1855-1881 Alexander II Flashcards
What was the nature of the Tsarist army pre-reform?
It was the largest in Europe, with conscripts serving long terms to prevent discontent in villages, and soldiers had limited rights.
What were the key events of the Crimean War?
The Crimean War occurred from 1853-56 and resulted in a shocking defeat for Russia on home turf due to outclassed weapons, inefficient organization, and bad leadership.
What was the personality of Alexander II?
He was active in the military, toured Russia and Europe, and was influenced by liberal ideas from his tutor and family.
What were the reasons for the emancipation of serfs in 1861?
Reasons included moral considerations, political risks of revolt, military needs after the Crimean War, and economic benefits of free labor.
What were the terms of the Emancipation Statute of 1861?
23 million serfs were legally freed, allowed to keep land, required to make redemption payments for 49 years, and landowners were compensated.
What were the consequences of emancipation?
Peasants felt cheated, nobles were disgruntled, and the reforms appeased no one, leading to over 1000 disturbances in 1861.
What were the local government reforms of 1864 and 1870?
Elected zemstvos were established for local services, improving infrastructure but favoring nobles in the electoral system.
What changes were made in the judicial reform of 1864?
The Western court system was adopted, ensuring judicial independence and the use of juries, but had limited impact in rural areas.
What military reforms were introduced from 1861?
Universal conscription was established, service was reduced to 15 years, and military training and organization improved.
What were the key aspects of education reform in the 1860s?
Zemstvos ran rural schools, increasing the number of schools and promoting critical thinking through diverse subjects.
What changes occurred in censorship during the 1860s?
There was no need for prior clearance for publications, leading to more books published and increased critical journalism.
What were the assassination attempts on Alexander II?
Assassination attempts occurred in 1866, 1867, 1879 (twice), 1880, and were successful in 1881.
What was the counter-reform led by the 3rd Section?
Led by Shuvalov, it involved vetting political appointments, closing periodicals, and increasing censorship.
What was the education counter-reform led by Tolstoy?
The Ministry of Education controlled primary schools, favoring classical subjects and restricting university admissions.
What changes were made in the justice counter-reform led by Pahlen?
Open show trials were used, and trials were moved to military courts.
What was the Loris-Melikov constitution of 1881?
It proposed reforms including the abolition of the Third Section, but was never enacted due to Alexander II’s assassination.
What were the key reforms during Reutern’s tenure (1862-78)?
Reforms included new tax collection, state and municipal banks, reduced import duties, and government subsidies for railway development.
What were the successes of Reutern’s reforms?
The GDP averaged 6% annually, with significant developments in oil, ironworks, and the textile industry.
What were the limitations of Reutern’s economic policies?
A third of government revenue went to debt repayment, and peasants remained poor with limited domestic consumption.
What were the later economic policies from 1878-81?
Protectionism continued, with the abolition of the salt excise tax and increased state-owned railway construction.
What characterized Russian society in the 1850s?
The population was 70 million, with 90% being peasants, and the Orthodox Church comprised 70% of the population.
What was Russification?
It involved suppressing non-Russian cultures, such as the Ukrainian language ban and concessions to Latvians and Estonians.
What was the nature of antisemitism in Russia?
Antisemitism was prevalent in lower classes, fueled by the church, and Jewish settlement was restricted after the 1864 Polish revolt.
What was the Young Russia movement?
Emerging in 1862, it believed revolution was the only way forward and was associated with nihilism.
