Development and End of the Russian Empire

After the death of Peter I, many governments who provided his own in the development of Empire followed. One of them was Catherine II also nicknamed La Grande. Under his leadership the empire continued to expand geographically, annexing territories in Crimea, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine. He favored the Nobles with the “Nobility Charter”, allowed the enrichment of the nobility and the state, leading to impoverishment as a result of the peasantry.

An event of global significance as it was the French Revolution influenced the intellectuals who began to demand freedom and equality. These claims were suppressed and censored especially Pavel I, Emperor imposed cultural censorship, exile and banned from traveling abroad.

The liberal reforms come from the hand of Alexander I, but their ideas change over time. Napoleon invaded Russia with his army in what is known as the “Patriotic War”. The victory of the Russian army, also made up of peasants, made Russia continental power.

Absolutism led to the creation of secret societies claiming that the land is distributed and believe that a Constitution. A large and bloody repression began the government of Nicholas I. His conviction about the divine right, led the new Tsar to favor further aristocrats and prevent avancen.La liberal ideas abolition of serfdom was among the reforms undertaken by Alexander II. He also made the reform of the judicial system, eased censorship and said the university autonomy. Despite these improvements, poverty and the need for land did not decrease, which encouraged the revolutionary situation. A secret society assassinated Czar in 1881 with the main leaders.

Plekhanov, an intellectual associated with Marx and Engels socialist ideas led to Russia. Together with Lenin, it would be one of the founders of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party.