Alexander 3rd Flashcards
what age and date did he come to the throne?
age 36, March 1881
How did he inherit the throne
He is the second son of the second. His older brother was supposed to inherit but he unexpectedly died.
Alexander 3rd characteristics
- Conservative by nature
- Physical embodiment of traditional ideas of what a Russian Tsar should look like
- Suspicion of western ideas and fashions shown by thick beard
Conservative leadership
Father’s assassination reinforced his natural conservatism. He was shocked by the disloyalty and blamed his dad’s death on his reforms
Konstanin Pobedonostsev
He was Alexander’s tutor, elder, intellected superior who influenced him a lot and had exerted a considerable shadow over him
Konstanin Pobedonostsev views
- Was a perceptive critic of western values
- Offered only illusory freedom
- Believed all oppositions should be ruthlessly crushed and that the freedom of press is a threat to the state
- His idea was not to further the reforms but to strengthen the Tsar
- Supported orthodox religion and Russian nationality
Terrorists
Alexander executed all terrorists who assassinated his father and arrested over 10,000 suspected opposition
Censorship
It was reinforced after Alexander the 3rd took over
Constitutions
His fathers written constitutions and reforms were immediately scratched out
Manifesto of unshakeable autocracy
His early actions were given formal shape in manifesto (apr81)
- Influence of Konstanin Pobedonostsev was showing as well as rejection of democracy and reform
- Intent to have “full faith in justice and strength of autocracy”
Motto
” Autocracy, Orthodoxy, Nationality”
- Made him v unpopular w/Russia’s educated westernized population and liberal government ministers of his fathers reign resigned in protest
OKHRANKA
- 1881-17
- Pre revolutionary secret police
- Founded to combat political terrorism and left-wing revolutionary activity
Russifacation
- Part of the 3rd’s main policy
- Wanted people to identify as Russian before anything else
