Russia,+Japan,+and+the+West

Russia


 * 1. What was the Decemberist uprising? What were its causes and effects? **

The Decemberist uprising was a revolt by veterans of the Napoleanic wars in 1825 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The revolt was in opposition to Nicholas I taking the throne from Constantine. Westernization was important to the elite and no liberal/radical viewpoints were allowed. The Czar Nicholas I was inspired to support conservatism (i.e. limit actual changes and preserve order) by said uprising. Overall, Russia remained a dominant diplomatic and military force and was not significantly affected by this uprising.

//2//**. What were the weaknesses of the Russian economy?**

Russia's economy was not Westernized in the industrial sense. It fell behind Europe in technology and capacity for global commerce. Serfs were increasingly exploited by Russian landlords, who used old techniques in a new market. Russia imported very little machinery for industrialization because it was reserved for the Russian aristocracy. Russia showed little interest in full-scale industrialization and remained an agricultural society.


 * 3. What caused the Crimean War? What were its major effects? **

Nicholas I made a statement that provoked the Ottoman Empire in 1853. He stated that Russia was responsible for protecting Christian interests in the Holy Land, infuriating the Ottomans. The British and French strategically chose to support the Ottomans. The war was fought on the Black Sea and the Ottoman empire emerged victorious, pushing into Russian territory. The West won because of their obvious advances in technology compared to the Russians. The war was a wakeup call to the new czar, Alexander II, who decided to embrace industrialization as tool of progress.


 * 4. Why were serfs emancipated? How did their emancipation differ from the emancipation of slaves in the U.S.? What changes did it create? **

Russia’s call for reform came in the form of the **Crimean War.** The serfs were emancipated in 1861 because slavery or serfdom wouldn't fit with the economic system an industrializing nation requires. The U.S. was less generous; in Russia, emancipated serfs were allowed to own much of the land they previously worked on and only return a small portion to the aristocrats. The serfs didn't gain any new political rights and they were stuck in their villages until they could pay for the land they were given. The emancipation helped create a larger urban work force and didn't cause a revolution. The new class of free serfs were still displeased with their status and there were traces of social unrest in Russia.


 * 5. What were the Zemstvoes? How successful were they? **

**Zemstvoes** were local political councils created by the tsar. Their duties amounted to enacting regional policies such as school systems and nobles used them as replacement rulers of the peasantry. These committees allowed middle class Russians to gain political experience, however the councils had no influence on national policies.


 * 6. What was the significance of the Trans-Siberian railroad? **

**The Trans-Siberian railroad**: began construction of an extensive railroad system in the 1870s. The railroad connected Western Russia to the Pacific and was completed in the late 1880s. The railroad directly stimulated the expansion of Russia's iron and coal industries. The Trans-Siberian railroad linked Russia with more potential trading partners and increased possible productivity. Grain was more frequently exported to the West. From 1860 – 1880s, Russia’s railroad network nearly quintupled and productive, modern factories began forming in major Russian cities such as Moscow.


 * 7. What economic reforms were enacted by Sergei Witte? **

**Sergei Witte**: Russian Minister of Finance from 1892-1903; High tariffs were introduced to protect new industry, improve the banking system, and encourage Western investors to build factories with greater technology. By 1900, half of the Russian industry was run by foreign powers, such as the British, French, and German industrialists. Industrial loans left Russia in debt Russia. Russia was fourth in the world for steel production and second in petroleum and still remained a traditionally peasant society (with a basically non-existent middle-class).


 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">8. What were the signs that Russia was headed to revolution? (think about - intelligentsia, anarchists, Marxists, Bolsheviks.) **

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">**Intelligentsia** – radical intellectuals – began instigating reason for revolt. Business professionals supported liberal freedoms in hope of gaining political rights. Student groups grew and were impatient with Russia's slow development and restrictions on political activity. Anarchists hoped to abolish any and all forms of formal government and resorted to violence when little attention was paid to their radical views; with bombings and assassinations like in the 1890s when Marxist doctrines spread to intelligentsia, leading them to support organized revolution. Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov (**Lenin**) was the Marxist leader who’s ideas resembled that of the **Bolsheviks**. Lenin’s ideas were proved to be advantageous for Russia. Disorganization among the forces that demanded change were problematic because by not having a united cause, compromise was difficult, leading to full-scale REVOLUTION!


 * Japan **

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">1. Explain major developments in Japan in the early 1800's. <span style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Feudal system becomes too costly for Japanese government. <span style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; tabstops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> o <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Results in a weakened Shogunate. <span style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Comercial society begins to thrive. <span style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Taxes based on Japan’s agriculture. <span style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Neo-Confucianism gains popularity in the upper classes. <span style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; tabstops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> o <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Elites became more secular. <span style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Education increased and expanded due to new reforms. <span style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Japanese Reformists began to clash with those who embraced traditional value. <span style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Economic dominance returned to the West in the mid 1800s.

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">2. What effect did the actions of Commodore Perry have on Japan? (include details on Samurai discontent)

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">For two centuries, Japanese ports were closed to all but a few Dutch and Chinese traders. The United States hoped Japan would agree to open certain ports so American vessels could begin to trade with the mysterious island kingdom. Commodore Perry broke down barriers that separated Japan from the rest of the world. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"> The shogunate depended on isolationist policies; without which the power of the shogunate would weaken, and Daimyos opposed any new cessions. Discontented samurai actually attacked foreigners in the 1860s in hope of driving them out. This foolhardy plan merely resulted in a violent war (1866). Only after the Mutsuhito reform group was formed in 1868 did the war end.

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">3. List the actions taken by the Meiji State.
 * <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tabstops: list .5in;">Shogunate dismantled by Meiji troops.
 * <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tabstops: list .5in;">Yataro established a railroad system and steam line contracts.
 * <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tabstops: list 1.0in;">Hoped to compete with British.
 * <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tabstops: list .5in;">Political parties were formed by the old samurai class.
 * <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tabstops: list .5in;">Rights were given to an emperor with limited powers for the lower house; called Diet.
 * <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tabstops: list .5in;">Meiji advisors were allowed representation in the government.

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">4. Explain how Japan Industrialized - (Private and government roles)

<span style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Banks funded growing trade for capital industries. <span style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">States built railroads throughout Japan. <span style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; tabstops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> o <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Connected islands to speed up production and efficiency. <span style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">National markets were established in place of guilds and road tariffs. <span style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Technical training and education about banks and post offices was expanded. <span style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Formed a Westernized Navy. <span style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Japan became dependent upon economic ties in the global economy. <span style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Feudalism was abolished. <span style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Japan adopted a system for universal education.

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">5. List ways that Industrialization changed Japan.
 * <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tabstops: list .5in;">Isolationism ended; Japan opened up to foreign influence and trade.


 * <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tabstops: list .5in;">Feudalism was discarded and replaced.
 * <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tabstops: list .5in;">Japanese education was improved.
 * <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tabstops: list .5in;">Japanese economy boomed
 * <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tabstops: list 1.0in;">Japan developed Japan developed economic ties in the global economy
 * <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tabstops: list .5in;">Technology led to increased industrialization in Japan.
 * <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tabstops: list .5in;">Population growth slowed/stabilized.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">6. What division within Japanese society was created by modernization? <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">
 * Parliamentary political parties and ministers feud over the right to determine policy.
 * Typically disbanded the Diet in favor of new, more cooperative officials.
 * Political assassinations were attempted and in some cases committed (as in success).
 * Japanese scholars adopted Western philosophies that conflicted with their Shinto and Confucian philosophies but were implemented by gov't
 * Intellectuals voice their discontent over what is considered a loss of national identity.