Sec Rev 1




Define:



a) Czar-The Russian leader.
b) abdicate-To resign as ruler.
c) autocrat-A ruler with unlimited power.
d) mir-Was a group of people that acted as a whole owning the land that was worked on. Surfs had a hard time leaving the mir.
e) zemstvo-A council of elected officals by Alexander II, set up to deal with local matters such as education and road maintenance.
f) nihilism-A way of being (from the latin word nihil meaning nothing.)
g) narodniki-Russian people that went among the pesants to teach them to read and to provide different services.
h) autocracy-A government where which the ruler has total power over everyone.

Identify:


a) St. Petersburg-Where women revolted againced the government about having bread. This happened dear the Neva River.
b) Nicholas II-Russian leader at the beguning of the Russian Revolution.
c) Romanov-Nick's family that had held the throne for more than three centuries.
d) Siberia-A bleak region of northeastern Russia that lies in Aisa.
e) Decembrists-Army officers who led the revolt in December 1825.
f) Nicholas I-Was another leader of Russia. He belived that surfdom was wrong but the support of the landlords was nessary to keep the serfs from revolting.
g) Alexander II-After nicholas I died his son Alexander II became the new leader of Russia. He accecpted the need for reforms and believed that it was better to offer reform than for the reform to come from below.
h) Alexander III-He believed in a government that would have total power. He rejected the reform, reduced the power of the zestvos, and put even stricter limits on what could be published.

Answers:


1) A) What group made up the largest share of Russia's population in the 1800's? The surfs
B) Describe their social and economic position. They did not have very many rights. compared to everyone else they were nothing and had to do what ever anyone in a higher position said. If the land was sold they would be counted as part of the land and sold as well.
2) What were the goals of the Decembrists? To make a constitution for Russia that allowed some of the rights of the werstern Europe.
3) A) What attitude did Nicholas I take toward reform? He was determined to fight the "revolutionary Spirit."
B) Toward freeing the serfs? He agreed that serfdom was wrong, but he believed that he need to suport of the landlords to prevent pesant revolts.
4) What reforms did Alexander II make? He issued a decree freeing the serfs.
5) A) How did the position of the peasants change after they were freed? They were not forced to do their jobs on the land as they were before.
B) How were their rights and freedom of movement still limited? Serfs were not allowed to leave the mir.
6) Describe Alexander III's policy of "autocracy, orthodoxy, and nationality." Anyone who questioned the absolute power of the czar, who worshiped outside of the Russian Orthodox Church, or who spoke a language other than Russian was regarded as dangerous.
7) A) By 1900, how did Russia compare economically with western Europe? They were almost equal to western Europe.
B) What economic changes were taking place in Russia? Money was being loned to bussiness. The czar also ordered tariffs to protect Russian products from foreign competition.
8) What opinion might each of the following people have expressed about Alexander II's reforms?
a) An old Decembrist. They would like his ideas and help out how ever they could.
b) a serf in one of the new mirs. They would be happy with his reforms because it gave them freedom.
c) a nihilist. They would not like it because they believe that the total government should be destroyed to make room for a new better govenment.
d) a narodnik. They would be ok with his reforms because they them selves are trying to reform Russia.