Autocracy and Modernisation

Question 1

Counter reforms: Emergency measures

Answer 1

1881

Statute of State security was passed.

Gave government powers to: prosecute anyone for political crimes, set up emergency police rule, close schools and newspapers.

This initiated a period of repression under Alexander III.

Question 2

Counter reforms: Control

Answer 2

1881

Okhrana was established as the secret police, anyone could become under surveillance.

Censorship was tightened.

Question 3

Counter reforms: education

Answer 3

1884

Reduced autonomy of universities and student freedom.

Uni courses for women were closed.

Church given more control over primary education.

Question 4

Counter reforms: local government

Answer 4

1890

The Zemstva act reduced the independence of the Zemstva.

Control became more centralised.

The Zemstva could be overruled.

Number of voters in elections was cut drastically.

Question 5

Progressive policies: economic development

Answer 5

Alexander III supported finance ministers - Witte and Vyshnegradsky- in laying down the basis for future development and creating the industrial spurt of the 1890s.

Question 6

Progressive policies: financial and social measures

Answer 6

1883 redemption payments were lowered
1883 peasants land bank was established
Laws restricting child labour, women working hours at night and compulsory education for factory children.

Question 7

What was Russification

Answer 7

An ethnic strategy encompassing the while of Russia into a sense of inclusivity and belonging. It forced the many cultures within Russia to adopt Russian customs.

Question 8

What was the impact of Russification?

Answer 8

Nationalism from national groups was underestimated and it sparked many uprisings seeking greater personal and cultural freedoms.

Question 9

Russian industry in the 1860s

Answer 9

State run factories producing military essentials.
Peasant run domestic craft i.e weaving.
Workshops in leather, metal and other materials.

Question 10

How did industry expand under Alexander III after 1868?

Answer 10

Foreign expertise.

Home grown industry increasingly producing engineering products especially for the railway industry.

Question 11

Sergei Witte - 1892 and his industrial strategy

Answer 11

Succeeded Vyshnegradsky and was committed to the modernisation of Russia.

Industrial strategy:

1. State sponsored development of heavy industry i.e railways
2. Foreign loans
3. High tariffs on foreign imports
4. Strong Rouble
5. Raised taxation prices
6. Exports of grain

Question 12

Witte’s successes

Answer 12

Great industrial spurt in the 1890s.
Production of iron and steel was significantly up
Coal output tripled
By 1900, Moscow was the fastest growing city.

Question 13

Witte’s limitations

Answer 13

International recession in 1899.
Economy suffered.
Output in basic industries fell.
Witte lost the confidence of the Tsar and was dismissed in 1903.

Witte’s focus on industrial and economic growth over the needs of the people sparked revolt and discontent.

Question 14

Stolypin’s reforms

Answer 14

He believed that political stability would come from peasant prosperity.

Reforms in 1906-11:

1. reduced the power of the Mir
2. redistribute the land of some nobles
3. help kulaks buy land and make into more prosperous farms.

His reforms were idealistic within the time frame used to implement them.

Russian Agriculture was certainly producing well but was still not modernised.

Question 15

Social change 1880-1914: Nobles

Answer 15

Sold their land.

Many moved to cities and towns.

Question 16

Social change 1880-1914: Peasants

Answer 16

Many more Kulaks developed.
Majority still poor but some were better off due to higher consumption of grain.
Commune remained strong, traditional peasant life remained largely unchanged.
Peasants flooded to cities and towns, forced off their land from poverty/debt.

Question 17

Social change 1880-1914: Working Class

Answer 17

Cities and towns growing rapidly, peasants becoming workers.
Working conditions very poor; low wages, long hours, unhygienic conditions, overcrowed barracks.
Labour strikes seeking to change such conditions.

Question 18

Social change 1880-1914: Middle Class

Answer 18

Still small portion of population but nontheless growing.

Industrialists and businessmen were emerging.

Question 19

What were the weaknesses of the autocracy?

Answer 19

System relied on a strong Tsar, a weak Tsar was a liability.

Inefficient government as a lack of communication and teamwork.

Question 20

The death of Alexander III

Answer 20

He died in November 1894 of a kidney problem.

Question 21

Impact of Alexander III

Answer 21

His policies had restored the regimes political authority and given 13 years of relative peace.

However in doing this, he strengthened traditional elites and antagonised social and ethnic groups throughout the empire.

He left his son with unstable social pressures and tensions.

All the regime could rely on now was repression to maintain order and stability.