ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Epic History TV History of Russia Part 4: 'What Is to Be Done?'
After defeating Napoleon, Russia emerged as a significant world power. However, not everyone in Russia was happy. Many intellectuals and army officers were dissatisfied with the autocratic rule and formed secret societies to plan its overthrow. When Emperor Alexander passed away, his brother Nicholas took the throne instead of the expected successor, Constantine. This confusion led to the Decembrist Revolt, a failed military coup by one of these secret societies. The revolt was crushed, and its leaders were executed or exiled to Siberia, a common punishment for political prisoners in Tsarist Russia.
Emperor Nicholas I established a doctrine based on “Orthodoxy, Autocracy, and Nationality,” which emphasized the church, the Tsar, and Russian nationalism, rejecting European liberal ideas. During his reign, Russia engaged in several conflicts. In the Caucasus, Russia defeated Persia, forcing it to cede territories and pay a large indemnity through the Treaty of Turkmenchay. Russia also supported Greece in its fight for independence from the Ottoman Empire, leading to further territorial gains in the Black Sea region.
In Poland, a revolt led by young army officers was suppressed by Russian forces. Meanwhile, Alexander Pushkin, Russia’s most celebrated poet, died in a duel. Nicholas also sent troops to help Austria suppress a Hungarian revolt, earning him the nickname “the Gendarme of Europe.” During this time, Russia’s first major railway was built, connecting St. Petersburg and Moscow. Alexander Herzen, a prominent critic of Russian autocracy, moved to London, where he continued advocating for reform and became known as “the father of Russian socialism.”
The Ottoman Empire, known as “the sick man of Europe,” declared war on Russia after further provocations. The Russian Black Sea Fleet achieved a significant victory at the Battle of Sinope. However, Britain and France, worried about Russia’s expansion, declared war on Russia. They landed troops in Crimea and besieged Sevastopol, which fell after a year-long siege. Russia was forced to sign a humiliating peace treaty, withdraw from the Black Sea, and halt its southern expansion plans.
Nicholas I was succeeded by his son, Alexander II. The Crimean War revealed Russia’s weaknesses in industry, infrastructure, and military power compared to its European rivals. Unlike his father, Alexander II embraced reform. The most glaring issue was serfdom, with over a third of Russians living as serfs according to the 1857 census. In 1861, Alexander II abolished serfdom, earning the title “The Liberator,” though many former serfs remained in poverty.
Alexander II continued with reforms, establishing the zemstva, local assemblies responsible for education and social welfare. In the Far East, Russia secured territorial concessions from China, founding Vladivostok, a major Pacific port. Another Polish and Lithuanian uprising was crushed by the Russian army. In the Caucasus, Russia ended a long and brutal war with local tribes, securing their loyalty to the Tsar.
In Central Asia, Russia expanded southwards, defeating the Emirate of Bukhara and the Khanate of Khiva. By the 1880s, Russia had conquered most of Turkestan, now known as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. This expansion led to “the Great Game,” a rivalry with Britain over influence in Central Asia, particularly Afghanistan, without direct military confrontation.
Russia sold Alaska to the United States for $7.2 million, a decision initially criticized by Americans until gold and oil were discovered there. The late 19th century was a cultural golden age for Russia, with literary giants like Leo Tolstoy, whose “War & Peace” remains a masterpiece, and renowned composers.
Russia supported nationalist revolts in the Balkans against Ottoman rule, leading to another war with the Ottoman Empire. Russian troops, aided by Bulgarians, crossed the Danube and secured the Shipka Pass after a five-month siege of Plevna. Despite victory, international pressure at the Congress of Berlin limited Russia’s gains, but it led to the independence of Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, and later Bulgaria.
Within Russia, radical political groups grew frustrated with Alexander II’s limited reforms, leading to several assassination attempts. As he prepared to introduce new constitutional reforms, he was killed by a bomb thrown by members of the People’s Will, one of the first modern terrorist groups. This act of violence marked the beginning of a new era of repression.
