Alexander 2nd Domestic Reforms

Question 1

What years were the military reforms?

Answer 1

1874-75

Question 2

Who was responsible for the military reforms?

Answer 2

Dmitry Milyutin

Question 3

What were the military reforms of conscription?

Answer 3

Compulsory across all classes from 21.
Active service reduced from 25 to 15 years.
10 years in the reserves

Question 4

What were the military reforms?

Answer 4

Less severe punishments + abolishment of military colonies.
Better provisioning and medical care.
Modern weaponry introduced and a better command structure.
Military colleges established and literacy improved.

Question 5

What were the issues and failures following the military reforms?

Answer 5

Issues of supply and leadership continued - struggled against Turkey 1877-78 and lost Russo-Japanese war and First World War.

Question 6

When were the local government reforms?

Answer 6

1864-70

Question 7

What was the main aspect of the local government reforms?

Answer 7

A system of elected local councils established called zemstva.

Question 8

How were the zemstva members chosen?

Answer 8

Through electoral college voting systems - dominated by nobles.

Question 9

What could the zemstva do?

Answer 9

Improve public services and develop industrial partnerships.

Question 10

What did the intelligentsia think of the zemstva?

Answer 10

They thought that it was a stepping stone to a National Assembly.

Question 11

What were the limitations of the zemstva?

Answer 11

No control over state and local taxes.

Question 12

What was the role of the provincial governor during this time?

Answer 12

Appoint officials, enforce law and order, and overturn zemstvo decisions.

Question 13

What was a failing of the zemstva?

Answer 13

They were never truly ‘people’s assemblies’ and used by intelligentsia to debate and criticise the regime.

Question 14

When were the censorship reforms?

Answer 14

1858-1870

Question 15

What were the lifted restrictions initially?

Answer 15

Restrictions on publishers reduced.
Foreign publications permitted with government approval.
There was a short-lived growth in publications.

Question 16

How many books were published in 1894?

Answer 16

10,691.

Question 17

Why was there a re-tightening of censorship?

Answer 17

There was a significant growth in critical writing.

Question 18

When were the judiciary reforms?

Answer 18

1864

Question 19

What was the judicial system like pre-reform?

Answer 19

No jury, lawyers or witnesses. The accused was considered guilty until proven innocent. The judge held all the power. The new system was based on the West.

Question 20

What was the reform concerning the accused?

Answer 20

They were considered innocent until proven guilty.

Question 21

What was added to the proceedings?

Answer 21

Barristers and juries. The judges were appointed by the Tsar, and had increased training and pay.

Question 22

How often were the Local Justices Of the Peace elected?

Answer 22

From the zemstva members every 3 years.

Question 23

What was the access to courts like?

Answer 23

Courts were open to public and freely recorded.

Question 24

What did the newly established lawyers do?

Answer 24

They used their platform to criticise the regime and became celebrities in their own right.

Question 25

What was the issue with juries?

Answer 25

They sometimes acquitted the guilty because they sympathised with their plight and the judge couldn’t overturn their decision.

Question 26

Which courts were excluded from this?

Answer 26

Political, Military and Ecclesiastical.

Question 27

When were the education reforms?

Answer 27

1863-64.

Question 28

Who governed the education reforms?

Answer 28

Alexei Golovnin.

Question 29

What were the reforms concerning universities?

Answer 29

They could self-govern and appoint their own staff.

Question 30

Who became responsible for schooling?

Answer 30

The Zemstva, when Golovnin took power away from the church.

Question 31

What was the alternative schooling that was set up?

Answer 31

A ‘secondary modern’ which was more vocational, and offered a non-traditional path compared to the gimnazii. Students from both could graduate to university.

Question 32

Who could attend schools?

Answer 32

‘Open to all’ regardless of sex or class.

Question 33

What was an issue of increased educational provision?

Answer 33

Increased numbers of radical and militant thinkers meant that in 1866 they had to reassert government control.

Question 34

What did primary school access increase from in 1856 to in 1880?

Answer 34

8000 in 1856 to 23,000 in 1880. This improved basic literacy and numeracy rates.