The Russian Revolution of 1905
‘The Russian Revolution of 1905 was a result of social and economic modernisation thwarted by a reactionary regime.’ Discuss.
The Russian Revolution of 1905, while it ultimately failed to overthrow the Tzarist regime, was said by several people, including Lenin, to be a ‘dress rehearsal’ for the Russian Revolution of 1917. Russia was an autocratic country ruled by an autocratic Tzar, where the Tzar ruled as he wished and was supported by the privileged nobles, who owned land and serfs. The distinction between the poor and the wealthy was great, and despite the attempts by Alexander II to modernize Russia by introducing reforms, the reforms ultimately acerbated the situation. This paper will identify several social and economic modernisations that were attempted and thwarted by a reactionary regime, as well as other causes that led to the Russian Revolution of 1905.
Alexander II, also known to as the Tzar-Liberator for his many reforms in Russia, began his reign in 1855 when Russia was defeated in the Crimean War. He thought that the main reason for Russian defeat was her backward social and economic system, and tried to strengthen the dynasty by introducing reforms to modernize the archaic institutions of Russia. His intentions were good, and had they been carried out properly would have made Russia stronger socially and economically. Among the reforms he introduced was the Emancipation Edict of 1861, where serfs were liberated and granted a portion of the nobles’ estates, and in return the peasants were to pay an annual sum to the government for 49 years, where at the end of this period the land would become their property. This Emancipation Edict was among the first social and economic modernisations attempted by Alexander II. In principle, this would have improved the social and economic situation of the people as they could now become small property owners and full citizens, and could participate fully in political life and in the market economy
The Russian Revolution of 1905, while it ultimately failed to overthrow the Tzarist regime, was said by several people, including Lenin, to be a ‘dress rehearsal’ for the Russian Revolution of 1917. Russia was an autocratic country ruled by an autocratic Tzar, where the Tzar ruled as he wished and was supported by the privileged nobles, who owned land and serfs. The distinction between the poor and the wealthy was great, and despite the attempts by Alexander II to modernize Russia by introducing reforms, the reforms ultimately acerbated the situation. This paper will identify several social and economic modernisations that were attempted and thwarted by a reactionary regime, as well as other causes that led to the Russian Revolution of 1905.
Alexander II, also known to as the Tzar-Liberator for his many reforms in Russia, began his reign in 1855 when Russia was defeated in the Crimean War. He thought that the main reason for Russian defeat was her backward social and economic system, and tried to strengthen the dynasty by introducing reforms to modernize the archaic institutions of Russia. His intentions were good, and had they been carried out properly would have made Russia stronger socially and economically. Among the reforms he introduced was the Emancipation Edict of 1861, where serfs were liberated and granted a portion of the nobles’ estates, and in return the peasants were to pay an annual sum to the government for 49 years, where at the end of this period the land would become their property. This Emancipation Edict was among the first social and economic modernisations attempted by Alexander II. In principle, this would have improved the social and economic situation of the people as they could now become small property owners and full citizens, and could participate fully in political life and in the market economy
References: EmersonKent.com (2011). How to take power from a Tsar [online]. Available at: http://www.emersonkent.com/wars_and_battles_in_history/russian_revolution_of_1905.htm [Accessed 14th December 2011]. Hosking, G. (1998). Russia: People & Empire, 1552 – 1917. Great Britain: Fontana Press. OracleThinkQuest (2010). Events that led up to the revolution [online]. Available at: http://library.thinkquest.org/C0112205/leadingevents.html [Accessed 14th December 2011]. Polunov, A. (2005). Russia in The Nineteenth Century: Autocracy, Reform and Social Change, 1814 – 1914. New York: M. E. Sharpe, Inc. TheCorner (2007). The Russian Revolution of 1905 [online]. Available at: http://www.funfront.net/hist/russia/revo1905.htm [Accessed 14th December 2011].