Alexander II - Reforms and the Crimean War Flashcards
Alexander II’s education was likely to bring him western influences:
Took a __ month tour of the leading powers of Western Europe from ____-_
Took a 16 month tour of the leading powers of Western Europe from 1838-9
Alexander II was different to his father as he recognised the ____ need for westernisation.
For example, the necessity to:
- Free ____
- Promote ____ growth
- Modernise the ____ ____ and ____
Alexander II was different to his father as he recognised the practical need for westernisation.
For example, the necessity to:
- Free serfs
- Promote economic growth
- Modernise the armed forces and government
Alexander II had similar ____ and ____ beliefs to Nicholas I.
For example, Alex refused to consider the possibility of a Russian ____ for __ years
Alexander II had similar conservative and autocratic beliefs to Nicholas I.
For example, Alex refused to consider the possibility of a Russian Constitution for 25 years
Alexander II’s liberal minded minsters and their roles in carrying out reform:
- His cousin, Grand Duke ____ - helped with ____
- His aunt, Grand Duchess ____ - held ____ meetings
- Minister of the ____, Nicholas ____ - main ____ ____ behind some of the key reforms such as ____ and ____ (____)
Alexander II’s liberal minded minsters and their roles in carrying out reform:
- His cousin, Grand Duke Constantine - helped with emancipation
- His aunt, Grand Duchess Pavlovna - held liberal meetings
- Minister of the Interior, Nicholas Milyutin- main driving force behind some of the key reforms such as emancipation and zemstvos (1864)
Alexander II made some immediate reforms upon assuming his role as Tsarm signalling his personal intentions:
- Ended restrictions on Russia’s most ‘___’ ____ ____
- Lessened university ____ ____ - allowed for a ____ range of students including ____
- Relaxed restrictions on ____ ____ - more foreign and Russian language publications by ____ ____
- Announced intention to abolish ____ ‘____ ____’
Alexander II made some immediate reforms upon assuming his role as Tsarm signalling his personal intentions:
- Ended restrictions on Russia’s most ‘dangerous’ radical groups
- Lessened university entrance restrictions - allowed for a broader range of students including Raznochintsy
- Relaxed restrictions on foreign travel - more foreign and Russian language publications by political exiles
- Announced intention to abolish serfdom‘from above’
The Crimean War revealed the weakness and corruption of the army:
- Hardship suffered by enlisted ____ caused an increase in ____ ____
- Shocking defeat raised questions about the army’s ____ - had lost its ____ over French and English armies
The Crimean War revealed the weakness and corruption of the army:
- Hardship suffered by enlisted serfs caused an increase in agricultural disturbances
- Shocking defeat raised questions about the army’s efficiency - had lost its superiority over French and English armies
Milyutin linked the military weakness to serfdom, arguing that ‘serfdom does not permit us to ____ the term of service nor to increase the number of those on ____ ____ so as to reduce the number of troops ____ ____’
Milyutin linked the military weakness to serfdom, arguing that ‘serfdom does not permit us to shorten the term of service nor to increase the number of those on indefinite leave so as to reduce the number of troops on hand’
The war highlighted the inadequacy of Russia’s communications:
- Railway crucial for speedy deployment of ___ and dispersal of ____
- Poor distribution had led to ____ to detriment of landlord and serf e.g. food left rotting in ____
- Encourage developent of ____ market that could compete on a ____ ____ once serfdom abolished
- Increased ____ ____ to help with ____ - serfdom tied peasant to ____
The war highlighted the inadequacy of Russia’s communications:
- Railway crucial for speedy deployment of troops and dispersal of goods
- Poor distribution had led to shortages to detriment of landlord and serf e.g. food left rotting in Archangel
- Encourage developent of commmercial market that could compete on a global scale once serfdom abolished
- Increased urban migration to help with industrialisation - serfdom tied peasant to villages
Moral objections to serfdom:
- Nicholas I - in ____ described it as ____ - evident need for change
- Minority of pro-____ landowners concerened for peasant ____ (as well as ____ deficiencies)
- Koshelyov - in ____ argued that the immorality of owning ____ as ____ demoralised the ____
Moral objections to serfdom:
- Nicholas I - in 1842 described it as ‘evil’ - evident need for change
- Minority of pro-emancipation landowners concerened for peasant welfare (as well as economic deficiencies)
- Koshelyov - in 1858 argued that the immorality of owning people as property demoralised the landowners
In the early __th century, the ___ success of the ____ influence of wages being determined by ____ forces helped arguments that free wage labour was more effective than ____ labour.
Underlined by success in ____
In the early 19th century, the Western success of the motivating influence of wages being determined by market forces helped arguments that free wage labour was more effective than forced labour.
Underlined by success in Siberia
The main reasons provincial nobles were supportive of emancipation was their fear of the ____ and ____ dangers of maintaining serfdom - particularly peasant ____.
This was underpinned by the amount of peasants in the ____ posing a threat (linking back to war as motivating factor for reform?)
The main reasons provincial nobles were supportive of emancipation was their fear of the social and political dangers of maintaining serfdom - particularly peasant unrest
This was underpinned by the amount of peasants in the army posing a threat (linking back to war as motivating factor for reform?)
Nobles blamed serfdom for their ____ ____ that actually came from funding their extravagant ____ lifestyles.
The financial difficulties of maintaining serdom are underpinned by how in ____, __% of serfs were mortgaged as security for loans from the State Loan Bank.
Nobles blamed serfdom for their financial debt that actually came from funding their extravagant western lifestyles.
The financial difficulties of maintaining serdom are underpinned by how in 1859, 66% of serfs were mortgaged as security for loans from the State Loan Bank.
The State was suffering from a decline in peasant ____(____ and ____) in relation to its income tax from ____. By ____ the government was __ million roubles in debt.
To offset this, the nobles and State increased their demand for grain, causing a peasant ____
The State was suffering from a decline in peasant tax (poll and obrok) in relation to its income tax from vodka. By 1855 the government was 54 million roubles in debt.
To offset this, the nobles and State increased their demand for grain, causing a peasant famine
Peasant unrest was a big reason for emancipation:
- Increased from the ____
- By ____, Russian faced the prospect of ____ ____ - this was particularly worrying for nobles living on ____ ____ estates, and _____ governors and ____
Peasant unrest was a big reason for emancipation:
- Increased from the 1840s
- By 1859, Russian faced the prospect of peasant war - this was particularly worrying for nobles living on remote country estates, and provincial governors and gendarmes
