Alexander III Flashcards
What were the two political views?
Westerners and Slavophiles
When was Alexander II assassinated, leading to Alexander III taking power?
1881 by The People’s Will - ironically on way to allow democracy
What were elective local governments called?
zemstva
What were Alexander III’s political views?
Very traditional - conservative
What did radicals begin to believe?
That eradication of Tsarism would solve Russia’s problems
Which liberal ministers had to leave office?
Loris-Melikov and Ignatiev
Which minister was introduced?
Pobedonostsev, said absolute power resided in the Tsar
Which religious group were attacked?
Organised attacks on Jews
What was Russification?
Insisting in the use of the Russian language, with all other languages banned in schools and official documents. Also attempting to convert people to Russian Orthodox Church - previously lots of religion
When were the universities temporarily closed and why?
1889 - due to student demonstrations
When were Land Captains introduced to replace those who had been locally elected?
1889
When were universities placed under government control?
1884
Why were university fees raised?
To exclude all but the very wealthy, who were much less likely to revolt when learned of other political systems
How many major newspapers were banned?
14 - under press freedom restriction
What was censored, and by whom?
14 major newspaper and all foreign literature, by the Okhrana (secret police)
Which courts were introduced and for whom?
Government controlled courts for government opponents, with no jury
When was the right for governments to choose juries introduced?
1890
Who was responsible for Russia’s economic development?
Witte
What were the issues Witte faced?
Russia had a small business class (which would be central to development), many Russian peasants did not have freedom of movement to move to cities, the Russian economy did not have enough surplus money to invest in development
What was state capitalism?
Economic development sponsored and directed by the government
Which foreign powers invested in Russia?
Belgium, France, and Britain
Which welsh man helped to found ironworks in the Ukraine?
John Hughes - City of Donetsk grew up around it - example of foreign dependence
Which factory employed thousands of workers?
The Putilov Factory
What caused peasants to revolt during the Russian industrial increase?
Introduced more taxes for the poor, poor living and working conditions, still not enough growth to equal other powers.
What made revolution seem possible during the industrial expansion?
Peasant uprisings commonplace, increasing population led to better conditions for uprising, 1905 - Putilov strike which led to revolution
What positives came out of the industrial growth?
Population in cities doubled, developed influence in Far East, industrial growth 8% in 1890-99 (fastest in world), coal, oil, and iron production increased rapidly
Who hated Nicholas II?
Liberals, social revolutionaries, social democrats.
