Russia+and+Japan

Russia questions 1-8

1. What was the Decemberist uprising? What were its causes and effects? 2. What were the weaknesses of the Russian economy? 3. What caused the Crimean War? what were its major effects? 4. Why were serfs emancipated? how did their emancipation differ from the emancipation of slaves in the U.S.? What changes did it create? 5 What were the Zemstvoes? How successful were they? 6. What was the significance of the Trans-Siberian railroad? 7. What economic reforms were enacted by Sergei Witte 8. What were the signs that Russia was headed to revolution? (think about - intelligentsia, anarchists, Marxists, Bolsheviks.)
 * 1) The Decembrist movement was a revolt of western-oriented army officers in 1825 that arose in St. Petersburg. The movement was led by well educated aristocrats who were fighting for liberation even though their followers were illiterate and ill-informed subjects of the authority’s regime. The causes of the Decembrist uprising was that the people of Russia were having a disagreement over who should rule as the next tsar after Alexander I. The effects of the uprising were that it led to “bloody Sunday” where the secret police shot the peaceful protestors. Another effect of the movement was the rise in power of Nicholas I allowing him to become the next tsar.
 * 2) The weakness of the Russian economy was that when the Europeans powers started to industrialize it affected the railways causing Russia to stay the same. They fell behind of the increasing technology of the west and trade that was available. Russian landlords did take part in the Western markets however they increased their exports by tightening the labor obligations on the serfs.
 * 3) The Crimean War was caused by the Russians attempt to attack the Ottoman Empire and also by the Russians opposing the French and British by threatening its hold over India with its great military advances. However, the Russians lost to the western forces driving them back to their army from their entrench positions. The major effects of the Crimean War was that it led to the new leadership of the tsar Alexander II but, it created more grievances then resolving further economic problems.
 * 4) The serfs were emancipated because it did not suit the economic needs of a society who wanted and were trying to find independent positions with the west dominating world trade. The Russian emancipation of the serfs was different from the emancipation of the slaves in the United States was that the emancipation of the serfs was more generous by that serfs could hold parts of land that was sometimes fertile. While the slaves got their freedom and nothing else. The changes that were created were it helped create a larger urban force.
 * 5) The Zemstovs were a group of local politicians who were created from part of the reforms of Alexander II. The Zemstovs had a voice in regulating roads, schools and other regional policies; they gave some of the Russians new political experience and undertook important inquiries into local problems. Yet, the Zemstovs had no influence on national policies. So on some extend they were successful because it gave improvements to the society but, it could not affect national policies.
 * 6) The significance of the Trans-Siberian railroad was that it connected European Russia with the Pacific. The railroad development caused an expansion of Russians iron and coal sectors and caused earning foreign currency to become essential for paying for western machinery. Railroads were opened to new developments in Serbian and it brought an active and contested role in Asia.
 * 7) The economic reforms that were enacted by Sergrei Witte was he created high tariffs to protect the industries in Russia, improved in the bank system and encouraged western investors to built more factories to make more advanced technology.
 * 8) The signal that showed Russia heading toward a revolution was the social protests, the recurrent famines and the peasants resent redemption payment and taxes and either took over land or burned the records that showed what they owned. The intelligentsias wanted political freedom and social reforms by motivating terrorism. Another signal of Russia heading to a revolution was the Anarchists who wanted to abolish all formal government. Also Lenin’s group of Bolsheviks. And with all the groups protesting without being united it made it difficult to find a compromise.

Japan questions 1-6 > 2. What effect did the actions of Commodore Perry have on Japan? (Include details on Samurai discontent) > 3. List the actions taken by the Meiji State > 4. Explain how Japan Industrialized - (Private and government roles) > 5. List ways that Industrialization changed Japan > 6. What divisions within Japanese society were created by modernization? 1.The major developments in Japan in the early 1800s was the Japanese intellectual life and culture became more popular, for example the schools and academics becoming more expanded allowing the under class to learn. They went to commoner schools called terakoya. Neo-Confucianism remained dominate amongst the ruling elites leaving Buddhism to suffer. However, Japan stopped their influence relationship with China and switch over to the Dutch because to them the west was more superior. Another major development was that trading was starting to expand causing the Japanese to show signs of industrialization. 2. The effects of Commodore Perry’s actions had on Japan was that he was able to open Japan as a port for the United States to trade with because of the threat of being bombed. Another effect was that the samurai was seen as an opponent of the bureaucracy who was trying to appeal to the emperor. The samurai became more divided and saw an opportunity for a possible unseating of the shogun, leading to civil war and a political crisis. The final effect of Commodore Perry’s actions was that it led to the Meiji state. 3. The Meiji States actions were that it was set to the abolishment of feudalism and replacing the daimyos. The emperor’s power started to expand the power of the state to effect the economic and social change. Sent samurai officials to the United States and Western Europe to study their economic and politics and their technology. Major prerogative for the emperor along with the limitation for the lower house of the Diet, allowing them to pass laws with agreement from both houses and could approve of a budget. So the Meiji State caused Japans political structure allowing a centralized imperial rule. 4. Japan industrialized by that the government created banks to fund growing trade and provided a capital for industries. The Japanese built state-built railroads that spread across the country and the islands were connected by rapid steamers. A new economic structure depended on destroying the older restrictions, guilds and internal road tariffs were abolished in order to create a national market. The Government controlled the operations within the state like mines, shipyards and metallurgical plants. Farmers where given more things to help their agriculture. 5. Industrialization changed Japan by that in the Japanese society was disrupted by a massive population’s growth. Better nutrition and new medical provisions reduced the death rates. The steady population growth stained Japanese resources and stability and it led to low cost labor causing tensions between the classes. Introduced a universal education system providing primary schools to learn sciences. The Japanese because of industrialization became more westernized to help them become more modern. Hygiene spread in Japan causing them to brush their teeth regularly and obtain medicines. Adopted the Metric system and the calendar from the West. Industrialization of Japan also led to the Japanese to become superior when they gained influence in Korea and China. 6. The divisions in the Japanese society that was created by modernization was that the old wanted to keep the traditional standards and the young were more interested in the West, which troubled the society and stressed the importance of parental authority. Political was started to be abolished.
 * 1) Explain major developments in Japan in the early 1800's