Alexander II nationalities policy

Question 1

Examples of growing national feeling

Answer 1

demonstrated by renewed interest in folk traditions and native language
Osnova, first journal in Ukrainian published
Policy of toleration for some national feeling, especially in western parts of Empire e.g. Finland allowed its own parliament and currency; Warsaw granted own archbishop and medical school
Jews enjoyed some relaxation of measures against them, e.g. allowed access to higher education, some allowed to leave Pale of Settlement (Ukraine, Poland, Belorussia)

Question 2

Examples of further suppression

Answer 2

Polish Revolt of 1863 resulted in repression of Polish national identity. Poland renamed Vistula Provinces (1866) and 10,000 exiled. Catholic Church, a key focus for Polish identitiy, was placed under government supervision
The Muslim peoples of the Caucasus were brought under Russian control. In 1864 the Circassians of the Black Sea were defeated and given the choice of emigration to Turkey or resettlement to the north. 400,000 chose resettlement, an early example of government ethnic cleansing
1876 – all existing books in Poland were ordered to be removed from school

Question 3

Policies towards Finland and Ukraine

Answer 3

Finland:
Allowed own currency and own Parliament or Diet (1863).
Ukraine:
Mixed policy; societies celebrating Ukrainian culture tolerated, but Kiev University Geographical Society closed (1876)

Question 4

Debate: How far were issues relating to the empire and minorities neglected by Alexander II?

Answer 4

• Some historians imply that A2’s reforms affected all of the empire in a similar way
• Some historians imply that a Russian peasant was the same kind of rural worker regardless of the region in which they lived