Transcript Comparative Revolutions

Comparative Study
French Revolution
Russian Revolution
Nature of Rule
 In both French and Russian pre-revolutionary society characterised by
the oppressive nature of the regime and the vast inequalities and therefore
injustices
Similarities
** Oppressiveness of the political regimes
In both, System of Absolutism prevailed
– Louis XVI Bourbon Monarch
- Nicholas 11 Romanov Dynasty
** both appointed by God
** both could appoint & dismiss ministers
** not responsible to any representative government (Russia – Duma since
1905, but no real power)
** power of arbitrary imprisonment
** lack of freedom
Differences
 Within European context French system was common in the C18th
but by the C20th Russia clearly backward as most European nations
had progressed towards some form of representative government with
liberal freedoms
 Russian Tsar also far more oppressive than the French Monarch
Tsar’s power far more obtrusive and oppressive than those
of Louis XVI in France
** he controlled a large bureaucracy which operated throughout
the Russian Empire as administrators and tax collectors
** Huge secret police (Okhrana) existed to eliminate would be
opponents, particularly active amongst Russia’s minorities
The Rulers
King Louis XVI preferred personal interests to court interests. He
left his work up to his advisers and ministers or made hasty decisions.
King Louis was influenced and often embarrassed by his wife, Marie Antoinette
was hated by a lot of the population and stood in the way of his proposed reforms.
Louis was incapable of strong, decisive action and a poorly educated King, who
some thought was unfit to rule.
Tsar Nicholas 11 felt burdened by the governing of Russia. By all
reports he was a well meaning family man. He was married to
Alexandra an iron willed German princess who devoted herself to
her husband and family. Nicholas readily sought and took her
advice. His main aim was to preserve the traditions of the autocracy,
for his haemophiliac son, Alexei, to inherit.
Position of the Church
In both imperial Russia and the French Ancien Regime the Church supported the King
and Tsar, as it was believed they were God appointed. The Church in both societies
enjoyed a powerful position
Similarities
 In Russia the Tsar’s power was supported by the powerful Russian Orthodox
Church which preached that the Tsar was God appointed
** The Church was the foundation of the autocracy - priests reported any acts of
opposition and preached support for the Tsar – the father to his people
** the Church was wealthy , it owned vast landed estates, its leaders lived a life of
luxury
** Thus even more than France, the Church was a powerful institution on the side of
conservatism – resisting political, social and economic changes
 In the French Ancien Regime, the clergy was part of the First Estate
** Catholicism was a powerful institution as it was the State Religion
** Wide range of power over the people preaching obedience and order
** exempt from taxation
** Wealth of Church came from land it owned and taxes (titles) collected from
the commoners
** Sons of noble families entered the high positions in the church controlling vast
wealth
** In 1789 local clergy became revolutionary as they resent their own poverty in
contrast to the wealth of the Bishops and the Church itself
Aristocracy
In both France & Russia there existed large economic and social inequalities
Similarities
 France & Russia power, privileges and wealth belonged largely to the hereditary
nobility – eg. top positions in Government, in Church & Military
 Land ownership and wealth
 privileges before the law and taxation
Thus both French and Russian societies were characterised by inequality of
opportunity and vast differences in the luxurious lifestyle of the aristocracy compared
to the poverty of the common people
***consequently the Army remained loyal to the Tsar until the revolution of 1917 acting as a
powerful force against revolution (eg the 1905 revolution was suppressed by the Army).
 In France two types of nobility existed – those with lineage of birth (noblesse
d’epee) and the newer nobility – the administrative nobility (noblesse de` robe) – lived
in a cloistered environment ‘Versailles’
 caste groups were not closed, commoners could through wealth (land purchase),
marriage find access into the nobility however during the reign of Louis XVI this option
closed off to middle class
The Aristocrats were denouncing the Monarchy’s absolutism. They wanted more
political power so the King wouldn’t introduce tax reform.
Peasants
 In the European context France one of the more prosperous of 18th Century
nations, Russia in contrast was extremely backward  lack of economic
advancement
 In France, financially peasants not a homogeneous group some peasants were
well off owning their own land, some rented land and some serfs
 They bore the heavy burden of taxation paid 10th of produce paid to church
(tithe), tax to State (taille), tax on 1/20 of produce (vingtieme), tax on people in
family (capitation), salt tax (gabelle) they also had numerous feudal obligations to
nobles – in good times the tax were a burden in bad times they were devastating –
also subject to arbitrary power of the nobility
 In Russia the bulk of the people were peasants who had been set free from
serfdom – 40 yrs earlier.
