Late 19th Century Russia

1
Late 19th Century Russia
2
The Reign of Alexander II

• Serfdom is abolished.
• Why? A) Serfs- threats of revolt
• B) Forced to fight in wars
• (ineffective)
• C) Every other country had
  already done so (not Brazil or U.S.)
• Emancipation- ineffective as they were not given
  land, and many fell into debt.

3
Legal Reforms

• Equality before the law for all
• Trials by juries
• Tsars could reduce/ maximize sentences.
• Some imperfections, but much more efficient.

4
Military Reforms

• Lowered soldier service from 25-15 yrs.
• All Russian men 20, had to serve either 6 years
  of active duty, or 9 years of reserve duty.

5
Poland

• Poland nationalists attempted to overthrow
  Russian dominance.
• Unsuccessful.

6
Alexander Herzen

• Exiled to Britain.
• Wrote The Bell- reformist positions

7
Populism

• Sought a social Revolution based on communal life.

8
Land and Freedom

• Radical society

9
Vera Zasulich

• Radical who shot the Governor of St. Petersburg.
• Acquitted at trial because he was a bad man.
• This encouraged more terrorist activity.

10
Peoples Will

• Radical Group dedicated to overthrow the
  autocracy.

11
The Death of Alexander II

• Bombed by a member of the Peoples Will.

12
Unchanging Autocratic Monarchs

• Alexander III
• Nicholas II
• The resistance to change leads ultimately to the
  Russian Revolution of the late 1910s.