Ah! Those Russians

Russia: Tsarism and the West

by Edward Acton

What you should note in the reading:

How Tsar Alexander’s Great Reforms affected Russian society...

1. Short run- why it was limited2. How it slowly removed constrictions on the economy- the details3. How it encouraged manufacturing4. Why absolute level of manufacturing remained low5. Why was the economy overwhelmingly agrarian


The Social Repercussions6. Wariness of the nobles...What about the traditional correlations? What is the gentry interest?What are the conservative themes in the press?Might have been but what ....zemstovosHow was the zemostovos connected with the basis of social division?

How Tsar Alexander’s Great Reforms affected Russian society...The Social Repercussions7. What about the education and civil service system?Legal reforms - the reading public- academic communities- provinces? What is the attitude of the educated public and why?What is the Sunday School movt?What is the 3rd element?


Foreign Affairs

8. How did foreign affairs contribute?Panslavists and the Balkans?How did foreign affairs contribute to domestic critics...

How Tsar Alexander’s Great Reforms affected Russian society...The Peasantry

8. How was a Russian peasant’s experience different than most of the rest of European peasants?How did inflation play a part?What about the details of a “temporary obligation?”How did population explosion contribute to the conditions?What about differentiation amongst the peasants themselves?What are the details about a peasant’s sense of injustice and resentment...how did that affect Russian society?Did the Zemstov have any real affect?How did the peasants express their discontent and why?


The Urban Poor and Urban Worker9. How might it all be an illusion?What were the grim facts?Were strikes effective? why or why not?


The Intelligentsia10. What is the foundation upon how one should “understand” the intelligentsia of Russia?How were their expectations not met?What do you think are Aesopian articles?What was their vision of the future of Russia?What is Land and Liberty?What is People’s Will?


Your Impressions11. Did the information surprise you in any way? Had you any knowledge of Russian society before this reading and if so, did this change your impressions?

What is the impression you walk about with after this reading?

How do you think this will influence future events in Russia after 1900? and most importantly- why do you think so? (evidence)

Ah! Those Russians

Documents

Transcript of Ah! Those Russians