Russia+and+Japan


 * Russia**

//1. What was the Decemberist uprising? What were its causes and effects?// - The Decemberist uprising was a political revolt of Westernized army officers in 1825. The cause of such revolt was due to the welcoming of western artistic styles, which the result of the uprising inspired a new tsar, Nicholas I, to more adamant conservatism. //2. What were the weaknesses of the Russian economy?// - Russian began to fall behind in the transformation of technology in the West. Also, the Russian landlords used the Western grain market to their advantage and tightened the working conditions for their serfs. //3. What caused the Crimean War? what were its major effects?// - The Crimean War started due to the claim by Nicholas I, that Russians were responsible for "protecting Christian interests in the Holy Land. As a result, the British and French sided with the sultan and aided in pushing the Russians back further from their positions. They won due to the industrial advantage they held over Russia. //4. Why were serfs emancipated? how did their emancipation differ from the emancipation of slaves in the U.S.? What changes did it create?// - The serfs were emancipated so that the tsar would have better control of the tsarist state. This emancipation allowed the serfs to not only get freedom, but parts of their land. It did not bring change, it just created a larger urban labor force. //5. What were the Zemstvoes? How successful were they?// - The Zemstvoes were a local political council which had a voice in regulating roads, schools, and other regional policies. They were not that successful because they had no influence on national policies. //6. What was the significance of the Trans-Siberian railroad?// - The Trans-Siberian railroad was able to connect Russia with the Pacific, taking more than 10 years to complete. //7. What economic reforms were enacted by Sergei Witte?// - Higher taxes to protect the new Russian industry, improvement in the banking system, and encouraged Western investors to build great factories with advanced technology. //8. What were the signs that Russia was headed to revolution? (think about - intelligentsia, anarchists, Marxists, Bolsheviks.)// - Peasants were fed up with the redemption payments/taxes and often seized and burned the records that indicated what they owned. - Many business and professional people, wanted fuller political voices and new rights. - A group called intelligentsia became active in advocating for political voices and new rights. - Anarchists wanted to abolish all formal government, they thought they could succeed from the help of the peasants.