Autocracy Of AII And AIII Flashcards
Changes to Alexander II in the late 60s
-1865 his son and hier died and his wife was very ill of tuberculosis.
-He became infatuated w his mistress and so became distanced and distracted.
-April 66- 80despite his attempts to help those in subjugated positions, he was subject to a series of very violent assassination attempts.
-His affair distanced him from his reformist family eg duke Konstantin his brother.
Impact of the changes to Alexander II
-He became weaker to resisting the reactionary conservatives who felt he’d gone too far.
-In66 he made new appointments in previously liberal positions: Dmitry Tolstoy as education minister and Shuvalov as bead of secret police (third section)
Reform of education in rhe 70s
-Tolstoy needed to eradicate critical western ideas founded in the new education system.
-Church took back control from Zemstva.
-Higher schools (gimnazi) had to be classical in curriculum, only those at the traditional secondary coud go to uni.
-Liberal uni courses replaced eg English and history with maths and latin.
-Student activities monitored.
-Set up more teacher colleges but on;y to teach tsarist control.
-Allowed woman lectures but could veto whenever.
Reforms on police and law in the 70s
-Arrests increased and third section secret police encouraged.
-Examples made of political defendants eg New generals could prosecute and exile political prisoners this included rebels and those who had fled the country.
Show trials
-trial taking place in front of the public for the purpose of propaganda to deter others from radical political activity.
-This backfired, inspiring more activity and eventually having to be moved to secret courts away from the public
Trial of 193 in 1877
- afamous show trial.
- A sympathetic jury acquitted over 150 of 193 political radicals and their défense lawyers speeches were broadcasted and fuel of ideas for more radicals.
-Vera zasulich watched this trial and felt so much sympathy for the accused she shot and wounded the governor of st Petersburg and was then NOT found guilty at her own trial.
Russia at the end of the 70s and its impact
-losing russo Turkish war.
-Famine in the countryside.
-Industrial recession.
-Many attempts on Alexander II.
-Led him to realise he needed to widen democracy rather than reform towards autocracy in order to curb violence thus loris- melikov
Loris melikov reforms
-appointed minister for internal affairs.
-Realease political prisoners,
-relaxed censorship
- lifted zemstva restrictions
-. 3rd section abolished w their power given to police, however this created the section known as okhrana which was just as oppressive.
Loris melikov constitution
-1880.
-Report that nobility representatives, zemstva representatives and town gov representatives should come together to debate the drafting of state elected decrees.
-Tsar accepted and called council of ministers to discuss but was killed that day
Assasination of Alexander II
-13 march 1881.
-Tsar was travelling to the winter palace in a closed carriage when the peoples will group set off concealed bombs along the route.
-The first 2 missed and hit Cossacks but when the tsar got out to check on them another was thrown and killed him immediately.
Mindset of Alexander III
-tutored by Konstantinos pobedonostsev.
-Very strong sense of commitment and idea that he has gods will to rule best for his country.
-His subjects should not question but obey.
AlexIII immédiate change in direction
-public hanging of the peoples will conspirators.
-1881 ‘manifesto of unshaken autocracy.’
-Law issued that meant state commanders could take control aribitarily of locality using the military if needed.
-Loris-melikov constitution abandoned and reforming ministers resigned.
-Huge new reliance of nationalist conservative ministers.
Some of Alexander IIIs right wing ministers
-Mikhail katkov helped justify Alexander’s conservative views through journalist propaganda.
-Konstantin pobedonostsev over procurator of the holy synod.
-Dmitry Tolstoy as internal minister
Changes to local government in the late 80s/ under AIII
-state appointed ‘land captains’ could override local elections and any of the normal judicial process.
-election arrangements changed for zemstva so to reduce peasant vote and put it back under gov control.
-92, electorate was reduced to only property owners and mayor and such became state employed.
AIII counter reforms on policing
-police increased and new investigative branches set up.
-Huge spy network set up including counter spies and double agents posing as revolutionaries.
-1882 statute says any area in russia could be subject to gov inspection, arrest and even exile if those in it were suspicious or criminals.
