Alexander III's reforms

Question 1

Alexander III

Answer 1

favoured orthodoxy + loyalty to Tsar = reactionary conservative
more influenced by the assassination of his father on 13 March 1881
Pobedonostev was his tutor + shaped his outlook

Question 2

Local Government
what did AIII do to limit the influence of the Zemstva

Answer 2

1890, Zemstva Act reduced its independence
Z put under the ministry of Ed + could veto their decisions
elective system of Z changed in favour of LO –> peasant rep decreased
1892 = Muncipil Governemnt Act = No. off ppl eligible to vote cut = 0.7% in Moscow

however, Z continued to make progress = build hospitals + roads
played a key role in alleviating the effects of the famine of 1891-92

Question 3

Police

Answer 3

1881 Okhrana set up
No. police increased + criminal investigation branches set up
Land captains = very powerful, overrule district courts = resented by peasants
censorship tightened
targeted: communist, socialist + trade unions

Question 4

Judicial

Answer 4

1887 - minister of justice given power to hold closed court sessions
1889 - land captains given power to appoint judges in volest courts
justice of peace abolished –> replaced by land captains

these counter-reforms led to a huge increase in centralised power = control

Question 5

Education

Answer 5

1884 - uni statute brought strict controls = students freedom reduced + forbidden to gather in groups more than 5
church given control over primary ed = religious + patriotic orientation
Sskl fees raised to exclude kids from lower ranks –> noble % increased

although No. of skls + kids receiving ed increased, only 21% of pop literate by 1897

Question 6

Censorship

Answer 6

censorship tightened greatly
newspapers closed + life bans on editors + publishers
literary publications had to be officially approved
extended to art + theatre where russification was enforced

Question 7

Progressive Policies

Answer 7

Alex III’s reign was not of complete reaction but had policies of modernisation + industrialisation

Bunge, Vshnegradky + Witte created the industrial spurt of the 1890’s

Bunge =
1883 - Peasant land bank
1885 - noble land bank

reducing the redemption payments and abolishing the poll tax

laws passed to restrict child labour + women night hours
factory inspector to monitor living + working conditions

although measures were taken to improve lives they had little impact