Alexander II key debates Flashcards
what is key debate 1
How liberal was russian Gov?
what is key debate 2
reforms improved status of russian peasants
what is key debate 3
reforms were due to the crimean war
what is key debate 4
empire and nationality was rejected
key debate 1: for
reform
-freed political prisoners
-emancipation 1861
-higher education made available
local gov
-local self-government gave more freedom to local peasants
-strengthening of mir gave more representation and autonomy
-freed from doing military service, no longer compulsory
-zemstva, improved health, more time for concern over local issues
opposition:
-allowed opposition by relaxing censorship
key debate 1: against
no, only making concessions to win the war
Reform:
-overal goal of preserving self rule
-no imput from people it would effect
-education for soldiers increased army strength
-freeing serfs would increase support for army
-rights to own land only talked about, not granted
-debt increased, trapped serfs
local government:
-all dominated by nobility
-unbearable and crippling tax burdens, had to pay 134% of the free market
-provincial govners could reverse zemstva decisions
-little incentive to change
opposition:
-clamped down after assasination attemps
-appointed count melinkov to eradicate peoples will
key debate 2: for
-emancipation meant peasants gained land in some sense, could own property, run commercial enterprises and marry
-nobility mortgaged land to pay debts and gave big chunks to peasants
-number school places rose
-attendance doubled 1855-1865
-statute of 1863 gave them autonomy
-zemstvo in charge of drawing up emergency plans to deal with famines
key debate 2: against
-new work discipline meant serfs controlled by strict rules and regulations
-land ownership, nobles got best land, redemption payments
-education boards dominated by nobility
-middle classes mainly benefitted from education places becoming available
-tolstoy campaigns for education
-housing poorly built and cheap
key debate 3: for
-exposed weaknesses of tsarist regime
-old fashioned serfdom didnt fit modern warfare
-army recruited from serfs, no where near as much training as british
-was embarassing, had to demilitaries
-soldiers poorly supplied, reflected on russias poor economic status and planning
-hoped emancipation would solve this
-there is no way the war didnt make people agree
key debate 3: against
-desire to maintain autocracy
-peasant unrest and revolts
-increasing pressure to abolish, to maintain control
-population growth putting pressure on farming systems
-demands from politicians and entrepeneurs to put labour into railways
-serfdom seen as slaver, immoral
-unrest dated back to 1770
-famines increasing
key debate 4: for
-after resistance of 1880s, hardcore repression, ending polish autonomy
-public executions, 128 killed, 12,000 deported to siberia
-property of catholic church confiscated, polish language banned, banned from acquiring land, money taken
-concessions to polish nobility wasnt on the cards, had to accept tsarist regime
-calls for independence neglected
-conscription to deal with polish youths, provoked another uprising
key debate 4: against
-late 1850s, amnesty granted to polish
-land taken from polish peasants given back without payments
-polish given places in subordinate offices replacing russian officials
-1863 reforms in finland, mean increase in buisnesses, foreign investment, increase in autonomy and industrial investment
-finnish language became national language
-more opportunities for a larger proportion of society
-latvia and estonia: national freedoms while still maintaining control
-jews given some land
