Russian interest in Central Asia increases greatly in the nineteenth century, sparked by nominal concern over British designs on the region; by anger over the situation of Russian citizens held as slaves; and by the desire to control the trade in the region and to establish a secure source of cotton for Russia.

When the United States Civil War prevents cotton delivery from Russia's primary supplier, the southern United States, Central Asian cotton assumes much greater importance for Russia.

As soon as the Russian conquest of the Caucasus is completed in the late 1850s, therefore, the Russian Ministry of War begins to send military forces against the Central Asian khanates.