Alexander II, the Tsar Liberator

Question 1

Geographical features of Russia in the 1850s

Answer 1

1/6 of worlds total landmass.
Large areas uninhabited and sparsely populated.
The steppes (grassland and open plains) are the most fertile land for agriculture.
Climate was unpredictable and oftentimes devastating.

Question 2

Impact of Russia’s geography in 1850s

Answer 2

Communication was poor due to the vast size of the country.
Travel was hard, few roads, mostly hard packed earth forming ‘roads’ can get muddy and unusable.
Railways were underdeveloped.

Question 3

Different kinds of people in Russia in the 1850s

Answer 3

There was a vast amount of diversity within Russia. Russian natives formed 50% of population.

Question 4

Population of Russia in 1850s

Answer 4

Population was 70 million.

Question 5

Peasants in 1850s

Answer 5

Over 90% of the population were peasants. They lived and worked in the countryside. Many were illiterate and poor. Prone to STDs and drunkenness.

Question 6

Nobility in the 1850s

Answer 6

Less than 1% of population. Were given land and power in return for services to the Tsar.

They were given serfs to work their land for them (position was like slaves).

Services could include being public/military officers, administration and keeping order.

Question 7

Middle classes in 1850s

Answer 7

A small group. Could include merchants, entrepreneurs and businessmen but the lack of large scale industry meant they were lacking in numbers and influence.

Question 8

Serfs

Answer 8

50% of peasants. Bound to landowning nobility. They were required to provide labour on the land. In return they could use a plot of land for their own use. Serfs had no rights (could be sold, traded and forbidden to marry.)

Question 9

State peasants

Answer 9

50% of peasants. They lived on estates owned by the state, church or Tsar. They were legally free but still under control of state administrators and had restrictions on travel. Were generally better off than serfs.

Question 10

The Mir

Answer 10

Village communes. Run by peasants.
It allocated land depending on household size. On private estates it was responsible for making sure labour obligations were fulfilled.

Question 11

Workers in 1850s

Answer 11

Small portion of population due to lack of an industrial revolution. Conditions of workers were appalling and work hours were long.

Question 12

Russian Orthodox Church

Answer 12

Branch of Christianity. Religion was bound to the Autocracy. 70% of population were members of the church and it had great influence. Main source of info for peasants.

Question 13

Autocrat

Answer 13

The Tsar was an autocrat. He had supreme power over his subjects. An absolute ruler. A Tsar was appointed by God.

Question 14

Imperial council

Answer 14

They were responsible to the Tsar alone, they reported directly to him and took instructions from him. Made up of nobles to advise and run governmental departments.

Question 15

Civil servants & officials

Answer 15

The top ranks were dominated by nobility. They ran the empire. The bureaucracy was impenetrable for ordinary citizens due to a culture of corruption and bribery.

Question 16

Governors

Answer 16

Had their own local bureaucracies for each region if the empire. Regional governed acted like independent rulers. They controlled judicial and police functions alongside nobles.

Question 17

Secret police ‘Third Section’

Answer 17

To root out people likely to cause trouble. Censorship on newspapers, books and periodicals to stop the spread of dangerous ideas to the regime. Punishments of those caught were harsh.

Question 18

Russian Army

Answer 18

Largest in the world.
Most officers were noble.
Soldiers were conscripted for 25 years.
Soldiers had little rights and the pay was poor.
Army was used to stop internal disturbances and revolts.
Cossacks were very loyal to the Tsar.

Army was paramount to keeping the regime in order.

Question 19

How was Russia shocked into reform?

Answer 19

The defeat in the Crimean war came as a great shock and embarrassment.

1. It highlighted Russia’s poor communications i.e lack of sufficient railways
2. The army’s weapons were hopelessly outclassed by the French and British.
3. It raised questions about the effectiveness of the army and the quality of leadership

It cast doubt on Russia’s status as a major power and showed that compared to Western neighbours, Russia was severely behind.

Question 20

Year of the emancipation of the serfs

Answer 20

1861

Question 21

Main reasons for the emancipation

Answer 21

1. Crimean war
2. Social stability (preventing mass peasant revolts)
3. Advancement of the economy

Question 22

Main terms of the emancipation

Answer 22

1. Serfs were free and gained many new rights (marriage, travel, trade, vote etc)
2. Access to the land they worked on provided they paid redemption payments
3. Landowners were compensated for the land they lost to the serfs (like in 2 ^)

In 1866 state peasants were given the same rights as serfs to buy land.

Question 23

What kind of land did the peasants receive after the emancipation?

Answer 23

The supply of affordable and good quality land was limited, therefore most peasants received bad quality land that yielded little crops and/or profit.

As a result, they often worked on nobles land as hired labour to make ends meet.

Question 24

What influence did landowners have on they land they had to sell to peasants?

Answer 24

Their land was priced at above market value, meaning the peasants had to pay more than what it was worth.

They also got to decide which pieces of land they got to keep, and undoubtedly they kept the best/most fertile land for themselves.

Question 25

How did the power of the Mir change after the emancipation?

Answer 25

Strengthened.

Mir was responsible for collecting redemption payments and other taxes.

If a peasant left the area, their land was automatically given to the Mir.

The Mir issued internal passports allowing peasants to travel.

Question 26

Redemption payments

Answer 26

The Russian government paid landowners for land that was then issued to newly freed Serfs. In return however, peasants were obligated to pay the government back in payments spanning 49 years.

Question 27

Consequence of emancipation: peasant resentment

Answer 27

The fact that the peasants still did not own the land they had caused deep resentment.

In 1861 there were over 1000 disturbances that required the army in some cases.

However most got on with life and the emancipation process.

