Nicholas II's Personal Issues and Policies

This page focuses on Tsar Nicholas II, the last ruler of Imperial Russia, and his role in Russia's transition from autocracy to communism. It examines his personal characteristics and key policies that shaped Russia's trajectory.

Nicholas II's personal issues:

1. Influenced by conservative tutor Pobedonostsev, known as the "Great Inquisitor"
2. Easily manipulated, especially by his wife Alexandra and later Rasputin
3. Lacked imagination, often continuing or modifying policies of his father Alexander III
4. Mistrusted his ministers but was incapable of ruling alone

Quote: Pobedonostsev called representative government "the great lie of our time."

Nicholas II's major policy: Russification

Aim: To impose Russian ways and values on all people within the empire

Implications:

• Russian declared the official language for all legal proceedings
• Discrimination against non-Russian minorities increased
• Heavy restrictions placed on the Jewish population
• Encouraged pogroms (violent attacks) against Jews

Vocabulary: Pogroms - Organized violent attacks against Jewish communities

Result: The policy alienated half of Russia's population, leading to the formation of anti-tsarist movements like the Jewish Bund in 1897.

Highlight: Russification ultimately weakened the Tsarist regime by creating widespread resentment among non-Russian populations.

The page also introduces Sergei Witte's economic policies, which aimed to modernize Russia through:

1. Negotiating foreign loans
2. Implementing protective tariffs
3. Adopting the gold standard
4. Inviting foreign experts to advise on industrialization

Definition: State Capitalism - Government direction and control of the economy using central power and authority

These policies, while partially successful in spurring industrial growth, also had negative consequences for Russian consumers.

Factors Contributing to Russia's Backwardness

This page examines the various economic, social, and geographical factors that contributed to Russia's underdevelopment in the late 19th/early 20th century. Understanding these issues is crucial for comprehending the challenges faced during Russia's transition from autocracy to communism.

Economic factors:

• Harsh winters affecting agriculture
• Backward farming methods
• Underdeveloped banking system
• Lack of consumer demand for products
• Poor communications infrastructure

Social factors:

• Over 80% of the 130 million population were peasants, known as the "dark masses"
• Only 800,000 industrial workers
• Rigid social hierarchy
• Dominance of Russian Orthodox religion
• Limited higher education (only 3,500 people in 6 universities)

Geographical factors:

• Vast size of Russia (over 8 million square miles)
• Challenging climate with frozen lakes impeding trade

Highlight: The combination of these factors made modernization and reform extremely difficult for Russia, setting the stage for revolutionary change.

Vocabulary: Dark masses - A term used to describe the largely uneducated peasant population of Russia

The page also outlines key characteristics of the Tsarist state, including its autocratic government, reactionary church, corrupt bureaucracy, and oppressive army. These elements further hindered progress and reform efforts.