Russia: Empire, Nationalities, and Satellite States
Background and Definitions
• The Russian Empire changed in extent and composition over the period 1855 to 1964
• Expansionism and Russification led to an increase in Russia influence
• Wars and revolution often led to shrinkage in Empire
• Russian leaders either dealt with nationalist uprisings by force, or by making concessions
• Issues that hit Russia (public health concerns, famine, drought, punishment, repression)
usually applied to national minorities and satellite states too
National Minorities:
• Main minority groups came from Poland, Finland, the Caucasus, and Central Asia, and
the Baltic Provinces (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania)
• Russian Jews were also a minority group, although limited to the Pale Settlement
• Minorities were significant – they outnumbered the ‘Great Russians’ in the Empire
Satellite States:
• A country that is formally independent but under heavy political, economic, and military
influence or control from another country
• Soviet satellite states were Poland, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, East
Germany, Yugoslavia, and Albania
Russification:
• Russification – the process whereby non-Russian regions were drawn more securely into
the framework of the Empire/USSR
o This involved administrative integration and imposition of Russia language, education
system, religion, and culture
o This policy was abolished under the Communists who believed nations should develop
in their own way
o However, in the long run, they assumed all nations would give way to the international
proletarian republic
55
, Political Freedoms – Government, Constitution, Independence
Ruler Positive Changes Negative Changes
• War Minister Milyutin wanted polish gentry
• Alex liked the Finns and granted them
Alex II and officials to be purged (believed they had
their own parliament, as well as
(1855 – lost support and control). Russian officials
providing them with some leniency
1881) were brought in to carry out administration
regarding policies
and governance at grassroot levels
• Jews were totally stripped of their
independence under Alex III – laws placed
heavy restrictions on them
• Russian troops and officials ran Poland – this
Alex III led to increased opposition from nationalists
(1881 – (known as Proletariat) – it was discovered in
1894) 1885 and leaders were executed
• Socialist leader Pilsudski was exiled to Siberia
in 1887
• Alex attacked the administration and judicial
systems of the Baltic States
• After the 1907 electoral law, Asian Muslim
representation was disallowed
• Jews accused of murder of boy Andrei
Yustshinsky – anti-Jewish pamphlets spread
• The All-Russian Muslim League
– considered fashionable amongst elites and
Nicholas II appeared and gained representation in
officials who became further anti-Semitic
(1894 – the first Duma (although after 1907)
• 37 right-wing Duma deputies including
1917) • Poles, Armenians, Jews, Georgians, and
priests sign petition to bring justice to
others were elected to the Duma
‘criminal sect of Jews’ – trial of Beiliss
found he was guilty (even though he was
innocent) – corruption of attorneys, judges,
politicians, doctors etc.
• The PG failed to maintain authority
over the empire because it focused to
much on political, social, and economic
issues in Petrograd and Moscow –
• However, it didn’t call for complete
therefore Russification (which
Provisional autonomy – it set up a Special Committee to
effectively died with the Tsar) and
Government handle relations with the Trans-Caucasus
repression to the degree of Tsarist
region after national uprisings took place
leaders lessened
• However, local soviets were formed in
Estonia and Latvia which undermined
these committees
• However, he banned all other parties (one-
Lenin • Communist constitutions appeared to
party state) and quashed threats to his
(1917 – be more sensitive to Muslim
power, leading to increased suppression of
1924) populations
minorities
56
Background and Definitions
• The Russian Empire changed in extent and composition over the period 1855 to 1964
• Expansionism and Russification led to an increase in Russia influence
• Wars and revolution often led to shrinkage in Empire
• Russian leaders either dealt with nationalist uprisings by force, or by making concessions
• Issues that hit Russia (public health concerns, famine, drought, punishment, repression)
usually applied to national minorities and satellite states too
National Minorities:
• Main minority groups came from Poland, Finland, the Caucasus, and Central Asia, and
the Baltic Provinces (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania)
• Russian Jews were also a minority group, although limited to the Pale Settlement
• Minorities were significant – they outnumbered the ‘Great Russians’ in the Empire
Satellite States:
• A country that is formally independent but under heavy political, economic, and military
influence or control from another country
• Soviet satellite states were Poland, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, East
Germany, Yugoslavia, and Albania
Russification:
• Russification – the process whereby non-Russian regions were drawn more securely into
the framework of the Empire/USSR
o This involved administrative integration and imposition of Russia language, education
system, religion, and culture
o This policy was abolished under the Communists who believed nations should develop
in their own way
o However, in the long run, they assumed all nations would give way to the international
proletarian republic
55
, Political Freedoms – Government, Constitution, Independence
Ruler Positive Changes Negative Changes
• War Minister Milyutin wanted polish gentry
• Alex liked the Finns and granted them
Alex II and officials to be purged (believed they had
their own parliament, as well as
(1855 – lost support and control). Russian officials
providing them with some leniency
1881) were brought in to carry out administration
regarding policies
and governance at grassroot levels
• Jews were totally stripped of their
independence under Alex III – laws placed
heavy restrictions on them
• Russian troops and officials ran Poland – this
Alex III led to increased opposition from nationalists
(1881 – (known as Proletariat) – it was discovered in
1894) 1885 and leaders were executed
• Socialist leader Pilsudski was exiled to Siberia
in 1887
• Alex attacked the administration and judicial
systems of the Baltic States
• After the 1907 electoral law, Asian Muslim
representation was disallowed
• Jews accused of murder of boy Andrei
Yustshinsky – anti-Jewish pamphlets spread
• The All-Russian Muslim League
– considered fashionable amongst elites and
Nicholas II appeared and gained representation in
officials who became further anti-Semitic
(1894 – the first Duma (although after 1907)
• 37 right-wing Duma deputies including
1917) • Poles, Armenians, Jews, Georgians, and
priests sign petition to bring justice to
others were elected to the Duma
‘criminal sect of Jews’ – trial of Beiliss
found he was guilty (even though he was
innocent) – corruption of attorneys, judges,
politicians, doctors etc.
• The PG failed to maintain authority
over the empire because it focused to
much on political, social, and economic
issues in Petrograd and Moscow –
• However, it didn’t call for complete
therefore Russification (which
Provisional autonomy – it set up a Special Committee to
effectively died with the Tsar) and
Government handle relations with the Trans-Caucasus
repression to the degree of Tsarist
region after national uprisings took place
leaders lessened
• However, local soviets were formed in
Estonia and Latvia which undermined
these committees
• However, he banned all other parties (one-
Lenin • Communist constitutions appeared to
party state) and quashed threats to his
(1917 – be more sensitive to Muslim
power, leading to increased suppression of
1924) populations
minorities
56
