a. Socialists – The socialists hoped to create a classless society that would end the exploitation and suffering of the peasants and workers. This plan included the dismantling of the capitalist economic system by taking the “means of production” (land, factories, etc.) from the owners and placing them in the hands of the state.
b. Liberal Reformers – Liberal reformers believed that they could put in place western constitutional practices and the rule of law to solve Russia’s problems and correct the injustices of the past.
2. List three characteristics of serfs’ lives.
Serfs were mercilessly exploited by their landlords and had to pay rent to these landlords in the form of cash, produce, or labor. For most serfs, life was also extremely difficult and lasted only an average of 35 years. Serfs lived in small, dark, and dank cottages they shared with their animals. Lastly, Serfs were grouped together in communes. These communes typically consisted of between four and eighty households that worked together to farm the communal land.
3. List four reforms of Tsar Alexander II.
Tsar Alexander II and his government instituted several reforms. In 1861, Tsar Alexander II emancipated the serfs, and a new system of land transference was established. Additionally he instituted jury trials and relaxed censorship laws. The tsar also created local elected assemblies which were established to address issues such as road maintenance, irrigation, primary education, and taxation.
4. Why did the populists go “to the people” in 1873 -1874?
The populists went “to the people” in 1873 – 1874 because they desired to establish personal connections with the downtrodden peasantry. The populists, many of whom were propagandists, were convinced that they could persuade the “simple folk” to join the revolutionary cause.
5. List two consequences of the famine of 1891.
As a result of the famine of 1891, the government demonstrated that it could not handle the crisis by itself. Both the bureaucracy and the transport system proved not to be up to task. Another consequence was that hungry and discontented peasants became
increasingly bitter, and many peasant communities staged small-scale revolts and land seizures.
6. Why was Karl Marx important to Russian intellectuals?
To Russian intellectuals, Marx’s ideas were a means for transforming their society. Marx’s appeal among Russian intellectuals grew dramatically after the 1891 famine because his ideas seemed to offer explanation for the causes of the famine. Many intellectuals also believed Marx’s “European ideas” could help Russia become more like Europe.
7. What were the goals and methods of the following political groups in early twentieth-century Russia?
a. Liberal Democrats – This group consisted of liberals who supported evolving to a more Western European system of government. These liberals, who came largely from the middle class, valued individual liberty and saw the role of the state as protecting the rights of citizens.
b. Socialist Revolutionaries – Socialist Revolutionaries were intellectuals who saw themselves as leaders championing the peasants’ cause. They wanted two major changes: socializing all land and transferring it to the communes and replacing the monarchy with a democratic republic. To achieve their goals, this party engaged in political terrorism. This group often disagreed with the Marxist ideology.
c. Social Democrats – Social Democrats believed that as Russia industrialized and became more capitalistic, it was becoming more fertile ground for socialist activity focusing on the working class instead of the peasantry. They developed political ideology based on Marxism. In 1903, the party split into the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks.
8. How did Bloody Sunday change people’s attitudes toward the Tsar?
“Bloody Sunday” permanently altered the attitudes of the people toward the tsar and his government. The centuries-old view of the tsar as a benevolent protector of the people was destroyed after thousands of the tsar’s troops confronted demonstrators and fired on them.
9. List four reforms in Tsar Nicholas’s October Manifesto.
Freedom of the press, freedom of the assembly, and freedom of association were introduced in Russia. Also, for the first time in history, Russians could legally form political parties and labor unions. Finally, the tsar was to share power with a two-chamber legislature. Half the members of the upper house, the State Council, were to be appointed by the tsar and other half were to be elected by the nobility and clergy. The lower house, the State Duma, was to be comprised of elected representatives.
No comments:
Post a Comment