Intelligentsia

1 The history of Russia covers a wide variety of revolutionary activity, aimed at the toppling of the autocracy. For the most part, the early revolts were brought on by the common folk who lacked the necessary knowledge to implement reforms. In the early 19th century, however the direction changed as revolution began to come over noblemen after seeing the benefits brought about by the constitutions of other countries in Europe. Appropriately named after the unsuccessful uprising of December 14, 1825, these men entered the pages of history as the Decembrists. Although the Decembrist’s failed, it was nonetheless the first attempt in modern Russian history to stand up to the autocracy and fight for changes in how they were ruled. For the first time in Russia, there existed an influential group that held conception of Russian state as distinct and separate from the ruler and administrative institutions. Enthralled with the progressive ideas of Western Enlightenment, these men undertook the arduous task of dissolving the current regime and providing their country the opportunity to keep pace with other European powers. Socially, nineteenth century Russia developed along the lines very different from those of Western Europe. Russia began falling behind other European powers, with regards to the dominance of agriculture and enslavement of the peasantry, this is a stark contrast with the rise of the modern urban capitalistic state in the countries of Western Europe. The impact of the delayed progress was not as poignantly perceived until the War of 1812 and subsequent exposure to the Western culture saturated with sentiments of individual rights and freedoms and fashioned in the manner of a contemporary industrial state. During the victorious march of the troops across Europe, many of the Decembrists became acquainted with ideas of Enlightenment as well as a lifestyle devoid of autocratic repression and the institution of serfdom. Upon their return,