Autocracy and Oppression

Where it surfaces

• Memoirs of a Revolutionist

  Kropotkin's early experiences with the rigid hierarchy of the Corps of Pages and the autocratic rule of the Tsar highlight the oppressive nature of the Russian state.

• Part I: Childhood

  The authoritarian rule of Kropotkin's father and the broader tsarist autocracy are depicted as oppressive forces that stifle freedom and perpetuate injustice.

• III

  The father's military ideals under Nicholas I and the censorship of Ryleyev's poetry illustrate the autocratic regime's control over culture and individual expression.

• Two Years After Mother's Death: A New Life Begins

  General Timofeev's tyrannical behavior and the father's authoritarian parenting reflect the autocratic spirit of Nicholas I's Russia.

• V

  Nicholas I's absolute control over the nobility's lives is evident: he personally selects Peter for the page corps and forces Alexander into military education, demonstrating the autocrat's power over family destinies.

• VI

  The arbitrary power of the father over his serfs, including sending them as apprentices or to the army, reflects the autocratic structure of Russian society.

• VIII

  The father's absolute authority over his serfs and the use of military conscription as punishment reflect the autocratic system.

• IX

  The death of Nicholas I, the 'iron despot,' and the fear of serf revolt highlight the oppressive autocratic regime.

• Entering the Corps of Pages

  The chapter highlights the oppressive censorship under Nicholas I, which banned or mutilated works by Gogol, Pushkin, and others.

• Part II: The Corps of Pages

  The rigid hierarchy and harsh discipline of the Corps reflect the autocratic system of Tsarist Russia.

• I

  Girardot's despotic rule over the Corps mirrors the autocratic oppression of Tsarist Russia, with a system of fear, espionage, and brutal discipline.

• Stormy Times and Imperial Pageantry

  The captain's attempt to crush the pages' liberties and the severe punishments for rebellion illustrate the oppressive nature of authority within the corps, mirroring broader autocratic rule.

• VIII

  Alexander II's weak character, the muzzling of the press, and the influence of the serfdom party illustrate autocratic oppression.

• Chapter IX: The Tsar and the Court

  The chapter details the Tsar's reactionary turn, the closing of Sunday-schools, brutal suppression in Poland, and the pervasive espionage system that watches even the Emperor.

• The Great Fire and the Turning Point

  Alexander II's threatening speech to new officers and the subsequent execution of three officers and a soldier illustrate the autocratic regime's brutal suppression of dissent.

• The Polish Insurrection and Its Aftermath

  The Russian autocracy's brutal suppression of the Polish uprising, including mass executions and exiles, exemplifies oppressive rule.

• IV

  The arrest of Chernyshevsky and the bureaucratic indifference to Siberian realities reflect the autocratic state's control and ignorance.

• St. Petersburg in the 1870s: The Reign of Reaction

  The chapter details how Alexander II, manipulated by police chiefs, signs repressive decrees and rules through fear, while corruption and plunder go unchecked.

• V

  The chapter details the brutal suppression of dissent after Karakozov's attempt, including torture and execution.

• The Women's Educational Movement in St. Petersburg

  The government's opposition to women's education, including Alexander II's personal hostility and the state police's persecution of women students, illustrates autocratic repression.

• XIV

  The tsarist government crushed all legal opposition, treated youth as suspects, and stifled Zémstvo initiatives.

• I

  The arbitrary power of the Emperor to grant or deny basic necessities like pen and ink, and the pervasive surveillance by gendarmes.

• III

  The arbitrary power of the Third Section, the Tsar's personal vindictiveness, and the brutal treatment of Alexander Kropotkin and his family.

• The Struggle Intensifies

  Alexander II's response to revolutionary activity—proclaiming a state of siege, ordering hangings, and creating military governors—illustrates the oppressive nature of the autocracy.

• IX

  Alexander III's resolve to remain absolute ruler, the formation of the Holy League and Okhrana, and the suppression of dissent.

• XI

  The Russian autocracy's use of secret police, spies, and political manipulation to suppress dissent, including the kidnapping of Prince Brattenberg and the armistice negotiations.