Alexander II's reforms Flashcards
Military Reform
universal conscription - age 21
military service reduced to 15yrs (6 active + 9 reserve)
reorganisation of administration - 15 military districts
modern rifles and artillery
corporal punishment reduced + flogging abolished
soldiers lived in baraks
military college open to all class
Military Reform weaknesses
1860s took 1/3 gov income
nobility didn’t like reforms and classes mixing
high nobility among officers
effectiveness of training reduced
still illiterate and uneducated
Military Reform success
successful as gov was trying to break class privilege and be fair
peasants happy with shorter conscription
nobles didn’t conform and sent replacements for their sons
Education Reform
main reforms 1863-1864
zemstva took the churches job of running skl
P+S skl extended
P+S skl curriculum extended
1mil pupils in Pskl + Sskl pupils doubled
all social classes were able to attend higher ed
women could attend but not take degrees
Education Reform weaknesses
more literate peasant pop that had new aspirations
study circles discussing radical ideas + injustices of Tsarism –> protests
many relied on the state for financial help so mutual aid groups had to be set up (kitchens and libraries)
women couldn’t get a degrees
Education Reform success
peasants were now educated and could move up the ranks
weakened autocracy as students rebelled
modernised R as everyone had and ed
Judiciary
innocent until proven guilty
lawyers could be hired to defend ppl
courts open to public + proceedings freely reported
judges couldn’t be dismissed if verdict displeased gov
Judiciary weakness
judges appointed by Tsar + jury slected from a list of property owners
jury sympathised with nobles
military + church had sep courts
peasants had sep courts (worse)
Judiciary success
strengthened autocracy as jury was corrupt and favoured nobles
wasn’t successful in modernising R
Local Government
zemstva to run aspects of local gov such as roads, health + skl
appointed prof like teachers and doctors
everyone could vote
zemstva played an increasingly imp role in local areas
zemstva flourished up to Oct 1917
nobles gained political exp
Local Government weakness
electoral system favoured noble = nobles dominated
some didn’t take it seriously + took advantage
slow to get going + didn’t achieve much early on
restrictions placed on taxes = hard to raise funds
Local Government Success
modernised R as there was more democracy
benefited peasants as living conditions improved
Censorship
Censorship relaxed
more books published, growing literate readership
journals radical + critical of regime
Censorship weakness
wasn’t anti-gov but tsarist gov didn’t appreciate free flow of opinion
Censorship success
more freedom
peasant problems voiced
