Alexander III Society 1881-1894 (Unit 2, Topic 3)

Question 1

How did Russification Effect Finland?

Answer 1

-The Parliament (Diet) had its political power reduced in 1892
-Instructed to use Russian as national language
-Independent postal service abolished
-Russian coinage replaced local currency

Question 2

How did Russification Effect Baltic Germans?

Answer 2

-Measures introduced 1855-89 enforced the use of Russian in all state offices, schools, the police and the judicial system
-The German university of Dorpar was russified and made the Lurev university
-Money was poured into Orthodox controlled schools while Lutheran schools struggled to find funds
-Land was offered to landless Lutherans who converted to Orthodoxy- 37,000 converted

Question 3

How did Russification Effect Poland?

Answer 3

-The National Bank was closed in 1895
-All subjects in schools except Polish language had to be taught in Russian.
-Polish literature had to be studied as a Russian translation
-All independence taken from Russian administration
-Catholic monasteries were closed
-Russians were given most of the important jobs in government

Question 4

How did Russification Effect Ukraine?

Answer 4

-Use of the Ukrainian language was further limited, 1883
-1884, all theatres were closed

Question 5

How did Russification Effect Central Asia?

Answer 5

-The All-Russian Orthodox Missionary Society converted ‘heathens and Muslims’ and this included forced mass baptisms. It’s estimated as many as 100,000 Muslim Tartars were forcibly converted

Question 6

Who Uprised against Russification?

Answer 6

Asia- Uprised in 1882 and 1884 in modern day Uzbekistan which was mercilessly suppressed

Armenians- Uprising in 1886 also mercilessly suppressed

Georgians- Uprising in 1892 which was mercilessly suppressed

Question 7

What were the Jewish Pogroms?

Answer 7

Anti-Jewish legislations were put into place in April 1881, in Yelizavetgrad Ukraine. They seemed to have been encouraged by the Okhrana using the assassination of Alexander II to stir up trouble. The violence that followed was not dealt with efficiently and the ‘Holy League’ organization, supported by Pobedonostev, helped coordinate early attacks.

Question 8

What were the Consequences of the Jewish Pogroms?

Answer 8

From Yelizavetgrad, the riots spread to other Ukrainian towns such as Kiev and Odessa, and beyond Warsaw and Nizhny Novgorod. Causing many jews to flee to the western Europe borders. Around 16 major cities were effected by looting, burning if shops, rape and murder. These continued in 1884 but some pogroms came after 1886 in Odessa.

Question 9

What was the Aftermath of the Jewish Pogroms?

Answer 9

Following the pogroms many jews left the country with some being deported from Russia. In the winter of 1891-92 around 10,000 Jewish artisans were expelled from Moscow.

More expulsions followed when Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich (Alexander III’s brother), was made Governor General of St. Petersburg in 1892, He forced 20,000 jews from the city during the Passover and closed down a newly built synagogue

Question 10

What Rights did the 3 Articles Strip from Jews?

Answer 10

Article 1- Jews were forbidden to settle outside cities and towns of fewer than 10,000 people

Article 2- All contracts for the mortgaging or renting of property for Jews will have no effect

Article 3- Jews are forbidden to do business on Holy Days and Christian holidays.

Question 11

What were the Anti-Semitic Legislation put in place against Jews?

Answer 11

1882- May and Army Laws order closure of 14 Jewish apothecaries

1886-Jews no longer allowed on board of orphan asylum. Jews can only sell alcohol from home or personal property

1887-Jews with foreign qualification are now forbidden to reside outside of the Pale of Settlement. Jews have reduced numbers attending education at all levels and Jews are prohibited from settling in Finland

1889-Jews need a special permit to attend a legal professional body and Minister of Justice can only appoint any Jewish barristers

1891-Ethnic Minorites forbidden from buying property in multiple provinces

1892-Jews are banned from participation in electoral events and cannot be a part of town Dumas. Mining industry in Turkmenistan closed to Jews

1993-94-Jews banned from adopting a ‘Christian’ name. Jews can no longer sell alcohol or be admitted to Service of State

Question 12

How has the Russian Orthodox Church Remained the Same?

Answer 12

Ultimately, the position of the ROC had remained unchanged. It remained important to the government during times after the emancipation to keep the people loyal and respectful.

Question 13

How had the Russian Orthodox Church Changed?

Answer 13

Alexander III was conscious of the Churches potential power and under the new education policies it was given increased control over primary education. Repression continued under the ROC. Pobedonostev believed that by keeping the people re-educated they were not able to prevent a revolt. Therefore, more clergy were enrolled, more people attended education and church schools increased. They released spiritual literature and Pobedonostev was able to spread the Orthodoxy throughout the empire with Russification. Many other religions were forcibly converted

Question 14

How have the Nobility Remained the Same?

Answer 14

They maintained their dominant position in Russian society and their land ownership continued to decrease

Question 15

How had the Nobility Changed?

Answer 15

The majority moved to cities for new career paths. Many maintained their high civil service jobs but others chose medicinal and legal pathways. Few became industrialists but many were at the top of enterprises in cities. The most loyal were given the opportunity to become Land Captains with authoritarian and judicial power from 1889. Combined with Zemvsta acts reducing zemstvo powers Land Captains became even more powerful

Question 16

How have the Middle Class Remained the Same?

