Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Describe the political situation in 1855
- Tsar
- Unlimited monarch
- Head of Orthodox Church as embodiment of god on earth
- Little Father- unity
- Had advisors, chosen by him
- Imperial Council
- 60 nobles/rich landowners
- Council of Ministers
- 8-14 nobles
- If they spoke against the Tsar, they lost power, status and wealth
- Based in St Petersburg Capital
- Alexander II
- Petrine Tsar
- Tsar to make, then obey his own laws
- Power is not from divine tsar, but from autocratic state
- Allowing for reform
- Military and Coercion
- Largest army in world
- 1.5m serfs
- Lived in military colonies
- Conscription 25 years
- 45% of budget spent on army
- So less spent on society
- Police state
- No free speech, free press, travelling abroad/inside Russia
- Third Section PLUS informers
- Other features
- Aristocracy made up 1% of population
- Lack of national consciousness
- Lots of internal corruption
- Imperial bureaucracy was an elite caste
set above the rest of society
- Systems and management
- Civil Service system-i.e. the way to
become nobility
- Tsar promoted top four ranks- usually by
age 1800-1900. Inefficient management of
kingdom
- Provincial governors: personification of tsarist oppression and despotism
- Could resist ministers demands
- In charge of local police
- Chairman of boards Justice/Finance/Transportation