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Engage in a classroom debate about the merits and drawbacks of autocracy versus liberalism. Divide into two groups, with one side supporting Nicholas I’s doctrine of “Orthodoxy, Autocracy, and Nationality,” and the other advocating for European liberal ideas. Prepare arguments and counterarguments, and present your case to the class.
Participate in a role-playing activity where you reenact the Decembrist Revolt. Assign roles such as army officers, members of secret societies, and Tsar Nicholas I. Discuss the motivations behind the revolt and the consequences faced by its leaders. Reflect on how this event influenced future Russian political movements.
Conduct a research project on Russia’s territorial expansion during the 19th century. Choose a specific region, such as the Caucasus, Central Asia, or the Far East, and investigate the political, economic, and cultural impacts of Russian control. Present your findings in a multimedia presentation to the class.
Write a creative story from the perspective of a serf living before and after the emancipation in 1861. Describe daily life, challenges faced, and the impact of Alexander II’s reforms. Share your story with classmates and discuss the social and economic changes that occurred during this period.
Analyze historical maps to understand “the Great Game” between Russia and Britain. Identify key territories involved and discuss the strategic importance of these regions. Create a timeline of events and explain how this rivalry influenced international relations in Central Asia.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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Victory over Napoleon confirmed Russia’s status as a world power. However, there was discontent within Russia among intellectuals and army officers, some of whom formed secret societies to plot the overthrow of the autocratic system. When Emperor Alexander was succeeded not by his brother Constantine, as expected, but by a younger brother, Nicholas, one of these secret societies used the confusion to launch a military coup. The Decembrist Revolt, as it became known, was defeated by loyalist troops, and the ringleaders were executed. Others were sent into internal exile in Siberia, a common sentence for criminals and political prisoners in Tsarist Russia.
Nicholas adopted an official doctrine of “Orthodoxy, Autocracy, and Nationality,” establishing the state on the pillars of the church, Tsar, and the Russian national spirit, which rejected the values of European liberalism. In the Caucasus, border clashes with Persia led to a war that ended in complete Russian victory. The Treaty of Turkmenchay forced Persia to cede all its territories in the region to Russia and pay a large indemnity. Russian support for Greece in its War of Independence against the Ottomans led to conflict with the Ottoman Empire, resulting in further gains in the Black Sea region.
A Polish revolt led by young army officers was crushed by Russian troops. Alexander Pushkin, Russia’s greatest poet, was shot in a duel and died from his wounds shortly after. Nicholas sent troops to help suppress a Hungarian revolt against Austrian rule, earning him the nickname “the Gendarme of Europe.” Russia’s first major railway was opened, connecting St. Petersburg and Moscow. Alexander Herzen, a leading intellectual critic of Russia’s autocracy, emigrated to London, where he continued to call for reform in his homeland and would later be described as “the father of Russian socialism.”
The Ottoman Empire, referred to as “the sick man of Europe,” reacted to further Russian provocations by declaring war. The Russian Black Sea Fleet inflicted a significant defeat on the Turks at the Battle of Sinope. Alarmed at Russia’s southern expansion and potential control of Constantinople, Britain and France declared war on Russia. The Allies landed troops in Crimea and besieged the naval base of Sevastopol, which fell after a year-long siege. In the Baltic, British and French warships blockaded St. Petersburg. Russia was forced to sign a humiliating peace, withdraw its forces from the Black Sea, and put on hold plans for further southern expansion.
Nicholas I was succeeded by his son, Alexander II. The Crimean War exposed Russia’s weaknesses, as the country lagged behind its European rivals in industry, infrastructure, and military power. Unlike his father, Alexander decided to embrace reform. The most obvious sign of Russia’s backwardness was serfdom. According to the 1857 census, more than a third of Russians were serfs, forced to work their masters’ land with few rights and restrictions on movement. In 1861, Alexander II abolished serfdom in Russia and was hailed as “The Liberator.” However, most former serfs remained trapped in servitude and poverty.
