING HE WAS CONSTANTLY
UNQUESTIONED, AS HE CHOSE ONLY THOSE ENTIRELY IN SUPPORT OF HIS REGIME.
THIS SECURED THE ROMANOV DYNASTY.
, THE CRIMEAN WAR
• ON ALEXANDER’S ACCESSION TO THE THRONE, RUSSIA WAS IN IT’S LAST
STAGES OF THE DISASTROUS CRIMEAN WAR. RUSSIA HAD BEEN FIGHTING
THE FRENCH, TURKS AND BRITISH SINCE 1853.
• MAJOR DEFEATS INCLUDED THE BATTLE OF BALACLAVA, 1854 AND
SEBASTOPOL (NAVAL BASE) IN 1855.
• SERF CONSCRIPTION OF 25 YEARS PROVED INEFFECTIVE AND HIGHLIGHTE
RUSSIA’S BACKWARDNESS- IT LACKED TRANSPORT AND EQUIPMENT.
THIS FED INTO ALEXANDER’S LIBERAL BELIEFS. HIS DESIRE FOR REFORM WA
NOW CONFIRMED. EMANCIPATING THE SERFS WOULD (IN HIS MIND)
ALLEVIATE TENSIONS HEIGHTENED DURING THE CRIMEAN WAR.
