5.4 Tsarist reaction and the radical opposition after 1881

Question 1

What was the new Tsar’s reaction after the assassination of his father in March 1881?

Answer 1

Alexander increased security and went to the fortified castle of Gatchina

Question 2

What did Alexander III increasing security do to the populist movement?

Answer 2

This effectively ended the populist movement though they still had a few underground meetings

Question 3

Give an example of a ‘self-educated’ circle as and example of radical opposition after 1881

Answer 3

Muscovite Society of Translators, translated and reproduced foreign socialist documents and were in contact with exiles.

Question 4

What did Plekhanov do which was radical after 1881?

++ What impact did this have?

Answer 4

Plekhanov started the ‘Emancipation of Labour’ 1883 which translated and smuggled books into Russia

++ They had a limited impact as well as the setback that German contact Deich was arrested though was still vital in advancing Marxism

Question 5

When was the assassination of Alexander II?

Answer 5

1st March 1881

Question 6

Who was Alexander II’s sucessor?

Answer 6

Alexander III

Question 7

What was the opposition movement like by the 1890’s?

Answer 7

Opposition movements appeared to stand little chance versus Tsarist opposition. YET, as industrialisation increased so did the number of workers’ organisations, illegal trade unions and Marxist groups so ideology was actually spreading faster/ more widely.

• Small changes that would have massive long-term importance