Alexander II Flashcards
When did Alexander II rule from?
1855-1881
What was Alexander II’s nickname?
‘The Tsar Liberator’
Why did Alexander II feel the need to reform Russia?
Russia, although a a major world power, was still a backward peasant country. The pitiful defeat in the Crimean War (1854-1856) left the government acutely aware of the empire’s weakness.
Identify 6 progressive reforms introduced by Alexander II.
- He emancipated the serfs in 1861.
- He introduced the Zemstvo reforms in 1864.
- He introduced judicial reforms in 1864, introducing trial by jury and giving judges greater Independence.
- Censorship became less strict after 1865.
- He reformed education, making it more accessible for all.
- The military also underwent a process of reform between 1863-1875, which abolished capital punishment
When were the serfs liberated? Briefly describe the system before and after emancipation, and the rights emancipation gave to the serfs.
The serfs were liberated in 1861, which gave them ‘legal freedom’. Before emancipation, landowners made a portion of their land available to the peasants for subsistence purposes. In return, the serfs would provide labour to the landowners. Emancipation gave the serfs the ability to buy land from their landlords, however they had to pay costly redemption payments to the government to compensate the landowners. The serfs were also granted the same rights as ‘free citizens’, which enabled them to do things like marry without permission.
When were the Zemstvo reforms introduced? Briefly describe how the Zemstvo system worked.
The zemstvo reforms were initiated in 1864. They were local elected assemblies in rural areas, which had control over areas like primary education, health and road building.
It is important to note that the elections were not fair as they were weighted heavily in favour of the upper classes.
Which terrorist group assassinated Alexander II?
‘The People’s Will’
