Alexander III (1881-1894) Flashcards
How did Edward Crankshaw characterise Alexander III’s reign
“The peace of the graveyard”
Due to the lack of meaningful opposition
What factors inhibited opposition under Alexander III
His father’s assassination had shocked and appalled the great majority of Russians, ensuring a widespread acceptance of the new tsar’s repressive policies and little popular appetite for radicalism, certainly until the late 1880s
The regime heightened censorship, preventing publication of any radical publishing sensations such as ‘What is to be Done’
Unis were effectively suppressed as centres of radical thought
The police and Okhrana used their powers without restraint, repressing radicalism especially in the cities
Fear of the police state and the new controls on their powers ‘neutralised’ the zemstva’s and dumas as political talking-shops
Give two examples of radical opposition from intellectuals and governments under Alexander III
THE ENROACHEMNT OF MARXISM - 1883 in Geneva, 4 Russian exiles formed the country’s first Marxist revolutionary group ‘The Emancipation of Labour’. Smuggled Marxists texts into the country where intelligentsia members discussed ideas
REVIVAL OF ZEMSTVA - Famine of 1891-92 gave more confidence to the zemstva in regions affected by hunger, as they took responsibility for humanitarian aid, while the central goverment criticised for doing little. Speeches and votes calling for reform became more common in zemstva 1892 onwards
Give an example of terrorist opposition to Alexander III
TEMPORARY REVIVAL OF PEOPLE”S WILL
Why wasn’t the People’s will successful under Alexander III
Re-opened in 1886, planning again to use violence to tear down tsardom.
But in a display of power from the Okhrana, the group was almost immediately uncovered, shadowed, then arrested as they prepared to us bombs to assassinate the Tsar
Their leader Ulyanov was executed
Some historians report that Alexander was so paranoid about terrorists that he….two of his own guards when they made……………………….
Shot
Sudden movements
Give evidence of Industrial opposition
Industrialisation and urbanisation rapidly accelerated in his last two years on the throne.
Strikes were illegal and workers were often infiltrated by the Okhrana, but a handful still took place (May 1891, workers marched for the first time for improved working conditions
Give examples of opposition in the Russian empire
In Poland, Georgia, and Armenia - vocalist political parties were launched. They had much more popular support than any radical groups in central Russia because they linked their ideas to nationalism.
Russification was stirring up popular resentment against the Tsarist regime in those regions
Alexander III was…….successful controlling and even………………opposition domestically. However, opposition flourished in……….provinces
Highly
Preventing
Outer
With regards to russification, what did Pobedonostev believe
The Empire could on;y survive if its diversity of nationalities was eradicated
“The instinct of nationality is a disintegrating force”
What percentage of Russian subjects were not Russian in 1888
60%
- Needed to have their culture, language, customs and autonomy wiped out to create a more uniform ‘Russian’ state.
Russification would have, in fact, significant…………for the ultimate………………of Tsardom
Implications
Disintegration
How was Russification implemented in Poland
Polish national bank was closed in 1885
Russian became the main language of primary school education (most controversial)
To maintain order, 100,000 Russian troops were stationed there permanently
What was the impact of Russification in Poland
The additional desire for national liberation, stirred up by Russification, made Poland the perfect territory for political activism
Two socialist parties formed in 1892 - both offering Poland a nationalist socialist revolution
What happened with russification under Finland and was it successful
The Russian language was re-introduced into Finland’s goverment and schools
Lost its independent currency
Assembly weakened in 1892
However, the real result on Finland, and the massive popular protests, would happen until the next tsar
(most successful)
What happened with russification under the Baltic Provinces and was it successful
The University of Dorpat in Estonia was forced to speak Russian (instead of German) + preference given to Russian students
Giant orthodox church built in the centre of Riga
Russian migration encouraged
Caused ethenic tensions, but the ‘bloody riots’ only began under Nicholas
Ukrainians were officially re-branded as………………..and publications in Ukrainian were………….with theatres…………
Little Russians
Banned
Closed
Why was there little uproar in Ukraine
Little radical nationalist reaction because Ukraine was booming economically and there was a significant flow of Russian migration to the region
What was the impact of Russification in the Caucuses (Armenia and Georgia)
Nationalist uprising brutally crushed
As in Poland, this heavy-handedness actually helped populists and socialists to attract local support, by linking their social and political ideas to the cause of national freedom
How were Jews suppressed
