The Decembrist Revolution
December 14th, 1825, a date Russia experienced its “first liberal revolution”. After the death of Tsar, Alexander I, intellectuals and former military men, revolutionaries known as the Decembrists attempted to overthrow the recent established reign of Nicholas I. This was the first attempt at overthrowing the absolute royal power in modern Russian history. Unfortunately for these men, the attempts failed and the revolt was suppressed by Nicholas I’s army, leading to deaths, arrests, the execution of five of its leaders, and the exile of more than one hundred men to Siberia. Divided into secret societies throughout the Russian Empire, the northern society led by Sergei Trubetskoy, and the southern society, led by Paul Pestel; the Decembrists had one main philosophy, fight for the complete abolition of serfdom, the only way to drive Russia’s economic and social progress. In regard to the Decembrist revolution of 1825, this paper will argue that although these revolutionaries weren’t successful in achieving their goal of overthrowing autocratic rule in Russia, their ambitions and beliefs towards socio-political national reforms; based on liberal and egalitarian western ideals towards the creation of a modern capitalist society along with national prosperity were not in vain. Although their failure was due mostly in part the failed unity between its societies, the Decembrist revolution and mentality stimulated political agitation and opened way for future revolutionary activities in the Russian empire. In order to understand the Decembrists mentality, it is important to understand the political and economic climate of the Russian empire in the early 19th century. Tsar Alexander I rose to power in 1801 with a motivation to end serfdom and drive political reform. Unfortunately, the young Tsar was not able to commit to his priorities. Although there was the implementation of laws which prohibited the sale of serfs in open markets, in reality; “a few bills were passed
Bibliography: Masour, Anatole Gregory, “The First Russian Revolution 1825, the Decembrist Movement”, Stanford University Press, 1937. Zetlin, Mikhail Osipovich, “The Decembrists”, International Universities Press, New York, 1958.