Alex III and Aleks (80s) Flashcards
Give a high level overview of Aleks’ motivations for assassination
FAILURE OF POPULISM -> vacuum for other ideas -> everyone READ Marx but no concrete ideas yet
Indebted to peasant class -> science, nihilist ideals -> scientific reasoning for violence !
WAS science nerd
- What gives? Oppressive nature of state against uni but ALSO rev ideas of Lavrov’s take on Marxism and Darwinism
- 1886 -> sold gold watch he won for research and used money to make a bomb -> knew how to make dynamite from science
- Also made manifesto of the Terrorist Faction
JOINS circle w/ friends
- Set up communal canteen and study group -> shut down by state -> rename “People’s Will”
- Then 1886 demonstrations (memory of Dobroliubov), blocked entrance to cemetery
- begins plots.
Development of plot:
- HAVE CONNECTIONS: -> Polish organizations and revs in Vil’na (Lithuania) -> hardcore rev groups. Got bomb info from them like GWTDT
- GOAL: justified -> no free speech allowed by state (Dobroliubov), but need to teach peasants about socialism
- Therefore need act of terror to CONVINCE GOVT to get freedom of speech through constitutional reforms -> THEN get out there to spread propaganda.
- Seen as more CONCRETE / ATTAINABLE GOAL OVER INITIAL PW
- NEED TO START MASS MOVEMENT THIS WAY
- Plot 1st of March for anniversary of Alex II St. Isaac’s Church service
Police got wind -> Sudeiken’s methods and arrested them. (dude wrote letter to girlfriend, explaining)
Darwinism:
- . Argues that his theory doesn’t apply to humans. Higher level of cognition, can act beyond natural laws (souls) -> different patterns. Weakened members of group allowed to survive in humanity (therefore not survival of fittest) Group can act to ensure everyone’s life is ensured/meaningful -> can be ALTRUISTIC
- Marx interprets this as humans being NATURALLY SOCIALISTS -> SCIENTIFIC BASIS FOR SOCIALISM/ALTRUISM
Contrast to people’s Will:
- replace Tsarism w/ constitutional regime and guaranteed POLITICAL FREEDOM
- Before this -> political freedom seen as bad by revs -> would consolidate rule of emerging bourgeoisie instead of skipping revs to social democracy via communes
- irst people’s will: break wheel and establish socialism and ignite hopes for revolution by demonstrating that tsar was fallible which would erode peasant/tsar bond
- Second people’s will and Aleks: That’s dumb, but we can scare the govt into enacting REFORM to get a bourgeoisie and political freedom so we can educate peasants and spread propaganda AMONG WORKING CLASS (SOCIAL DEMOCRACY)
ADDING MIDDLE STEP OF ACCEPTING CONSTITUTIONAL MIDDLE CLASS BUT NOT CAPITALISM -> ONLY BECAUSE NECESSARY STEP. SAME AS END OF PW PROGRAM
Lavrov:
- all this in line with Lavrov’s ideas
- PARTY PROGRAM HE WRITES: Program sides with Lavrov -> socialism highest natural state of humanity
Accepts Marx’s view that capitalism is inevitable progression of social darwinism, but DIFFERS in that it thinks RUSSIA IS UNIQUE -> PEASANT COMMUNE AND WILLING?ABLE INTELLIGENTSIA CAN SKIP OVER IT.
FORMATION OF TERORIST GROUPS A NATURAL PROGRESSION IN NATURAL HISTORY -> ONLY CURRENTLY VIABLE FORM TO ACHIEVE SOCIALISM (THE HIGHEST NATURAL STATE OF HUMANITY)
- THEREFORE: JUSTIFIES REVOLUTIONARY VIOLENCE BASED ON DARWINIAN/MARXIST IDEAS OF EVOLUTION
Explain the impact that Aleks had on rev and state actions
State Crackdowns:
- Unprofessional (letter writing)
- Cracked down harshly -> 200 arrested, 15 guilty, 5 executed (solitary)
- Almost verbatim like Nick and Decs/Petrashevsky, Alesx II and Karakozov
- Anna arrested because Aleks used her address on a letter (didn’t know about this -> gets five hard years in Siberia, but doesn’t serve, gets exile instead)
- Others sent to SIberia w/o trial
- NOT popular courts like 1870s and getting acquitted by jurries
- NOW -> in front of senate court (secret, not public) Proceedings closed to attain hold of message
Revs:
- Shift AWAY from terrorism once again (not viable, severe consequences from state)
- Need to preserve underground at all costs so avoid further crackdowns. So what now, go back to peasants?