The authorities tolerated and even promoted outbursts of arson, looting, rape and murder on the Jewish community - there were over 200 such attacks in 1882
1882 - any Jewish freedom of movement outside the pale was ended. Jews were prevented from purchasing ‘immovable property’ (buildings)
1887 - Jewish access to schools and unis were severely limited by quotas
1890’s - Jews were barred from participating in the zemstva + lost right to vote in elections
What was the impact of the brutality directed at the jews
No Jewish ‘nationalist movement’ in response to the repression and very little record of Russian public outcry on government’s Jewish policy
However, following this persecution, the revolutionary leadership of the 20th C was disproportionally staffed woth educated Jewish mn such as Trotsky, fiercely dedicated to tearing tsardom apart
Russification may have again backfired
Give evidence that Alexander II was a great reformer (6)
Emancipation of the serfs + Nobles lost exemption
Zemstav and Dumas created
Less corrupt and more efficient judicial system
Nationwide conscription - no distinction between social classes
Decreased church power
Increased proletariat from 700,000 in 1865 to 1.4 million in 1880
Give evidence that Alexander II was NOT a great reformer (6)
(Alex II)
Over-representation of nobles in Zemstv (44%)
Active 3rd section
Assassination attempts - reforms not enough
1873, censorship introduced
160,000 sent to Siberia (1866-1880)
1878 - removed power from Zemstcva and Duma in a national state of emergency
Give evidence that Alexander III was NOT a great reactionary (5)
(Alex III)
Abolished salt tax
Decreased peasant redemption payments
Peasant bank
Abolished poll tax
Factory inspections introduced
Give evidence that Alexander III was a great reactionary (7)
(Alex III)
Reinforced safeguard
Okhrana grew in power (able to hold prisoners without trial for 3 months)
Judicial system became more corrupt
Land captains (increased noble power, can hold their own trials and overall Duma elections)
Over-representation of nobles in Duma (57%)
Higher school fees limited unis - professors appointed according to their levels of patriotism
1892 - Okhrana can search property without a warrant
Give 3 themes in the essay ‘Whilst Alexander II was the great reformer, Alexander III was the great reactionary
Treatment of opposition
Relationship with subjects
Autocracy and goverment
How many major newspapers were banned for ‘liberal tendencies’
14
What judicial change happened in 1885
Independence of the high court judges was revoked - Tsar could effectively fire judges
What judicial changes happened in 1887
Reporters and relatives banned from attending trails when the ‘dignity of state power’ was deemed at risk
Wealthier noble juries became more common - lenient towards the Tsar
Give an argument that undermines the reactionary actions of Alexander III and why it’s insignificant
Mainly influenced by his new appointed ministers, including Tolstoy, who were deeply conservative and the extent of his reactionary character is somewhat amplified and exaggerated through outside influence
However, he chose these deeply conservative ministers to carry out his proposed policies, implying that Tolstoy had little influence over Alexander as his mind was already made up
What did the reinforced safeguard enable in 1881
Appointees of the Tsar could arrest dissidents and hold them without trial + sentence them to exile with no legal representation
Commanders could close down newspapers, shops, factories and immigration
What was a Land Captain and who could hold them
Only Nobles
Allowed them to conduct their own trials as judge and jury, overall the decisions of the zemstva and elections of Zemstva and Duma
In 1892, the voting rules for elections to the DUmas were stiffened to exclude any…………………..voter. The electorate in St.Petersburg shrank by 2/3rds
Working-class
Professors were appointed by the state for their ‘……………moral and……….orientation’ not their qualifications
Religious
Patriotic
How did Alexander view the Orthodox Church
As a vital tool in restoring faith in autocracy
What church reform happened in 1883
Non-Orthodox Christians were barred from wearing religious dress in public and building new churches
Attempting to convert an Orthodox Christian became a crime punishable by death
In…..Orthodox priests became…….employees, paid out by taxes. They had to read out the……..descrees in church and had to turn anyone in who………….to a crime
1883
Tsar’s
Confessed
Give some positive reforms under Alexander towards the peasantry and workers
1881 - abolished Salt tax (a heavy burned on the peasantry)
Reduced the size of peasant’s redemption payments, and cancelled all arrears in 37 provinces
1883 = opened a Peasant Bank to help the peasantry borrow and buy land
1886 - abolished the hated poll tax, shifting taxation t private businesses and urban property
Lowered workplace fines and introduced factory inspections + controlled number of hours children worked for
Why was Alexander III so liberalising of the working class
Made them satisfied with their circumstances and thus, unwilling to revolt
Give a quote by Popedenostev about democracy
“Democracy is the greatest lie of our time”
