Alexander II

Question 1

What were the reasons for the emancipation of the Serfs ?

Answer 1

• Moral Case which was that it was wrong to own someone like a possession
• Risk of revolt which increased since the 1840s
• Crimean war drew attention to the backwardness of the Russian army

Question 2

Emancipation Statue

Answer 2

February 1861
- Serfdom abolished and serfs were legally free
- Would be given land to work
- Redemption payments

Question 3

Consequence of Emancipation

Answer 3

• Peasants received slightly less land than they had received before
• Powers of the Mir strengthened. The peasants were still tied to the Mir and freed only by name
• Nobles were angered as they lost their status and influence

Question 4

Local Government

Answer 4

• Zemstvo to run aspects of local and provisional government such as schools, roads and health

Question 5

Judicial

Answer 5

• Previously the system had been corrupt and favoured the rich
• Jury trials introduced
• Challenged the political authority of the Tsar as courts were the only place of free speech

Question 6

Military

Answer 6

• Universal conscription from all classes to all those older than 21
• Army reorganised
• Peasant conscription reduced to 15 years

Question 7

Education

Answer 7

• Number of primary and secondary schools increased and were open to more social classes
• Previously were poor quality of teaching and difficult to access among the peasants
• Universities had greater freedoms over intake, curriculum and discipline

Question 8

Censorship

Answer 8

• Relaxation
• Greater freedom for editors as they could now discuss government policy and jury trials
• Huge growth in literature published

Question 9

Reactionary Response

Answer 9

• Introduced them as he was criticised for being too liberal
• Liberal ministers were sacked and new conservative ones were appointed such as Count Tolstoy who took power away from school boards and classic subjects were favoured over modern ones

Question 10

Final years

Answer 10

• March 1881
• Alexander II had been on his way to the Winter Palace to sign a document that would include elected representatives from the nobility, Zemstvo and town government. This would have been a step towards parliamentary democracy.
• Assassinated by the Peoples Will