Alexander II Opposition 1855-1881 (Unit 1, Topic 4)

Question 1

Why was the Risk of Revolt a Cause for the Emancipation Reform?

Answer 1

Alexander already had a cause for concern over the previous 1848 revolutions and the increase in peasant uprisings. What particularly worried him was that the army was made up of mainly peasants making containing a peasant uprising extremely difficult

Question 2

How did Radical Ideas Develop?

Answer 2

Alexander’s reforms in the 1860’s stimulated both excitement and the emergence of opposition. The relaxation of censorship encouraged more radical literature, educational reforms and growth of radical ideas and groups. All reforms led to the growth of liberal-minded professional classes

Question 3

Why were Some Nobles Scared of Westernisers?

Answer 3

Some conservative nobles were convinced that introducing Western ideas was weakening autocracy. Two of these men were Dmitri Tolstoy and Pyotr Shuvalov

Question 4

What did the Polish Revolt Highlight?

Answer 4

After decades of harsh limits on Polish autonomy, many Poles were hopeful following Alexander II’s reforms. Patriotic demonstrations broke out 1861-1862. The Russians tried to suppress these protests but only generated more anger culminating in an official uprising, 1863. The revolt was crushed but had highlighted the danger of a liberal approach

Question 5

How did Assassination Attempts effect the Tsar?

Answer 5

In 1866, a former student of Dmitry Karakozov, shot at Alexander, but missed. The following year a Polish immigrant Antoni Berezowski fired on a carriage carrying Alexander and his two sons. But it hit his cavalry man instead. This gave the Tsar enough evidence to be convinced that the reforms were too dangerous

Question 6

Agrarian Socialism?

Answer 6

A political philosophy to improve peasants’ lives by removing the government and establishing a classless society with shared ownership of agricultural land and resources

Question 7

Anarchism?

Answer 7

A political philosophy advocating removal of all authority (no rules or government) and the organization of society on a voluntary basis with no use of force

Question 8

Radical?

Answer 8

Advocating or based on thorough or complete political or social change; representing or supporting an extreme or progressive political idea or organization

Question 9

Liberalism?

Answer 9

A political philosophy that promotes individual rights, civil liberties and democracy

Question 10

Nihilism?

Answer 10

From the Latin nihil meaning nothing. A philosophy which maintains that there is a no moral principle which can be used to judge (no such thing as right and wrong)

Question 11

Revolutionary?

Answer 11

Describes an individual, organization, or theory which supports fundamental political change often removing the government

Question 12

Socialism?

Answer 12

A political philosophy to improve workers lives by removing the government and establishing a classless society with shared ownership over property and resources

Question 13

Narodism?

Answer 13

A Russian political ideology based on the idea that the narod (Russian people/ folk) should form the basis of a classless society

Question 14

How were the Polish Treated?

Answer 14

Poland was still treated with caution following the 1830 rebellion as their loyalty was not assured but no new restrictions were brought against them

Question 15

How were the Jews Treated?

Answer 15

Initially restrictions towards Jews were relaxed. From 1736 the 5 million jews were legally confined to an area known as the Pale of Settlement (Poland and Ukraine). Alexander allowed wealthier Jews to live elsewhere. They were allowed to attend university and have government roles

Question 16

What Caused the Polish Revolt of 1863?

Answer 16

Alexander’s reforms gave renewed hope to the Poles that they would be granted freedom. There was a rise in Polish nationalism and increased demands for political autonomy. Following the emancipation decree there were increased demonstrations against Russian rule and an attempted assassination of Polish Prime Minister Wielopolski (seen as a tsarist puppet). Wielopolski responded by introducing forced conscription of all young male Poles into the Russian army. The new recruits refused to cooperate and fled to the woods to create bands of rebels

Question 17

What was the Action of the Polish Revolt of 1863?

Answer 17

Guerilla warfare ensued on a wide scale from January 1863. More than 200,000 Poles were involved. Wielopolski had fled during the revolt and Poland was placed under control of Dmitri Milyutin. Hundreds of the Polish nobility were exiled to Siberia and replaced with Russian nobles. The Russian army regained control by spring 1864, the rebel leaders were arrested and executed with Polish nationalism becoming diminished

Question 18

What happened to the Poles after the Revolt?

Answer 18

Some of Alexander’s reforms were extended to Poland to secure loyalty. Polish serfs were emancipated, they gained more favorable terms than their Russian counterparts. Distinct councils (similar to zemvsta) were set up

However Alexander also made Russian the official language for administration and governance in Poland. He didn’t extend trial by jury into Poland and kept the Russian officials he implemented there

Question 19

What happened to the Jews after the Polish Revolt?

Answer 19

Their participation in government was restricted following the Polish Revolt. No longer permitted to leave Pale of Settlement. Antisemitic literature increased and some was even financed by the government

Question 20

What happened to Other Nationalities after the Polish Revolt?

Answer 20

Decrees of 1864 and 1875 allowed Latvians and Estonians to re-adopt Lutheranism instead of Orthodoxy. In 1863 the Finns were allowed their own diet and currency.
From 1876, the Ukraine language was banned from use in schools, publications or theatre

Question 21

How did ‘The Bell’, ‘What is to be done’ and
‘Catechism of a Revolutionary’ Influence Opposition?

Answer 21

The Bell 1857- Wanted to liberate peasants and achieve agrarian socialism. No capitalism, disappointed by emancipation

WITBD 1863- Call to action through revolution, wanted the peasants to be the one to lead change

COAR 1869- Is an anarchist group who wanted to achieve agrarian socialism with the revolutionaries being ruthless and unmoved by emotion

Question 22

How was Young Russia an Opposition?

Answer 22

June 1862, rumored to be destroying 2000 shops, group made by students aiming for violent revolution, they were a radical group

Question 23

What was the Circle of Tchaikovsky?

Answer 23

1868, Educated nobility including westernizers that spread banned literature wanting social revolution. Most were arrested and prosecuted

Question 24

What was the First and Second Populist Movement?

Answer 24

1874 and 1876, Students inspired by agrarian socialism and they wanted to educate their ideas onto the peasants.

Question 25

What was Land and Liberty?

Answer 25

1877, Worked with peasant communes, aimed to kill the tsar and spread reactionary ideas.

Question 26

What was Black Partition and People’s Will?

Answer 26

Both stemmed from the Land and Liberty group after arrests and different ideologies caused a split.

BP 1879- Favored peaceful members and aimed for agrarian socialism

PW 1879- Condemned to spreading agrarian socialism but also revolutionary ideas through terrorism, they aimed to kill the tsar