1. Serfdom before 1855

What was a major factor preventing the modernization of the Russian armed forces in the 1850s?

• Limited access to advanced weaponry
• Lack of financial resources
• Inability to recruit trained officers
• Need to alter the institution of serfdom

Answer explanation

The Russian armed forces could not modernize their recruitment system without eradicating serfdom, as it was a significant obstacle.

Why did Dmitrii Milyutin emphasize the need for a reform in recruitment?

• To establish a reserve of trained men for wartime
• To increase military spending
• To reduce the size of the nobility
• To improve the living conditions of soldiers

Answer explanation

Milyutin pointed out that modernization was essential for creating a reserve of trained personnel to support a more effective army.

Which group comprised about half of the pool of recruits for the Russian army prior to the reforms?

• Common laborers
• Serfs
• Nobility
• Merchants

Answer explanation

Approximately half of the military recruits were serfs of the nobility, which hindered recruitment reform efforts.

What did state officials recognize about serfdom before the Crimean War?

• It provided stability to the armed forces
• It was supported by the majority of the population
• It was a liability that did not serve the state's interests
• It was an essential part of the economy

Answer explanation

State officials perceived serfdom as a growing liability and believed it hindered the state’s interests.

What change was necessary for the Russian army to emulate Western European forces?

• Improving international diplomacy
• Increasing the size of the navy
• Creating a system of professional soldiers
• Eradicating serfdom for broader recruitment

Answer explanation

To align with Western military systems, it was crucial to eliminate serfdom in order to expand recruitment for the army.

What percentage of the Russian Empire's total population were serfs on the eve of the abolition of serfdom?

• 50%
• 20%
• 35%
• 90%

Answer explanation

Approximately 35% of the Empire's population were serfs before the reform.

Which social class made up less than 1% of the Russian Empire's population?

• Serfs
• Nobles
• Peasants
• Clergy

Answer explanation

The nobility constituted a small fraction of the Empire's overall population.

What were serfs required to provide in return for the use of land?

• Labour and/or payments
• Gift taxes
• Trade agreements
• Required military service

Answer explanation

Serfs had obligations to their estate owners, usually in labor and/or cash payments.

Why did the nobility defend the institution of serfdom?

• To maintain democratic control
• To extract income from their estates
• To protect peasant rights
• Out of loyalty to the Tsar

Answer explanation

Serfdom allowed nobles to extract more income from the land than they could from a free peasantry.

Which of the following best describes the economic impact of serfdom on the nobility?

• It allowed them to increase their overall wealth.
• It hindered agricultural production.
• It promoted fair trade practices.
• It limited their income potential.

Answer explanation

Serfdom enabled nobles to maximize their share of peasant labor products, increasing their wealth.