Alexander II Flashcards
When was the emancipation of the serfs
1861
In 1861 how many serfs were emancipated
51 million
3 reasons for the emancipation edict
Political circle of progressive nobles known as the Party of St Petersburg who came into prominence at his court
Increase in peasant uprisings
Humiliation and inefficiencies main catalyst for action from Crimea
What was believed to happen to modernise the army
Only a free population would provide the labour needed for military improvement.
Initially who did the emancipation edict apply to
Only privately owned
When did state serfs receive their freedom
1866
What were emancipated serfs given
Granted them freedom and an allotment of land
2 thing freed serfs had to do
pay redemption payments over 49 years and were to remain within the mir
What were estasblished to supervise the mirs
volosts
Why was land unfair during emancipation
Landowners kept meadows, pastures, woodland
By 1881 how many peasants still remained temporarily obligated to their landlords
15%
Who did well due to emancipation
Prosperous land peasants (Kulaks) did well as they brought up extra land and produced more
Why did many peasants feel cheated by emancipation
land allocations rarely fair
Limitations of the impact of emancipation on farming linking to the mir
institution and subsidence farming and technical backwardness persisted due to traditional mir system
When was it when only 50% of peasantry was capable to produce a surplus
1878
What percentage of peasantry was capable to produce a surplus in 1878
50%
When were there military reforms under Alexander II
1874-75
Who was conscription made compulsory for and what age
All classes from age 21
What was length of service reduced to
25 years to 15 years of active service and 10 years in the reserves
What was set up to provide better training for the non-noble officer corps
military colleges
How did the better off get around compulsory conscription
Found substitutes to serve in their place
When was the zemstva established
1864
What was the zemstva
a local gov institution that provided social and economic services to rural areas
Who dominated the zemstva
the nobilty
When were dumas established
1870
Why did the zemstva raise hopes
Establishment of a degree of representative government at local level
Why was there judiciary reforms
because of emancipation
What three things were established in the courts
Equality before the law establsihed
Accused were now presumed innocent until proven guilty and could employ a lawyer
Courts were open to the public and could be freely reported
What was the outcome of the judiciary reforms
New opportunity for lawyers of the intelligentsia to criticise the regime
Who now was the responsibility of schooling transferred to
Russian Orthodox church to Zemstva.
When was it deemed necessary to reassert gov control over schooling
1866
What were unis given the opportunity to do
govern themselves and appoint own staff.
What happened in regard to primary and secondary education
extended and regarded as ‘open to all’ regardless of sex or class
How many primary schools in 1856
8000
How many primary schools in 1880
23000
What did Alexander II allow with gov approval
foreign publications
What was there an initial relaxation in
press censorship
What did the growth in critical writing leed to
re-tightening on government control in 1870’s
