Russia,+Japan+and+the+West


 * Russia and Japan: Industrialization outside the West**

1. What was the Decembrist uprising? What were its causes and effects? A revolt of Western-oriented army officers in 1825 inspired the new tsar, Nicholas I, to still more adamant conservatism. 289 Decembrists were tried; five were executed, 31 imprisoned, and the rest banished to Siberia. Their martyrdom inspired later generations of Russian dissidents.
 * Russia**

2. What were the weaknesses of the Russian economy? Russia's economic position did not keep pace with its diplomatic aspirations. They just fell behind.

3. What caused the Crimean War? what were its major effects? Crimean War shattered the European order crafted by Prince Metternich in 1815 and resulted in new alliances that altered the power of Europe.

4. Why were serfs emancipated? how did their emancipation differ from the emancipation of slaves in the U.S.? What changes did it create? Serfdom suited the economic needs of a society seeking an independent position in Western dominated world trade. Emancipation of the serfs was more generous than the liberation of slaves in the Americas. Serfs got most of the land, in contrast to slaves, who received their freedom but nothing else.

5 What were the Zemstvoes? How successful were they? The tsar created local political councils (zemstvoes) which had a voice in regulating roads, schools, and other regional policies. Wasn't as successful because the zemstva system was shut down in most of Russia after the October Revolution (1917)

6. What was the significance of the Trans-Siberian railroad? The significance of the trans-Siberian railroad was that it connected European Russia with the Pacific. Making trade and transportation easier.

7. What economic reforms were enacted by Sergei Witte Under Sergie Witte the government enacted high tariffs to protect new Russian industry, improved its baking system, and encouraged Western investors to build great factories with advanced tech.

8. What were the signs that Russia was headed to revolution? (think about - intelligentsia, anarchists, Marxists, Bolsheviks.) A group of radical intelligentsia (a Russian term for articulate intellectuals as a class) became increasingly active. Many of Russian radicals were anarchists, who sought to abolish all formal government. Marxism is a world view of a political ideology for how to change and improve society by implementing socialism. Lastly the Bolsheviks were Russian Marxists (factions)

1. Explain major developments in Japan in the early 1800's Japan was able to combine existing strengths and traditions with significant reforms. A long budget reform sport late in the 18th century built a successful momentum for a time, but a shorter effort between 1841-1843 was notably unsuccessful. This weakened the shogunate by the 1850s and hampered its response to the crisis induced by Western pressure. By 1859 more then 40% of all man + over 15% of all women were literate.
 * Japan: Transformation without Revolution**

2. What effect did the actions of Commodore Perry have on Japan? (include details on Samurai discontent) Two ports were opened to commerce. No alternative but to open up Japan. Japanese grown impatient with strict isolation. Daimyos were opposed to the new concessions. Samurai opponents of the bureaucracy were appealing to the emperor.

3. List the actions taken by the Meiji State make Japan a democratic state with equality among all its people; boundaries between the social classes of were gradually broken down; samurai lost all their privileges; establishment of human rights (religious freedom); education system was reformed (compulsory edu); new army modelled;

4. Explain how Japan Industrialized - (Private and government roles) Army was further improved by upgrading armaments according to Western standards. New government banks funded growing trade and provided capital for industry. State built railroads spread across the country. New methods raised agricultural output to feed the people. Guilds and internal road tariffs were abolished to crate a mational market. Farmers helped motivate expansion of production and the introduction of new fertilizers and equipment.

5. List ways that Industrialization changed Japan Industrialization changed Japan because it generate a more aggressive foreign policy. Made Japan to go from massive population growth to steady population growth because of better nutritions and new medical provisions reduced death rates, and the cut on births. A universal education system which led to Japanese students going abroad to study technical subject in other countries.

6. What division within Japanese society were created by modernization? Many Japanese conservatives resented the passion other Japanese displayed for Western fashions. Disputes between generations, with the old clinging to traditional standards and the young more interested in Western styles.

What civilization features had Japan and China shared before the 19th century? In what ways were Japanese political institutions more adaptable than Chinese institutions? Why was Russia also able to change earlier and more fundamentally than 19th-century China?
 * In Depth: The Separate Paths of Japan and China**

A civilization features that Japan and China shared before the 19th century was that they both choose isolation from alrger world currents until the West forced new openings. Both coutries lagged behind the West becasue of their self-containment, hwich was why Western industrialization caught them unprepared. Japan's slower goernment growth had allowed a stronger, more autonomous merchant tradition. Feudal traditions limited teh heavy hand ofgovernment controls wjhile stimulating a sense of military competitiveness, as in the West. Russia was able to change earlier and more fundamentally then 19th-century China because