- NEW group -> urban workers (can hide from govt here) -> solidify Marxist approach. Plekhanov comes back -> serious study of Marx and realizes industrial class growing super fast -> soon will have proletariat (Marx applicable therefore)
Overall explain the state goal and actions of this period
Can you guess goal? Preserve autocracy
- Against students, nationalities/ethnicities, and other revolutionary threats
REACTION to ALEX II:
- New measures under Alex III
- Temporary Regulations: kinda like martial law.
Uni statute: FEAR SCHOOLS AND UNIS AS SUBVERSIVE HOTBEDS
CHALLENGES THROUGHOUT EMPIRE
Nationalism:
- Russians a MINORITY within Russia (1897 census)
- Mostly other slavs (Poles, Lithuanians, Ukrainians…) -> far from a unified group
- 45% “great Russians”
- Autocrats fear that “plague” of nationalism will seep from Poland to other slav states (Baltics, etc) -> clamp down on Ukrainian intellectuals trying to propagate nationalism
- 5m Jews -> Pale of Settlement -> poor conditions (see Social Democracy Lec and smuggling)
Industrialization and Central Authority
- Under Witte, others, Russia industrializing - ural pop actually grows PROPORTIONATELY to urbanization even though cities are exploding
- Doubled in 67-97 (urban pop)
- Provincial govts: representatives of tsar in the provinces (like governer generals)
- None of these bodies (OR STATE COUNCIL) have authority to BEGIN legislation or block it
- Senate: about consistancy of law, still doesn’t limit powers
- Overall VERY powerful CENTRAL govt -> lack of provincial autonomy / corruption
- Enter Zemstvos -> Zemstvos (New local governments for provinces and districts -> SUPPLEMENTING governors and allowinf participation in local govt by normal peeps)
After Alex II
1881 state of “reinforced security” -> MORE POWER GIVEN TO PROVINCIAL GOVTS AND CITY PREFECTS to fine, search, deport people -> limit gatherings -> SHUT DOWN AND INTERFERE WTH ZEMSTVOS -> control over newspapers and critical content
UNIS/STUDENTS AS HOTBEDS
- 1884 University Statute: destroyed autonomy of students and faculty -> curriculum developed by ministers now -> uniforms, tuition hike
- 1889 Land Captain offices new career paths -> allowed greated control over peasants in law and admin -> means CENTRAL GOVT AUTHORITY IS EXERCISED TO UNPRECEDENTED DEGREE -> NOBLES ALSO GET TO POWER TRIP.
- REPLACED ZEMSTOVS in many cases -> instead of locals gatheirng to discuss local politics, govt instead doubles down on central control over provinces and hands reigns to nobility as police -> keeps peasants as separate class
- 1890 statue also ensures noble dominance in Zemstvos by filling membership quotas -> GIVES CENTRAL GOVT MORE POWER TOO VIA LAND CAPTAIN OFFICES (not private LLs anymore)
- THAT SAID -> Alex III also promoting change (industrialization not incompatible with autocracy ike Harkonans)
What are Zemstvos and how did both Alexi approach them?
