Alexander II after 1866 Flashcards
when was the first assassination attempt on Alexander II’s life
1866 by Karakazov, a former student who narrowly missed Alexander with a pistol shot
the assassination attempt made by a Polish immigrant
Antoni Berezowksi fired on a carriage containing Alexander and his two sons in 1867 but missed and hit a horse and cavalryman instead
second attempt on the Tsar’s life by a former student
April 1879 Aleksander Soloviev fired at Alexander five times without success
the fourth attempt on the Tsar’s life
December 1879 a bomb intended to blow up the Tsar’s train was placed on the wrong railway
which attempt killed 12 others
February 1880 a mine positioned under the winter palace dining room by someone disguised as a carpenter blew up killing 12 people but not the Tsar for he had gone to great a late guest
the large scale revolt?
the Polish Revolt of 1863 where the Poles wanted more independence and in 1863 Polish rebels attacked what they saw as a pro Russian regional government
How were the Poles treated
they were seen as disloyal, hundreds of Polish noblemen were exiled to Siberia and their estates given over to the incoming Russians. Russification was intensified and the Polish Language was prohibited in schools and colleges. Russians took the top jobs in government.
what was the impact of the assassination attempts
Alexander II was fed up with the criticism and was aware the reforms had given opportunity for dissidents and radical groups. Therefore he reined in the earlier measures and brought in more reactionary policies.
what was the impact of the Polish revolt
the revolt was put down but Alexander II saw the reforms had led to further demands for reform, eventually led to the more successful 1905 revolution
events in Alexander II’s family
eldest son and heir had died and his wife suffered from tuberculosis so could not appear in public, found consolation in his mistress
Who was in charge of education and his views
Tolstoy
- a staunch Orthodox believer who felt a tight control over education was essential to eradicate western liberal idea
changes to education
-the Church regained power over rural schools
- schools were ordered to follow a traditional curriculum and were forbidden from teaching natural sciences
- censorship was tightened and there was more strict control over student organisations
who was in charge of Police, Law and Control
Shuvalov
changes to Police, Law and Control
- Shuvalov strengthened the police
- stepped up the prosecution of the ethnic and religious minorities
- they had public court hearings in an attempt to deter political criminals
