Alexander II- Zemstva

Question 1

What was the composition of the Zemstva?

Answer 1

• 42% peasants.
• 38% landowners

Question 2

How was the Zemstva elected?

Answer 2

An indirect system- vote initially given to nobles
(three EC’s split up into nobles, townspeople and peasants).

Question 3

What powers did the Zemstva have?

Answer 3

-Approve local community projects such as:
-roads, prisons, public health, poor relief education and industrial construction.

Question 4

Which powers remained reserved for the Tsarist government?

Answer 4

-tax
-Appointments
-law and order
-Foreign policy/ defence

Question 5

How was the Zemstvo centeral to liberal reforms?

Answer 5

-hoped it would lead to a national assembly.
-progressives block social progress to delay the change enough until the masses were educated enough to make choice.

Question 6

Who ended up dominating the zemstvo?

Answer 6

-nobility.

Question 7

What percetage of the nobility were dominating the Zemstvo by the end?

Answer 7

60%ish

Question 8

Why did some members of the Zemstvo feel disinterested in making decisions?

Answer 8

-provincial governers had the power to reverse decisions.

Question 9

Why did the Zemstvo essentially fail?

Answer 9

-There was no absolute attempt to make it a success.
-Concern over criticism of the government.

Question 10

When was the Zemstvos set up?

Answer 10

1864.