The Polish revolt

• In January 1863 the Polish revolt happened where the Polish had seen the emancipation and wanted reform in Poland with more political autonomy
• Rise in Polish nationalism
• Demands for full or partial independence- groups within Poland disagreed with this
• Wielopolski, prime minister of Poland in 1862, wanted partial independence. Greeted with suspicion as many viewed him as a Tsar lapdog
• Wielopolski pushing for reforms and policys which gave Poland a sense of national identity was done with Russian guidance
• Wielopolski responded to his attempted assassination with the forced conscription of young male poles into the Russian army. These failed to cooperate and they fled to the woods to create a rebellion
• Jan 1863 to 1864
• The rebels threatened the stability of the government through guerrilla warfare
• The rebel leader Dabrowski, was an officer trained in the Russian army
• by the middle of 1864 Russian army stepped in to get some control
• Wielopolski fled the control> control given to Milyutin
• Milutin put hundreds of Polish nobles exiled to Siberia, estates given to Russian officials, Polish peasants emancipated on favourable terms, rural district councils set up and contained members from all of society
• Milytin's plan: limited the level of nationalism, Russia became the official language of administration, catholic church not allowed to communicate with Vatican
• 1892 the Polish socialist party was formed, followed by the 1893 Social democratic party