 Some peasants prosperous however most were poor, tied to the land, overtaxed
and crippled by the redemption payments. Redemption payments fee for freedom.
 Because they were poor, uneducated methods of agriculture not advanced –
most didn’t have knowledge or equipment to improve agricultural techniques
 Thus in Russia the poverty and discontent of the peasants was far more
extreme agricultural progress limited, and land hunger was far greater due to ever
growing population
Middle-Class (Bourgeoisie)
Both France and Russia there was a small but growing class of bourgeoisie who
were wealthy but resentful of the lack of opportunities and equality. Frustrated by
the inability to have a political say in the running of the country
In both countries MC needed political power to create economic reform
MC frustrated at the lack of growth in prosperity and poor trade
Most importantly, Russian situation made more complex by emergence of an
industrial working class (the proletariat) compared to France of the late 18th
Century in which there were artisans/unskilled labourers working in small-scale
enterprises
Thus working class of Russia were politicised  influenced by revolutionary
ideology of Marxism  forming trade unions / striking and becoming members of
the Bolsheviks/Mensheviks
 The urban poor – their masses grouped in relatively small environment, cities,
became a hotbed for political trouble
 With industrialisation came factories, noise pollution and safety hazards
 Workers resented long hours, low wages and poor living conditions
 Urban poor lived in cramped, unhealthy and squalid conditions
 In Russia, larger number of proletariats, due to timing of industrialisation,
workers associated poor work conditions with lack of worker representation. This
established a fertile group for revolutionary movements
*** Most importantly, Russian situation made more complex by emergence of an
industrial working class (the proletariat) compared to France of the late 18th
Century in which there were artisans/unskilled labourers working in small-scale
enterprises thus working class of Russia were politicised  influenced by
revolutionary ideology of Marxism  forming trade unions / striking and becoming
members of the Bolsheviks/Mensheviks
Ideas in Society & Foreign influences
France
Ideas of the Enlightenment – Ideas founded by Voltaire and Rousseau captured the
attention of the Bourgeoisie, promising free commerce and more liberal freedom. The
ideas challenged the dogmas of absolutism. The brotherhood of men, equal rights
and responsibilities should replace privileges.
American War independence - Many of the French Troops, who returned from
America, wanted to revolutionise France. They bought back ideas of liberty and
equality. Their ideas also included - It is right to take up arms against tyranny, there
should be no taxation without representation, all men should have liberal freedoms
and a republic is superior to a monarchy
Russia
Anti Tsarist Sentiment – many revolutionary groups opposed the Tsar.
Not all groups wanted to get rid of the Tsar, some wanted a constitutional monarchy
but due to the oppressive nature of the Russian society many groups became radical,
using terrorism.
A large number of proletariats, living and working in poor conditions in cities thus it
became a fertile group for revolutionary movements.
Russia backward – by the beginning of the C20th most countries in Europe had a
representative parliament thus ideas infiltrated into Russia
Reforms in Society
The reforms of the period had limited success
In Russia – Witte & Stolypin attempted reforms but they had
limited success. Their main purpose of economic policies was
to protect Tsardom but ironically the court distrusted them.
The court & Govt. feared change.
In France - the reform system had failed. Necker had attempted
to introduce reform but he was not trusted by the Govt, the
very system he was trying to save.
Both King Louis XVI and Tsar Nicholas 11 were not willing to
give up any of their power – when they did it was too little, too
late. Both consulted people that wanted to protect their own
privileges eg. wives, nobles, family
Other Influences
Crisis
Thus in both societies it was clear that there were groups/classes of people with
strong grievances and discontented with the existing system AND forces for change
were emerging and challenging the old regimes.
It is these factors that explain why the revolutions were likely to occur, but in both
France and Russia the revolutions were sparked off by national crisis with which
the King and the Tsar was unable to deal and cope
In France  financial crisis of 1787 that leads to political crisis of
the EstatesGeneral in 1789.
In Russia  the political, economic and financial crisis brought on
by World War I.
Harsh Winter
Food, fuel &
clothing
shortages
Peasants
Tsar’s incompetence
Industrial Development
Fragile
Revolutionary
Movements
Causes of the
Russian Revolution
## World War 1 ##
Immorality of the
Tsarist system
Failure of Reforms