Question 28

Consequence of emancipation: noble resentment

Answer 28

Nobles didn’t feel like they had been compensated for their loss of serfs.

They were also losing influence and status.

The emancipation drew a lot of criticism from this group of people.

Question 29

Consequence of emancipation: radical intelligentsia

Answer 29

They reacted badly to the terms, feeling like it favoured the nobles and betrayed the peasants; this led to the growth of opposition to the regime.

Question 30

Consequence of emancipation: kulaks

Answer 30

Some peasants started buying the land of poorer neighbours, renting land from nobility and hiring labour. These were known as kulaks

Question 31

Conclusion of the emancipation:

Answer 31

The Tsar did not want to offend/damage the ruling class upon which his regime depend on for its survival. i.e his nobles were ultimately more important to him than the peasants

No one was satisfied with the arrangements in the Emancipation.

Peasants were supposedly ‘free’ but ultimately remained a segregated class with lingering and deep resentment and the effects of this were long lasting.

Question 32

Key reform under Alexander II: Local Government

Answer 32

1864

System of elected local councils was established called the Zemstva.
The electoral system was rigged in favour of the nobles.
The power of the Zemstva was limited.

Question 33

Key reform under Alexander II: local government strengths and weaknesses

Answer 33

Strengths: quality of life improved in communities, Russian ‘regime’ and inspired social reform.
Weaknesses: the Zemstva were limited by nobility and power restrictions, peasants did not like paying taxes towards the Zemstva

Question 34

Key reform under Alexander II: Local Government - was it a success?

Answer 34

They were a success for both peasants and intelligentsia. The Zemstva introduced better roads, healthcare, schools and transport, all of lasting benefit to Russian life.

The intelligentsia used local government meeting to debate politics.

Question 35

Key reform under Alexander II: Judicial

Answer 35

1864

Innocent until proven guilty.
Juries were introduced (property owners)
Judges were given better training.
Equality before the law was established.

Question 36

Key reform under Alexander II: judicial strengths and weaknesses

Answer 36

Strengths: greater access to true justice, the courts created new jobs, the reform challenged the autocracy.

Weaknesses: peasants still had a separate court, emphasising lower status, the bureaucracy still had influence.

Question 37

Key reform under Alexander II: judicial - success?

Answer 37

The reforms were a success as the system was fairer and less corrupt. There were limitations as the judges often sympathised with the guilty.

Question 38

Key reform under Alexander II: education

Answer 38

1863

Schools were extended and open to all.
Responsibility was transferred from the church to the Zemstva.
Universities were made more independent

Question 39

Key reform under Alexander II: education strengths and weaknesses

Answer 39

Strengths: generation of literate peasants formed, mutual aid groups between students formed, discussing new ideas and such.

Weaknesses: students were often malnourished and relied on state financial help, poor teaching and strict regulations.

Question 40

Key reform under Alexander II: education - success?

Answer 40

Very successful. Allowed peasants to be literate, Russia to modernise, come up with new ideas and have an intelligent country.

Question 41

Key reform under Alexander II: military

Answer 41

1874

Military colleges were set up - literacy within the army improved.
Punishments were less severe.
Modern weaponry was introduced 
Conscription reduced to 15 years
Army became smaller and more efficient.

Question 42

Key reform under Alexander II: military strengths and weaknesses

Answer 42

Strengths: smaller and more professional army, less brutal and less classist, saved government funds.

Weaknesses: army still relied on peasant conscripts, reduced effectiveness of training. Nobles opposed the new system.

Question 43

Key reform under Alexander II: military - success?

Answer 43

Domestically successful - improved lives of soldiers and modernised army etc.

Grand scheme they weren’t so successful as they would face many more military defeats .

Question 44

The Tsars reversal to reforms in 1866

Answer 44

Triggered by a failed assassination attempt in 1866.

He decided to rein in some of his earlier measures and bring in more reactionary policies.

Liberal ministers and members of court lost influence in government and with the Tsar himself.

Local government and military reforms remained the same however. It was judicial and education reforms most affected.

Question 45

Opposition to the tsarist regime: nihilists

Answer 45

They were students/young people opposed to the Tsar. They agreed with the opinion that the emancipation betrayed the peasants and challenged traditional Russian society.

Many turned to revolutionary activity.

Question 46

Opposition to the tsarist regime: populists

Answer 46

Also known as Narodniks.

1870s.

They believed in a socialist society that revolved around the peasant commune.

They decided to ‘go to the people’ to spread their message, integrating themselves into villages (despite many being well off intellectuals).

When they arrived dressed in peasant clothes they were treated with suspicion and incomprehension.

They were reported to authorities and subsequently mass arrested and/or sent to Siberia.

Question 47

Opposition to the tsarist regime: Black partition

Answer 47

The result of the split between ‘Land and Liberty’

They believed in promoting revolution by peaceful means.

They believed Marxism would eventually transform Russia into a socialist society.

Question 48

Opposition to the tsarist regime: the people’s will

Answer 48

1879

The result of the split between ‘Land and Liberty’

They used terrorist violence to achieve their revolutionary aims - destruction of the state and land redistribution.

They were intent on assassinating the Tsar. (They managed in March 1881)

Question 49

Loris-Melikov constitution

Answer 49

1880

The Tsar was on his way to discuss the constitution to include elected representatives of the nobility, Zemstva and town governments in debating state decrees however it was never signed as the Tsar was killed on the way there.

Question 50

Assassination of Alexander II

Answer 50

1 March 1881

The people’s will threw bombs at the Tsar and killed him as he checked on his injured Cossacks. He died at the winter palace. The guilty five were given a public execution.