Alexander’s reforms continued with the creation of the zemstva, provincial assemblies with authority over local affairs, including education and social welfare. In the Far East, Russia forced territorial concessions from a weakened China, leading to the founding of Vladivostok, Russia’s major Pacific port. Another uprising by Poles and Lithuanians against Russian rule was crushed by the Russian army. In the Caucasus, Russia’s long and brutal war against local tribes ended with their leaders swearing oaths of loyalty to the Tsar.
In Central Asia, the Russian Empire gradually expanded southwards, defeating the Emirate of Bukhara and the Khanate of Khiva. By the 1880s, Russia had conquered most of what was then called Turkestan, now the countries of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. Imperial rivalry in Central Asia between Russia and Britain led to “the Great Game,” a 19th-century version of the Cold War centered on Afghanistan, where diplomats and spies tried to win local support and extend their influence while avoiding direct military confrontation.
Russia decided to sell Alaska to America for $7.2 million, a decision that many Americans initially viewed as a waste of money, as gold and oil were discovered there much later. Leo Tolstoy’s “War & Peace” was published, still regarded as one of the world’s greatest works of literature. The late 19th century was a cultural golden age for Russia, marked by literary greats and outstanding composers.
In support of nationalist revolts in the Balkans against Ottoman rule, Russia went to war with the Ottoman Empire once more. Russian troops crossed the Danube and, with Bulgarian help, fought to secure the vital Shipka Pass. They launched a five-month siege of Plevna in Bulgaria. Russia and her allies eventually won victory, threatening Constantinople itself. However, at the Congress of Berlin, Russia accepted limited gains due to international pressure, which also led to independence for Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, and later Bulgaria.
Meanwhile, within Russia, radical political groups grew increasingly frustrated with Alexander II’s limited reforms. There were several failed attempts to assassinate the Emperor. As he prepared to approve new constitutional reforms, he was killed in St. Petersburg by a bomb thrown by members of the People’s Will, one of the world’s first modern terrorist groups. This act of violence ushered in a new era of repression.
Did you know all Epic History TV videos are made by just one person? With a little help from me, Charles Nove. We would sincerely appreciate your support at our Patreon page to help us keep making history videos. Please click the link to find out how you can become an Epic History TV patron.
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This version removes specific names and sensitive content while maintaining the overall narrative and historical context.
Russia – A large country in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia, known for its significant historical and cultural influence. – In the 19th century, Russia underwent significant changes that shaped its future, including the emancipation of the serfs.
Revolution – A fundamental and relatively sudden change in political power or organizational structures, often occurring through social upheaval. – The French Revolution of 1789 was a pivotal event that dramatically altered the course of European history.
Serfdom – A system of agricultural labor prevalent in medieval Europe, where peasants were bound to the land and subject to the will of landowners. – The abolition of serfdom in Russia in 1861 was a major reform that aimed to modernize the country’s economy and society.
Reform – The process of making changes to an institution or practice in order to improve it. – The Progressive Era in the United States was marked by a series of reforms aimed at addressing social injustices and economic inequality.
Empire – A group of states or territories controlled by a single sovereign authority, often an emperor or empress. – The British Empire, at its height, was the largest empire in history, influencing cultures and economies worldwide.
Nationalism – A political ideology that emphasizes the interests and culture of a particular nation, often in opposition to foreign influence or control. – Nationalism played a crucial role in the unification of Germany in the late 19th century.
Literature – Written works, especially those considered to have artistic or intellectual value, often reflecting cultural and historical contexts. – The literature of the Harlem Renaissance captured the struggles and aspirations of African Americans in the early 20th century.
Autonomy – The right or condition of self-government, especially in a particular sphere. – The quest for autonomy was a driving force behind many colonial independence movements in the 20th century.
Expansion – The process of increasing in size, scope, or influence, often through territorial acquisition. – The westward expansion of the United States in the 19th century was driven by the belief in Manifest Destiny.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs, often involving the analysis of cause and effect. – Understanding history is essential for learning from past mistakes and shaping a better future.
