Alexander II - Domestic policies and reforms

Question 1

Why did serfdom prevent Russia from developing?

Answer 1

it stopped the development of new technologies and introduction of new machinery into Russia’s industry

Question 2

When was the emancipation of the serfs?

Answer 2

1861

Question 3

Which serfs did it affect?

Answer 3

privately owned serfs

Question 4

What did the emancipation give the serfs?

Answer 4

freedom to marry who they want, own property and start their own business

Question 5

What was the concept of redemption payments that the serfs had to pay?

Answer 5

they had to pay taxes for 49 years to the government with a 6% interest rate

Question 6

When were state slaves freed?

Answer 6

1866

Question 7

What were 2 bad impacts of the emancipation of the serfs?

Answer 7

peasants now had to pay off redemption payments

there was now a land shortage

Question 8

What was a catalyst for Russia’s army to reform?

Answer 8

Crimean war

Question 9

What reforms did Alexander II make to the army?

Answer 9

recruitment was suspended and any man under 20 was liable to conscription

Question 10

What was the length of service in the army lowered too?

Answer 10

6 years

Question 11

When was the Zemstva created?

Answer 11

1864

Question 12

What responsibilities did the Zemstva have?

Answer 12

public health, prisons, roads, agriculture and areas of education

Question 13

When were dumas introduced into towns and cities?

Answer 13

1870

Question 14

Who was in charge of the control of police?

Answer 14

Minister of the Interior

Question 15

What reforms in terms of judges did Alexander II make?

Answer 15

introduced into criminal cases and well paid so that they were not tempted with bribery

Question 16

When did censorship become the responsibility of the Minister of the Interior?

Answer 16

1863

Question 17

What did new regulations regarding education allow private schools to do?

Answer 17

use of common curriculum with reading and writing in Russian only

Question 18

When was the 1st non-vocational school for girls opened?

Answer 18

1870

Question 19

What reforms were scholars given under Alexander II?

Answer 19

allowed to study abroad and broadened what they studied

Question 20

When did Alexander II rule from?

Answer 20

1855-81

Question 21

What was the ‘new work discipline’ under Alexander II brought in by factories?

Answer 21

strict rules that required for workers to work safely and efficiently with machines

Question 22

Who was Mikhail Reutern and when was he appointed?

Answer 22

Minister of Finance in 1862

Question 23

What was Mikhail Reutern’s policy?

Answer 23

believed in continuation of railway construction and employment of foreign investment capital

Question 24

Who were the Nobel brothers?

Answer 24

responsible for the growth of modern oil industry in Caucausus areas

Question 25

What was a major reason under Alexander II that meant that industrialisation could happen?

Answer 25

The expansion of the railways

Question 26

How did Reutern secure investment for Russia?

Answer 26

issuing government bonds and taxation exemptions

Question 27

Why was construction of railways put into the hands of private companies?

Answer 27

it was a very expensive transport system and the Russian government was corrupt

Question 28

When was the Crimean war?

Answer 28

1853-86

Question 29

Why was the zemstva created?

How was it run?

Answer 29

to provide social and economic services and significant liberal influence to Russia
each assembly appointed executive board and hired professionals to carry out functions

Question 30

Define an assembly?

Answer 30

deliberative council legislative or juridical in power

Question 31

Define legislative?

Answer 31

having the power to make laws

Question 32

Three examples of improvements the Zemstva did?

Answer 32

expanded schools, provided health care and constructed roads

Question 33

Why was there a need for educational reforms under Alexander II? (3)

Answer 33

more skilled roles in government and judicial roles
emancipation of the serfs left serfs wanting to be educated
industrial revolution meant that skilled workers were needed

Question 34

When and what was the Education Edict?

Did it work? what did it show?

Answer 34

1864 - provided primary education for all children
although implemented, not all children got education
showed bad political government with fragmented policies and reforms

Question 35

When was there a growth in universities?

Answer 35

1860’s

Question 36

When was the relaxation of censorship and what did this mean?

Answer 36

1865 - meant that books were controlled after being published and not before therefore more westernised ideas and policies were being introduced

Question 37

When and who were the intelligenstia?

Answer 37

under alexander II they were a group of clever people who criticised autocracy