What problems did the leaders
of Russia face?
What problems would each ruler
face?
Alexander II 1855-1881
• Problems:
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–
–
–
–
Russia at war (Crimea)
Serfdom
Rural discontent
Poor communications
Poor level of industrialisation & agriculture, heavily
dependent on foreign businesses and knowledge
– No warm water port
– Nationalities within Russia
• Advantages:
– Had expected to become Tsar, member of Romanov
dynasty
– Open to possibility of change “well intentioned, but weak
as water”
– Strong personality and education
Alexander III 1881-1894
• Problems:
– Became Tsar in unexpected circumstancesassassination of Alexander II (by terrorist group
People’s Will)
– Organised opposition beginning to emerge
– His own beliefs (very traditional) clashed with beliefs of
those who had done well under his father
– Russia had been at war with Turkey, 1877-8
– Had to deal with land ownership issues that resulted
from the emancipation of the serfs
• Advantages:
– Prepared for rule
– Firm belief in the system of government that he
embodied
– Strong personality
Nicholas II 1894-1917
• Problems:
– Urbanisation
– Radical opposition (SDs)
– Increase in foreign contact means growth of liberalism
– Nationalism
– Weak personality
– War with Japan
– First World War
• Advantages:
– Expected to be Tsar
– Strong belief in government system he embodied
Provisional Government 1917
• Problems:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Had not expected to be in power
Came to power during a disastrous war
No idea how to govern
No legitimacy, hence no authority
Unelected, unrepresentative
Programme of reform unrealistic for circumstances
• Advantages:
– Arguably more popular than previous ruler
– Open to ideas of change
Lenin 1917-1922
• Problems:
– Russia at war (still)
– Had made extravagant promises (“Peace, Bread,
Land”)
– Needs to consolidate power
– Method of gaining power somewhat questionable
• Advantages:
– Prepared to rule
– Clear vision of what he wanted to achieve
Stalin 1924-1956
• Problems:
–
–
–
–
Faced power struggle before assuming leadership
Russia weak due to war
Alternative leader(s) clearly available, e.g., Trotsky
Communism required an industrial nation, which
Russia was not
• Advantages:
– Lenin had established basics of communist state
– Ruthless
Khrushchev 1956-1964
• Problems:
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–
–
–
–
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Legacy of Stalin
Poor living standards: doesn’t want social unrest
Cold War
Excesses of Stalinism
State machinery weakened by purges
Reforms desperately necessary
• Advantages:
– Position of Soviet leader massively feared
– Background in agriculture and industry
“Which ruler faced the most substantial
problems at the start of their reign?”
How to answer this question…..
• Alexander II faced serious problems at the start of
his reign because of the Crimean War. This was
because the war was costly and led to the deaths of
many men. The war was unpopular with the Russia
populace.
• Alexander III came to power because his father was
assassinated by a terrorist group in 1881. This
meant that Alexander III was thrown into power.
Alexander II was also faced with the troubles of the
war with Turkey
• Nicholas II came to power through the death of his
father who had died from Kidney failure. Nicholas II
did not have the personality or attributes of a Tsar
This module is all about
themes….
• It is important to write thematically, not
chronologically.
• So think about what themes and what links
can be made for each ruler?