Alexander ll Flashcards
How did the emancipation edict impact peasants 1861
Freed them of noble control and gave peasants the right to own property increasing there opportunity to work in the cities
Negative impacts of the peasants from the emancipation edict
Peasants had little rights and had to pay redemptions fees, land allocations were rarely fair with little opportunity for peasants to adopt farming methods.
Negative impact of landowners from emancipation edict
Loss influence and land however received compensation from the state to pay of debt
Negative impact of nobles from the emancipation edict
Lost money, leading to bankruptcy and lost ownership of peasants, however they were able to dominate in military operations and government operations.
Local government reform 1864-70
Zemstevas were appointed control and improvement of public services, composed of men who understood the locality and its needs.
Problem with local government reform
Power of the zemstvas were limited with no control over taxes and they attracted doctors and teachers who used the meetings to debate political issues.
Judiciary reform 1864
Courts established equality before the law and the accused were innocent until proven guilty. Judges were trained and appointed by the tsar and Courts were open for the public
Problems with judiciary reform
Lawyers could criticise and some judges let of the accused out of sympathy. There were also limitations and exclusions involved in the court system.
Education reform 1863-64
Universities could govern themselves and education was open to all genders and classes. Responsibility of education was transferred from the Orthodox Church and university attendance grew
Problems with the educational reform
University independence grew increasing the numbers of radical thinkers
Military reforms 1874-75
Conscription grew across all classes and punishments were less severe there was better provisions and modern weapons. Also dissolved using the military as a punishment for criminal offences
Problems with military reforms
Rich could avoid conscription problems with leadership and supply continued and officer class was heavily aristocratic
Censorship reform 1858-70
Censorship of newspapers and books were relaxed and could be published without tsar acceptance
Problem with censorship reform
Critical writing increased and government control was re tightened in the 1870s
Alexander and reverse of reforms 1866
Following an attempt on his life, Alexander adopted and more oppressive policy and took back all of his reforms.
Alexander ll education counter reform
Church regained responsibility and universities were replaced with government control and Zemstva powers over education was reduced
Police and law control counter reform of Alexander ll
Appointed the third selection which strengthen the police and increased persecution of ethnic and religious minorities. ‘Show trials’ were held, which aimed at deterring others from revolutionary activity.
Economic situation of Alexander ll
Remained rural due to inhospitable territory and climate and serfdom was a backwardness limiting forces and drove change. This included wage earners, internal market, demand and entrepreneurs.
How did serfdom limit wage earners
Serf were poor and managed to survive on products they grew. There was a lack in the change of farming methods and little opportunity for them to develop into wage earners
How did serfdom limit internal market demand
Goods were exchanged rather than purchased. Market forces were beginning to develop as peasants started working in towns when farming was slack.
How did serfdom limit entrepreneurs?
The small land owning elite could obtain what they needed from the service and work of serfs, however, many landowners were in debt and had to seek alternative ways of making money.
What were the positive effects of Alexander ll reforms?
It increased economic activity and the development of banking institutions and the countries rail and communications networks were improved.
What were the negative impacts of Alexander the second reforms
They failed to create popular support of the tsarist regime as Alexander as many were left unsatisfied
Home reactions and responses to Alexander ll reforms
His policies were criticised by liberals and conservatives, as they believe that he had not done enough to transform society. Conservatives were angry at the erosion of the rights that the nobles had always held.
Alexander ll opposition groups
The Tchaikovsky circle
Radical thinkers
Peoples will
Narodniks
Black repartition
Alexander ll and maintaining continuity
-1/3 of spendage went to debt, army
-Serfs had too little land to profit from
-Raised tariffs
-Tax system kept peasants poor
Reasons for emancipation edict
- political ~ question tsar authority
- military ~ defeated by many wars
- economic ~ no trade and huge debt
- social ~ class divide, not middle class
How many primary schools were built under the 1863-4
8000 in 1856 to 25,000 in 1880
