The document summarizes Russian history from Catherine the Great's rule in the late 18th century through the reign of Nicholas II in the early 20th century. It describes Russia's harsh climate and serf-based agricultural system. It notes key events like Catherine expanding Russia's territory, Alexander II abolishing serfdom but not providing land for freed serfs, and Alexander III and Nicholas II cracking down on dissent through censorship, persecution, and pogroms against threatening groups. Napoleon's 1812 invasion of Russia is also summarized, where the Russian winter and scorched earth tactics helped defeat the French armies.

1. Russian Revolution

2. Russia
• Harsh climate
• Limited growing conditions

4. • Most of the population were serfs
• They were impatient with their way of life and
wanted a change

5. Russian Imperialism
• Catherine the Great
– German princess who married a German heir to
the Russian throne
– He died and Catherine became the ruler of Russia
– Expanded Russia

8. • Catherine made it legal to sell serfs separate
from the land
• Peasants revolted and nearly made it to
Moscow

9. • Alexander I became czar when Catherine died
– Continued Russia’s expansion

10. Decembrist Revolt
• Nicholas I came to power in the middle of a
revolt
• People wanted to replace him with his brother
and establish a constitutional monarchy
• Nicholas quickly put down this revolt

12. Alexander II
• Abolished serfdom and freed 23 million
people
• Freed people didn’t get land
– Had to pay a huge tax to keep farming the land
– This tax went to the nobles
– The land they could farm was the least productive

14. • Ending serfdom did little to improve the lives
of million of Russians

15. Alexander III
• Censored the press and persecuted many
groups
• Used pogroms to terrorize those considered a
threat
• His son, Nicholas II continued these programs

19. Napoleon and Russia
• Napoleon and Russia were in an alliance
• Napoleon invades Russia in June 1812

20. • Russians refused to engage and pulled the
French deep into Russia
• The winter was coming and Napoleon decided
to retreat
• That’s when Russia attacked

21. • Serfs demanded major reforms that would
free them because they had helped with the
defeat of Napoleon
• Little reform was made