War was an important cause of change in Russia during the period 1855
To what extent did war act as a catalyst for change in Russia between 1855 and 1924
War was an important cause of change in Russia during the period 1855-1924 and arguably was the most important cause but it was certainly not the only one. Other factors such as the influence of key individuals played a great part in determining change in Russia and should be considered to be very important as well.
Russia had been heavily defeated in the Crimean war and this consequently was the most important cause of change under Alexander II and the creation of his reforms. This was very embarrassing for the Russians and clearly showed that Russia was economically and agriculturally backward and couldn’t stand up to the modern European powers. The peasants, who were the main source of recruits for the Russian army that had been defeated at the Crimea, were seen as crucial to Russia’s weakness. As a result, several reforms took place. Most notably, in 1861 Alexander II signed the Emancipation edict, where serfdom was abolished and serfs had to right to own property. This led to a change within the Russian military as serfs had less of an obligation to serve as conscripts as the years of conscription was reduced from 25 years to 15 years. Moreover Tsar Alexander II changed the way in which troops were recruited, trained and organised. However, there was also reform to local government with the creation of the Zemstva’s which were made responsible for local affairs, giving the peasants a small and limited political voice. Although the war itself did not lead to any major changes in the ideological structure of Russia and the fact the Alexander II recognised for himself that that change from above was necessary to prevent a revolt against the Tsars autocratic rule from below, it can be seen that war was the catalyst for this wave of reforms as it highlighted to the regime the necessity of changing the country.
The Russo-Japanese war contributed greatly to changes within Russia as
War was an important cause of change in Russia during the period 1855-1924 and arguably was the most important cause but it was certainly not the only one. Other factors such as the influence of key individuals played a great part in determining change in Russia and should be considered to be very important as well.
Russia had been heavily defeated in the Crimean war and this consequently was the most important cause of change under Alexander II and the creation of his reforms. This was very embarrassing for the Russians and clearly showed that Russia was economically and agriculturally backward and couldn’t stand up to the modern European powers. The peasants, who were the main source of recruits for the Russian army that had been defeated at the Crimea, were seen as crucial to Russia’s weakness. As a result, several reforms took place. Most notably, in 1861 Alexander II signed the Emancipation edict, where serfdom was abolished and serfs had to right to own property. This led to a change within the Russian military as serfs had less of an obligation to serve as conscripts as the years of conscription was reduced from 25 years to 15 years. Moreover Tsar Alexander II changed the way in which troops were recruited, trained and organised. However, there was also reform to local government with the creation of the Zemstva’s which were made responsible for local affairs, giving the peasants a small and limited political voice. Although the war itself did not lead to any major changes in the ideological structure of Russia and the fact the Alexander II recognised for himself that that change from above was necessary to prevent a revolt against the Tsars autocratic rule from below, it can be seen that war was the catalyst for this wave of reforms as it highlighted to the regime the necessity of changing the country.
The Russo-Japanese war contributed greatly to changes within Russia as