Restrictions on Zemstvos:
- New local governments for provinces and districts -> SUPPLEMENTING governors
- Reformist idea in origin: allow “responsible” people to take part in local govt. Poland uprising of 1863 means they’re implemented still, but stripped of a lot of local power (Alex II wants to retain central control of absolutism)
1881 state of “reinforced security” -> MORE POWER GIVEN TO PROVINCIAL GOVTS AND CITY PREFECTS (STREAMLINING OF STATE?AUTOCRAT POWER AS OPPOSED TO LOCAL ELECTED BODIES)to fine, search, deport people -> limit gatherings -> SHUT DOWN AND INTERFERE WTH ZEMSTVOS -> control over newspapers and critical content
Explain Alex III’s motives when it came to harsh reforms
Overall motive:
- Future of Russian greatness his overall goal / responsibility
- Like Nick -> NOT JUST REACTIONARY -> needed rapid industrialization which meant keeping the PEACE
- Capitalist industrialization changing noble and peasant lives, regime thinks it ca still balance this (urging nobles to play leading roles in army, local admins under Alex III) -> 1889 Land Captain offices
SO SECURE POWER BASE of NOBLES WHO WERE ERODING
MORE CENTRAL GOVT CONTROL INSTEAD OF PRIVATE LLs
Attain industrialization: railway itself secures empire
- Trans Siberian Railroad:
- 1891 would span all Russia (greater control over Pacific territories) (PLANNED BY ALEX III)
- Greater control over eastern territories (vulnerable to military assault), would increase industrialization, solving arable land crisis/overpopulation by settlement in East (like western expansion in US)
- Also supported by Witte, died before completed
Also fearful of revs and students:
- - First laws were about stopping “disloyalty” to regime IN RESPONSE TO ALEX II -> propagandists, etc also profs and students for promoting criticism of govt within LOWER classes
- 1881 state of “reinforced security” -> MORE POWER GIVEN TO PROVINCIAL GOVTS AND CITY PREFECTS to fine, search, deport people -> limit gatherings -> SHUT DOWN AND INTERFERE WTH ZEMSTVOS -> control over newspapers and critical content
- “temporary” law lol
- 1884 University Statute: destroyed autonomy of students and faculty -> curriculum developed by ministers now
- 1889 Land Captain offices new career paths -> allowed greated control over peasants in law and admin -> means CENTRAL GOVT AUTHORITY IS EXERCISED TO UNPRECEDENTED DEGREE WHEREAS BEFORE WAS PRIVATE CONTROL-> NOBLES ALSO GET TO POWER TRIP.
- REPLACED ZEMSTOVS in many cases -> instead of locals gatheirng to discuss local politics, govt instead doubles down on central control over provinces and hands reigns to nobility as police -> keeps peasants as separate class
- 1890 statue also ensures noble dominance in Zemstvos by filling membership quotas
- THAT SAID -> Alex III also promoting change (industrialization not incompatible with autocracy ike Harkonans)
Explain Nick II’s influences
- Influences on retaining autocracy:
- 26, little experience w/ affairs of state
- Tutored by very conservative Pobedonostsev (Lay head of Orthodox church) -> VERY AUTOCRATIC -> needed to save Russia from corruption
- Communes, Church, autocracy make Russia unique like Official Nationalism -> ENEMIES were liberalism and democracy and individual thought (ESPECIALLY represented by educated nobles and the Int)
- Witte also wants the centralized state economy -> wants massive change (as opposed to lay head) -> wants to CATCH UP with west and promote industrialization
- Specifically through railroad boom -> industry -> urbanization -> class of entrepreneurs would emerge
- Therefore competing views on how to SAVE AUTOCRACY
- OVERALL: makes no immediate changes to Alex III policies -> wanted PERSONAL SECURITY of status quo
- Partly because stampede at coronation kills 1300
On Zemstvos
- Anti Zemstvos -> against autocracy
- Witte also -> would block state economic structure by granting local authority -> also LL nobles blocking industrial reform w/ them (remember, quotas) because they relied on agricultural labour
- Witte writes letter denouncing Zemstvos to Nick II, Nick agrees and fires guy who sponsored project
- RESULT: Zemstvo leaders now want to join revs and get concessions from regime
- Were ELECTED (so threatened autocracy) but this was an illusion because of gentry quotas.
