1. What have we learnt so far?Russian Revolution
“Russia is not a State, but a World”
Russian Proverb
2. History of Russia
Widespread 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
3. 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
4. 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%
5. The Tsars
Tsar Timefram
e
Significance
Ivan the
Terrible
Mid 1500’s
Autocratic 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’s
Conservatism 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”
7. 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
8. 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
