Detailed revision notes for the years in Russia for History A-level (part one: Trying to preserve democracy). These notes helped me get an A* for History A-level. Sourced from my class notes, AQA history textbooks and reliable online websites. These notes are all you need to get A* Russian History...
Russia in 1855
o Population:
Largest country + population in Europe- 70m.
Ethnically mixed- 50% Russian.
Largely rural- 4% towns/cities.
o Political: autocracy = rule by single person- legal + political power.
Church- Tsar regarded embodiment of God on earth/controlling Russian Orthodox Church.
Advisers/minsters chosen by Tsar.
Bureaucracy- orders passed down from central government to provinces- corruption/incompetence.
Army- pillar of autocracy- 1.4m 1855- largest in Europe.
• Higher ranks- prestigious posts for nobles.
• 1.5m serfs forced service of 25 years.
• Fought external threats + repress internally (not enough police to keep internal control).
• Military absorbed around 45% government expenditure annually.
Police state- prevented freedom of speech, political meetings + strikes.
• Secret state security network- 3rd section- unlimited powers-raids, arrests, imprisonment, exile.
o Society:
Pre-modern state- agrarian society, strict hierarchy- essentially ‘feudal’ (serfdom).
Noble’s dominant- 2%/peasants over 80%- ½ privately owned/rest were ‘state serfs’ (religious + hostile to
change).
o Economy:
Economically backward- agrarian economy- 96% national income from agriculture.
Agriculture + industry held back by social system.
• Serfdom meant immobile population + lack of education- prevented industrialisation.
• Nobles unwilling to invest in new industries + farming technology.
Lacked middle class to invest + working class for labour.
Inhospitable territory + climate limited economic progress.
o Religion:
Every peasant home had ‘Red corner’.
Controlled by the Tsar.
Pillar of autocracy- church taught obedience to Tsar.
How strong was autocracy?
☺ Large area- population 1859- 70m.
☺ Army- largest in Europe- 1.4m.
☺ Tsar- loyal nobles + military- believed would be rewarded.
☺ Serfdom ensured labour.
☺ Mir-provided security + equitable distribution of land.
☺ Russian Orthodox Christian- religious observance + taught obedience to Tsar- peasants were illiterate so relied
on info from church.
☺ No meaningful opposition groups (but some nobles- Westernisers- talked of desire to change)
Choice: reform or stick to status quo but risk vulnerability to invasion.
Contiguous- rebellions posed potential threat to motherland- greater use of repression/reason to try integrate.
Army:
Lack of training + modern equipment.
Lack of meritocracy- achieve position through status not ability.
Difficult to control different groups- anger due to wealth gap.
Hierarchy- nobility didn’t pay tax/small % were middle class.
Size- poor transport + communication.
Difficult to administer Empire from centre.
Under governed- Tsar reliant on provincial governors (nobility).
• Can’t afford to alienate nobles e.g. emancipation had to be carried out on noble’s terms.
Mir- inefficient allocation of land- time wasted moving between strips.
Peasants- growing number of uprisings- 1840-55 300 rebellions.
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