Explain the impact of the 1890s famines and the subsequent rise of Marxism (According to Hutchinson)
BASICALLY: proves capitalism here and dangerous, but good for Marxists (Lenin) who want to agitate peasants into working class
Famine Overview:
- 91-92 Defining event of decade
- Alex III raises relief funds w/ lotteries -> seed and fodder at discount prices
- SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE -> govt steps in w this and seed loan program if 93
IMPACT:
- Famine seen on left as CATALYST FOR CHANGE
- Renewed movement following suppression of 81
- Indictment of absolutism -> MORAL responsibility of exploitation of the people for brining in capitalist industrialization
- Marxism replaces populism here
Also continued crackdowns from under Alex III -> police, censorship, etc -> makes sparking terror seem like bad way. Marxism posits that revolution is INEVITABLE progress of human condition
- Also, capitalism already emerging and “too late” to skip it
- Think Marxism means tsarism won’t survive industrialization because of the messy social change it causes -> therefore WANT capitalism UNLIKE POPULISTS who want to skip it
- Needed a bourgeoise revolution too
How does Aleks occupy a weird third position between Populism and Marxism?
Populism -> terrorism -> Marxism
Populism:
- no violence, peasant commune ideal for SKIPPING capitalism
- Herzen, Bakunin
- Need to spark dormant peasantry who are inherently socialist -> will rise up after propaganda (TTP) and then immediately establish socialism
- Do NOT want capitalism and inheritors of Bourgeoisie
- Fails, peasants monarchists and state repressive of mass movement
People’s WIll
- In RESPONSE to failure, still want to upstart socialism -> shatter illusions of tsar bond w/ peasants and ignite revolt
- Eventually settle to gain political freedom (free elections, of assembly, speech) from Alex III following assassination
Aleks -> sees this as valid -> need POLITICAL FREEDOM to agitate for mass movement. Violence the only way to GET political freedom -> therefore assassination. Socialism natural state -> justified because of science / need to get to that altruistic advanced stage
Social Democracy DESIRED by Aleks
- Followed Marx, need working class to acquire socialism
- Socialists therefore need to make sure workers were indoctrinated into socialism and properly organized
- SOCIAL DEMOCRACY UNAVAILABLE UNDER AUTOCRACY BECAUSE NO POLITICAL FREEDOM TO ASSEMBLE/ETC
- THEREFORE: ALEKS AS THIRD STAGE OF SOCIALIST REVOLUTIONARIES -> (to the people -> terrorism -> this)
- Working in open day to spread propaganda and churn revolution, but need to acquire political freedoms first (why terror still necessary)
- NEED POLITICAL FREEDOM -> TERROR ONLY VIABLE WAY TO GET THIS
Marxism -> need mass movement thats adaptable to Russia Underground
- terrorism not viable because of crackdowns, doesn’t work
- WANTS emerging Bourgeoisie middle class to cement capitalism -> pivot to WORKER because easier to work with and radicalize -> will lead revolt and ignite peasants
Explain Police sophisitication during this time
POLICE TACTICS AND SOPHISTICATION:
- THIRD SECTION REPLACED with Okhrana
- THIRD dept had been ONLY REACTIVE
- Ok is about predicting and anticipating crime.
- Georgy Sudeikin: architect of provocation
- Pay people to pose as revs and infiltrate rev orgs
- Read correspondance (illegal to do)
- Tried to CONVINCE revs using logic early on: you’re actually HURTING reform -> actually successful. Turns dozens of revs into informants
Evidence:
- BLACK CABINETS: govt groups who read correspondance -> 20 people read 380,000 letters lmao. Discovered letter to girlfriend 1887
- Figner arrested earlier on in 1881 -> Degaev informant paid, then forced to secretly run remainder of PW by state in wake of Alex III measuresOverall: POLICE EVOLUTION
- state operations in OPEN to stop revs -> but now also going UNDERGROUND using police
- This evolution is HOW STATE WILL ACT FOR REMAINDER OF PERIOD
