Alexander II - Nature of Government

Question 1

The 2 key debates about Alexander II’s ‘nature of government’ are:

1. Whether he was ____ or ____
2. Whether his assassination was ____ or ____ ____

Answer 1

The 2 key debates about Alexander II’s ‘nature of government’ are:

1. Whether he was liberal or autocratic
2. Whether his assassination was inevitable or not inevitable

Question 2

‘Liberal’ key points:

1. Zemstvos did good work with ____, and expanded into cities from ____ onwards.
2. ____ relaxation and reforms in ____, the ____ system and the ____ point to a liberalising of the Russian state.
3. Alex II had approved the ____-____ Proposal for a ____ Zemstva shortly before his ____.
4. The reactionary era was down to a number of ____ factors like ____ attempts and ____.

Answer 2

‘Liberal’ key points:

1. Zemstvos did good work with education and expanded into cities from 1870 onwards.
2. Censorship relaxation and reforms in education, the legal system and the military point to a liberalising of the Russian state.
3. Alex II had approved the Loris-Melikov Proposal for a national Zemstva shortly before his assassination
4. The reactionary era was down to a number of external factors like assassination attempts and criticisms

Question 3

‘Autocratic’ key points:

1. He never wavered from ____, making no changes to ____ ____.
2. Zemstvos necessary to efficiently administer the _____ ____ but immediately ____ it as it created a space for ____ ____ to be heard.
3. Zemstvos dominated by the ____, used as a way of avoiding any meaningful ____.
4. ____ Era and repression after ____.
5. ____ and ____ became very influential in education and conservative attitudes of Alexander II.

Answer 3

‘Autocratic’ key points:

1. He never wavered from autocracy, making no changes to central government.
2. Zemstvos necessary to efficiently administer the Emacipation Edict but immediately regretted it as it created a space for liberal criticisms to be heard.
3. Zemstvos dominated by the nobility, used as a way of avoiding any meaningful democracy.
4. Shuvalov Era and repression after 1865.
5. Tolstoy and Pobodonestev became very influential in education and conservative attitudes of Alexander II.

Question 4

‘Inevitable’ assassination arguments:

1. Reforms - Zemstva created the ____ movement, which moved from frustration to ____ in ____. ____ assassination attempts on his lafe made his death very ____.
2. Dissatisfaction with his reforms from both ____ and ____.
3. Repression - ____ of ____ and attacks on the more ____ ____ of society during the ____ Era made him a strong target of ____.

Answer 4

‘Inevitable’ assassination arguments:

1. Reforms - Zemstva created the Populist movement, which moved from frustration to terror in 1874. Four assassination attempts on his lafe made his death very likely.
2. Dissatisfaction with his reforms from both conservatives and liberals.
3. Repression - Trial of Fifty and attacks on the more educated element of society during the Shuvalov Era made him a strong target of dislike.

Question 5

‘Not inevitable’ assassination arguments:

More based on ____

1. Trial of 50 ____ many Populists so less chance of assassination.
2. Narodniks did have some success in ____ - they may not have needed to revert to ____.
3. Alex II about to introduce ____-____ Proposal before assassination, which would have ____ many radical demands.
4. The ‘People’s Will’ were ____ BUT represented a very ____ ____ of opposition in Russia at that point.

Answer 5

‘Not inevitable’ assassination arguments:

More based on circumstance

1. Trial of 50 imprisoned many Populists so less chance of assassination.
2. Narodniks did have some success in countryside - they may not have needed to revert to terror.
3. Alex II about to introduce Loris-Melikov Proposal before assassination, which would have satisfied many radical demands.
4. The ‘People’s Will’ were determined BUT represented a very small minority of opposition in Russia at that point.