What problems did the leaders of Russia face?

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What problems did the leaders of Russia face?
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What problems would each ruler face?
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Alexander II 1855-1881

• Problems
• 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

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Alexander III 1881-1894

• Problems
• Became Tsar in unexpected circumstances-
  assassination of Alexander II (by terrorist group
  Peoples 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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Khrushchev 1956-1964

• Problems
• Legacy of Stalin
• Poor living standards doesnt 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

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• Which ruler faced the most substantial problems
  at the start of their reign?
• How to answer this question..

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• 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

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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?