People's movements in the 17th century in Russia were mass phenomena. The Time of Troubles is over. All spheres of public life were completely destroyed: the economy, politics, social relations, culture, spiritual development. Naturally, it was necessary to restore the economy. Many reforms and innovations hurt the population of that time. The result is a popular movement. We will try to analyze this topic in more detail.
Subject "History" (Grade 7): "People's Movements"
The period of the "rebellious age" is included in the mandatory school minimum. The course "Patriotic History" (Grade 7, "Popular Movements") highlights the following causes of social upheaval:
- Increase in taxes due to constant military conflicts.
- Attempts by the authorities to limit the Cossack autonomy.
- Increased red tape.
- Enslavement of peasants.
- Church reforms that led to a split amongclergy and population.
The above reasons give reason to believe that popular movements in the 17th century are associated not only with the peasantry, as it was before, but also with other social strata: the clergy, the Cossacks, the archers.
This means that powerful forces that know how to wield weapons begin to oppose the authorities. Cossacks and archers managed to gain combat experience in constant wars. Therefore, their participation in unrest in scale can be compared with civil wars.
S alt Riot
I would like to recall modern pensioners who actively monitor the prices of s alt in stores. An increase of one or two rubles today is accompanied by various reproaches and criticism of the authorities. However, the rise in s alt prices in the 17th century provoked a real riot.
July 1, 1648, a powerful wave of protest erupted. The reason was the additional duty on s alt, due to which the government decided to replenish the budget. The situation led to the fact that the protesters "intercepted" Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich when returning from prayer to the Kremlin. People complained to the "good tsar" about the actions of the "bad" boyar - the head of the Zemsky order, L. S. Pleshcheev. In the eyes of an ordinary man in the street, he alone was to blame for all the troubles of the state: red tape, embezzlement, raising prices not only for s alt, but also for other food products.
The "bad" boyar had to be sacrificed. “On the sly” the tsar got rid of not only the “scoundrel” Pleshcheev, but also his relative, boyar B. Morozov, his teacher. In fact, he was the "secret cardinal" in the country and solved almost all administrative issues. However, after this, the popular movements in the country did not end. Let's move on to the rest.
People's Movements (Grade 7, History of Russia): Copper Riot
The s alt situation has not taught the government to be cautious about reforms. There was a catastrophic lack of money in the country. And then the authorities carried out the most "killer" economic reform that could only be imagined - the devaluation of the coin.
The government introduced copper coins instead of silver money, which cost 10-15 less. Of course, it was possible to come up with wooden (in the truest sense of the word) rubles, but the authorities did not dare to tempt fate so much. Naturally, merchants stopped selling their goods for copper.
In July 1662, pogroms and riots began. Now people did not believe in a "good king". The estates of almost all the royal entourage were subjected to pogroms. The crowd even wanted to destroy the residence of the "anointed of God" in the village of Kolomenskoye. However, the troops arrived in time, and the king went out to negotiate.
After these events, the authorities brutally treated the rebels. Many people were executed, arrested, some had their hands, feet, tongues cut off. Those who were lucky were sent into exile.
The Revolt of Stepan Razin
If the previous popular movements were organized by the peaceful unarmed population, then in the uprising of Stepan Razin took part armed with combatCossack experience. And this turned out to be a more serious problem for the state.
The Cathedral Code of 1649 was to blame for everything. This document finally established serfdom. Of course, it began to form since the time of Ivan III, with the introduction of St. George's Day and the attachment of workers to the lands of feudal lords. However, the Council Code established a life-long search for fugitive peasants and their return to their former owners. This norm was contrary to the Cossack liberties. There was a centuries-old rule “no extradition from the Don”, which meant protecting everyone who got there.
By the mid-60s of the 17th century, a huge number of fugitive peasants had accumulated on the Don. This resulted in the following results:
- The impoverishment of the Cossacks, as there was simply not enough free land. In addition, there were no wars, which traditionally reduce the population of the Cossacks and serve as a source of we alth.
- The concentration of a huge combat-ready army in one place.
All this, of course, could not but result in popular movements
Zipun Campaign
The first stage of the uprising of peasants and Cossacks led by S. Razin went down in history as a "campaign for zipuns", that is, for prey (1667-1669). The purpose of the campaign was to plunder merchant ships and caravans carrying cargo from Russia to Persia. In fact, Razin's detachment was a pirate gang that blocked the main trading artery on the Volga, captured the Yaitsky town, defeated the Persian fleet, and then returned in 1669 with rich booty onDon.
This successful and unpunished campaign inspired many other Cossacks and peasants who were suffocating from poverty. They massively reached out to S. Razin. Now the idea of making a revolution in the country has already arisen. S. Razin announced a campaign against Moscow.
Second stage (1670 - 1671)
In fact, S. Razin's speech resembles a future peasant war led by E. Pugachev. Wide social strata, large numbers, participation in the conflict of local national tribes speak of a full-scale civil war. In general, national history (popular movements in particular) has never seen such mass demonstrations of its own people before this time.
Progress of the uprising
The rebels immediately took the city of Tsaritsyn. We approached the well-fortified fortress of Astrakhan, which then surrendered without a fight. All governors and nobles were executed.
Success provoked a massive transition to the side of Razin in such large cities as Samara, Saratov, Penza, which indicates a serious political crisis within Russian society. In addition to the Russian population, the peoples of the Volga region also reached out to him: Chuvash, Tatars, Mordovians, Mari, and others.
Reasons for the large number of rebels
The total number of rebels reached 200 thousand people. There are several reasons why thousands were drawn to Razin: some were tired of poverty, taxes, others were attracted by the status of “free Cossacks”, and still others were criminals. Many national communities wanted autonomy and even independence after the victory of the revolution.
The end of the uprising, massviolence
However, the goals of the rebels were not destined to come true. Lacking organizational unity and common goals, the army was uncontrollable. In September 1670, she tried to take Simbirsk (modern Ulyanovsk), but failed, after which she began to disintegrate.
The main number, led by S. Razin, went to the Don, many fled to the interior regions. Against the rebels, the punitive expedition was led by the governor, Prince Yu. Baryatinsky, which in fact means the use of all available military forces. Fearing for their lives, the rebels betrayed their leader, who was then quartered.
Up to 100 thousand people were killed and tortured by the official authorities. Russia has never known such mass repressions before this time.
