Alexander II Flashcards
When was the Crimean War?
1853-1856
What were the 4 causes of the Crimean War?
- Wanted to expand
- Wanted a warm water port
- Ottoman Empire was decaying
- To protect the Orthodox East
When and Why did England and France join the Ottomans against Russia?
March 1854
Thought Russia would threaten their navy
When did the Ottomans declare War? Why?
1853
Refused the right for Russia to protect the Orthodox East
What battle in the Crimean War did Russia win?
Battle of Sinope
When was the Battle of Sevastopol? Did Russia win?
September 1854
Russia lost
How did the Crimean War end?
Russia’s fortress at Sevastopol fell
Austria threatened to join - AII sued for peace
What was the impact of the Crimean War?
4
- Showed Europe to be disunited
- Russia lost its naval bases at the black sea (Peace of Paris, 1856)
- Showed Russia to be backwards - too reliant on agriculture
- Serfdom had to end
What was the role of the Mir?
To decide how land was distributed
When was the Emancipation Act?
March 3rd 1861
What were the motives behind the Emancipation Act?
4
1) Crimean War - reform needed, uprisings
2) Personal - AII publically condemned serfdom
3) Economy - industrialisation and modernisation needed
4) Political - save autocracy by giving social freedom
5) Intelect - increase in education cause the structure of Russia to be questioned
What are the 3 stages of Emancipation?
1) Transition
2) Redemption Payments (49 yrs)
3) Freedom
How did Emancipation benefit the Nobility?
- Redemption payments helped pay off their debt
- Made them keener for reforms
How did Emancipation NOT benefit the Nobility?
- majority of redemption payments went towards creditors
- by 1905 they owned 40% less land, unprofitable land was sold to peasants
- their land had to be sold to make ends meet
- removed their military power
In 1871, how much of the redemption payments went to creditors?
248 million Roubles went to creditors
542 million Roubles were paid in redemption payments
What benefits did Emancipation bring to the serfs?
They now had a legal status - Peasants
Why did Emancipation cause resentment and anger in the peasants?
- Many were illiterate so they had high expectations that weren’t met
- Ultimately they were worse off
- They were now controlled by the Mir
Which peasant misinterpreted the Emancipation Act? What did he interpret it as?
Anton Petrov
Thought the serfs would have immediate freedom
When were zemstva introduced? What was their role?
1864
Represented the peasants, gentry and townspeople in terms of healthcare, roads, agriculture
Who had the right to vote?
People that paid trade tax or were on the property register
Who ran the police? Were they benefitable?
The Minister of Interior
No, they lacked funding
When were dumas introduced?
1870, they were councils
What interfered in the judicial system?
Bureaucracy - increased difficulty
What courts did AII introduce?
Open Courts
Peasant Courts
What was introduced in crime cases?
Juries
What was there a shortage of in the Judicial system?
Lawyers
What was conscription reduced to?
6years, 9 years in reserve
What was abolished in the military?
military colonies
How much did reserves increase in the military?
from 210,000 to 553,000
How was military training changed?
It became more humane and less brutal
In 1887, what did the industrial work force increase to?
1.32 million
Who created the Unified Treasury?
Reutern - Minister of Finance
When was the Public budget introduced?
1862
By 1870, how many miles was the railway system?
14,200 miles
previously it was 2,200
What kind of investement began?
Foreign Investment
How was censorship reduced in AII reign?
in 1865 Editors didn’t need approval before printing
What happened to the University curriculum?
it broadened - now taught law and philosophy
When were certain topics in schools banned?
1873
By 1859, how many Moscow Studies were exempt from fees?
2/3
When did AII begin tightening controls? Why?
1866 - faced severe backlash, opposition wanted more reform
When did Karakozov attempt to assassinate Alexander?
April 4th 1866 - was caught and hung in September the same year
Who attempted to assassinate Alexander in June 1867?
Berezowski
When did Alexander come face to face with a assassin?
April 20th 1879
When did the Peoples Will plan to blow up Alexanders train?
December 1879 - his route changed because of the weather
When was Alexander finally assassinated?
March 13th 1881
How was Alexander killed?
Peoples Will threw a bomb into his carriage, he managed to escape but then a bomb was thrown at his feet.
He died of blood loss in the Winter Palace
When was the Polish Revolt?
1863
Why did Poland revolt?
Wanted autonomy and emancipation
Wielopolski wanted more change, already introduced reforms based of Russian interest
What were the dates of the Polish Revolt?
Jan 1863 - Spring 1864 (Russia Regained control)
Who supported the Polish?
Land and Liberty
What did the revolt threaten the governement with?
guerrilla warfare
What was an outcome of the Polish Revolt?
the Milyutin Plan
What was the Milyutin Plan?
Russification of Poland:
- Russian was to be the official language of administration and governance
- Catholic Church couldn’t contact the Vatican
- Poland was converted to a bigger national state of Russia