Answer 16

The class was still of a small majority and were small in growing numbers in comparison to other classes

Question 17

How had the Middle Class Changed?

Answer 17

With new reforms they were able to move into new professions and career paths. They moved into running town councils, banking, railway production and textile industries. They set up societies to exchange ideas and concepts, 1881 they set up the Pirogov Medical Society and 1892 the First Teachers Congress met. Their zemstvo power was reduced and Land Captains took a lot of authoritarian power away from them

Question 18

How have the Peasantry Remained the Same?

Answer 18

The position of the Peasantry remained largely unchanged. Agricultural yields remained low and the Mir continued to control the village. Particularly in the overpopulated central areas where living standards remained low. Many peasants payed sold small amounts of produce and handicrafts to pay their taxes and so they buy few household goods. Their farming produced enough for them to survive. Many peasants died from disease and had to still pay indirect taxes and redemption payments. The peasants are also in effect of the famines of 91/92. Traditional way of life was the same though in the rural regions.

Question 19

How has the Peasantry Changed?

Answer 19

There was a large increase in population and the new kulak class who had benefitted from the freedoms granted by industrialization but they weren’t the majority. The economy had started to penetrate the countryside with urban factories replacing the old handicrafts. New technologies such as railways, roads and telegraphs. Hospitals, libraries and reading clubs. The number of primary schools quadruples and healthcare improved through the zemstva. Alexander III couldn’t reverse the emancipation but made sure peasants were at the bottom of society

Question 20

How have the Workers Remained the Same?

Answer 20

Living and working conditions were still poor, high work rates with long hours and disease spread and injury was natural.

Question 21

How have the Workers Changed?

Answer 21

Industrialisation had led to urbanisation and development of a working class by 1881 (2% of the working population). Some peasants had even started moving to cities looking to live there permanently. By 1900’s the workers numbered 3 million (2.5% of the population) many still kept in contact with their previous villages and sent money back to relatives. Many workers were employed in large factories containing thousands of workers but most were in small workshops in towns and small factories. Only a small exception had wages higher than the average low. The environment was disgusting with many workers sleeping by their machines or swapping with other workers going onto shifts. However, in rare cases respectable workers were invited to Marxist reading circles and dance halls and lectures. Literacy rates improved, these workers wanted to improve the workers overall livelihood and better themselves

Question 22

What were the Measures taken by Nikolai Bunge for the Workers?

Answer 22

Laws were passed

-Restricting child labour
-Limit working hours for women at night
-Reduce fines for workers and provide education for the younger factory children.
-Factory inspectorates were established to monitor working and living conditions.

However, these laws weren’t very enforced and 33 strikes would occur each year between 1886-1894. The Okhrana had to use factory informants to predict when strikes were looking to commence

Question 23

Overall, How did the Way Russia was Governed and it’s Political Authority Change?

Answer 23

-Almost immediately, Alexander III hanged the killers of his late father showing his repressive might from the start
-He unleashed the Manifesto of Unshakeable Autocracy and Law on Exceptional Measures
-Education was changed to really favor autocracy giving ROC primary education control
-1889, Land Captains was introduced reducing zemstva power and increasing autocracy power
-1892, Municipal Gov. Act
-1890, Zemstva Act
-Censorship tightened and bans on authors and publications

Question 24

Overall, How did the Economy Change?

Answer 24

-Russia still remained behind the West
-Bunje, Vyshnegradsky, Witte all make dramatic changes to the heavy industries
-Still agriculturally based
-Peasants and Nobel Land Banks as the peasants were believed to be the key to economic growth
-1885, Abolishment of Poll Tax
-Reduced Redemption Payments
-Grain exports increased dramatically in order to boost gold reserves, however this caused a famine and Vyshnegradsky was hated and fired

Question 25

Overall, What Ideologies were Changed or Remained under Alexander III?

Answer 25

Nationalism- Emphasizes loyalty, devotion and allegiance to the empire directly linked to autocracy

Orthodoxy- Leader of religion, more control under Alexander III, more dominant

Absolution- Complete power and authority over the country, crucial to be a stronger nation

Reactionary- Backwards policy, Alexanders way of rule, went against liberal fathers ideas

Autocracy- Slavophiles view, power are in one man Alexander III needed to strengthen power

Marxism- Attractive theory, stages towards a perfect state, Emancipation Labour 1883

Question 26

Overall, How did Opposition develop under Alexander III?

Answer 26

-Arrests fear of assassination
-Increased censorship
-Teachers replaced by ROC
-Closed courts, unfair trials allowed, Land Captain
-Liberals angry at ROC control
-Marxism developing
-Emancipation of Labour 1883

Question 27

Overall, What was the Extent of Social and Cultural Change?

Answer 27

-Church remained unchanged as a weak church would mean a weak tsar
-Employed Ivan Delyanov for education increasing church power gaining power and influence
-Nobles still dominant with a few new jobs, land ownership decreased
-Middle Class, large increase, new jobs, some became very wealthy
-Workers, grew as a group, returned to towns for harvest with poor working and living conditions
-Peasants, position unchanged, couldn’t afford to move, kulaks grow, living standards remain the same, financial burden from redemption payments