Czar Nicholas’ Power and its Rough Ride
During the time of Russia in the 19th Century, Russia was ruled by autocrats, or czars who ruled with complete authority over the government. In 1825, Czar Nicholas I, pictured left, assumed the throne after his brother’s death. He is mostly known for being a reactionary monarch during his time of power.
He valued military themes of discipline, nationalism, and execution of orders. He was fond of heavy army training and flogging soldiers that he earned the nickname Nicolas Palkin, with palkin meaning “stick” in Russian. However, his ruling as a military leader was not a good one. His attempt to take over the Ottoman Empire led to the Crimean War of 1853-1856. His intent was to protect the Orthodox Balkan population under Ottoman Control. During the war, Russia was defeated by the British, French, and Turks and the Treaty of Paris of 1856. This war signified Russia’s regressive economy and inability to battle with Western nations.
The Czar’s view on serfdom, a condition of bondage, was very conservative believing that serfdom was important in Russia’s culture. During his reign, cultural and spiritual life were controlled with a tight leash. He restricted education to prevent revolutionary ideas spreading. Russiapedia states that Nicolas I implemented a “secret police” to implement censorship and suppress free-thinking. Many people during the time said poets such as Alexander Pushkin and Mikhail Lermontov’s death were a result of the czar’s ruling. As a result of this censorship, an educated group called The Intelligentsia, fought for democracy. Ivan Turgenev’s work provided commentary on this group while they were attempting to move Russia to the level of the West.
During the time of Russia in the 19th Century, Russia was ruled by autocrats, or czars who ruled with complete authority over the government. In 1825, Czar Nicholas I, pictured left, assumed the throne after his brother’s death. He is mostly known for being a reactionary monarch during his time of power.
He valued military themes of discipline, nationalism, and execution of orders. He was fond of heavy army training and flogging soldiers that he earned the nickname Nicolas Palkin, with palkin meaning “stick” in Russian. However, his ruling as a military leader was not a good one. His attempt to take over the Ottoman Empire led to the Crimean War of 1853-1856. His intent was to protect the Orthodox Balkan population under Ottoman Control. During the war, Russia was defeated by the British, French, and Turks and the Treaty of Paris of 1856. This war signified Russia’s regressive economy and inability to battle with Western nations.
The Czar’s view on serfdom, a condition of bondage, was very conservative believing that serfdom was important in Russia’s culture. During his reign, cultural and spiritual life were controlled with a tight leash. He restricted education to prevent revolutionary ideas spreading. Russiapedia states that Nicolas I implemented a “secret police” to implement censorship and suppress free-thinking. Many people during the time said poets such as Alexander Pushkin and Mikhail Lermontov’s death were a result of the czar’s ruling. As a result of this censorship, an educated group called The Intelligentsia, fought for democracy. Ivan Turgenev’s work provided commentary on this group while they were attempting to move Russia to the level of the West.
Czar Alexander II’s Reign and Reform
Probably one of the most liberal czar was Alexander II in 1855, seen right. His philosophy encompassed the freedom of the serfs. At the end of Crimean War, Alexander II sought this loss as an opportunity to reform the country and modernize it to the levels of England and France. In 1861, he issued the Emancipation Manifesto, which abolished serfdom. The people who were more educated than others liked Alexander II’s reform since they were more nationalistic than Russia’s own intellectuals. With this reform allowed development of Russian literature, which included Ivan Turgenev with a better recognition of serfs as human beings. Alexander earned the title of “Czar-Liberator” because of his manifesto.
Instead trying to rule all of Russia, Alexander II (seen left) gave the population some local control. In 1864, he created an assembly called the zemstvo, where the local gentry and peasants had representation for the communities. This assembly provided education, medical care, insurance, local roads, and food storage. Alexander II’s idea hoped that it would attract teachers, doctors, bookkeepers and other professionals to Russia. Soon the zemstvo would move toward cities and towns, where a limited democracy was created in the forms of town councils, elected by property owners and taxpayers.
In contrast to Nicholas I, Alexander II reformed the military, reducing obligation to the military from 25 years to only 6 years. He abolished corporal punished and he made an effort to improve the professionalism of the officer corps. He required those in the military to receive at least an elementary education and he put them in more comfortable uniforms.
In general, Alexander II’s reforms improved the way of life in Russia. His rule helped reestablish Russia as a great power in Eastern Europe. However, he was assassinated in 1881 when a student and member of the revolutionary group called the Narodnaya Volya (meaning People’s Will) threw a bomb at him. The Intelligentsia who opposed Alexander’s insufficient domestic reforms formed this group.
Instead trying to rule all of Russia, Alexander II (seen left) gave the population some local control. In 1864, he created an assembly called the zemstvo, where the local gentry and peasants had representation for the communities. This assembly provided education, medical care, insurance, local roads, and food storage. Alexander II’s idea hoped that it would attract teachers, doctors, bookkeepers and other professionals to Russia. Soon the zemstvo would move toward cities and towns, where a limited democracy was created in the forms of town councils, elected by property owners and taxpayers.
In contrast to Nicholas I, Alexander II reformed the military, reducing obligation to the military from 25 years to only 6 years. He abolished corporal punished and he made an effort to improve the professionalism of the officer corps. He required those in the military to receive at least an elementary education and he put them in more comfortable uniforms.
In general, Alexander II’s reforms improved the way of life in Russia. His rule helped reestablish Russia as a great power in Eastern Europe. However, he was assassinated in 1881 when a student and member of the revolutionary group called the Narodnaya Volya (meaning People’s Will) threw a bomb at him. The Intelligentsia who opposed Alexander’s insufficient domestic reforms formed this group.