Potato Riots

The potato riots of 1840-1844 occurred in the Russian Empire during the reign of Nicholas the First. These occurred after a widespread famine due to poor wheat growth. When Nicholas tried to impose the production of potatoes on the serfs there was a widespread revolt, mostly due to poor communication. Confused serfs refused to grow the potatoes and started the bloodiest riots of the time. The result, however, maintained that the serfs had to grow the potatoes. This goes to show how poor the communication was in imperial Russia.