Autocracy of Alexander 3rd Flashcards
Who encouraged strong Slavophilic values in Alex 3rd?
his tutor - Pobedonostsev.
What was his first act as Tsar?
To hang those associated with his father’s assassination.
What was included in the 1881 Manifesto of Unshakeable Autocracy?
The Law of Exceptional Measures - if necessary a Commander-In-Chief could be appointed to take control of an area, using military police courts and arbitrary imprisonment.
Which 2 ministers resigned over the 1881 Manifesto?
Loris-Melikov and the Milyutin brothers.
What position did Pobedonostsev take?
Over-Procurator of the holy Synod.
What was the main change in local government in 1889?
Land Captains could be appointed - they could override elections and disregard zemstva decisions. They were responsible for law and order and could ignore judicial process.
What were the local government reforms in 1890 and 1892?
1890 - zemstvas under central government control and peasants were harder to be elected.
1892 - same for Dumas.
What was the strength of the local government reforms?
Allowed for easier tax collection but also stricter government control.
Who took over the Department of Police, and what was their main goal?
von Plehve - increased police in size and set up new criminal investigation departments.
The drive for spies campaign recruited ‘agents provocateurs’ who posed as revolutionaries to incriminate others.
What was the 1882 Statute of Police Surveillance?
Any area could be declared an ‘area of subversion’ and have martial law imposed. There was tremendous fear, as the arrested waived all rights.
What were the main judicial reforms?
Alexander 2nds reforms were revered - the 1885 decree allowed the Minister of Justice to dismiss judges and the 1887 Ministry could appoint judges and hold closed-court sessions.
1889 - Volost courts put under Land Captain jurisdiction.
Who oversaw education reform, and what were the immediate university changes?
Delyanov - whose university charter made staff appointment based on ‘religious, moral and patriotic orientation’. He closed universities to women, and all university life was supervised - gatherings of over 5 people banned.
What was the literacy rate by 1897?
21%.
How did Tolstoy try to change censorship in 1882?
He established a committee which issued the ‘temporary regulations’ which could close newspapers and ban writers, editors and publishers for life.
Censorship became active - publications had to be approved and libraries/reading rooms could only stock approved books.
Russification enforced in theatre, art and culture.
To what extent was Alexander 3rds reign one of sole counter-reform?
Not entirely:
May 1881 - redemption payment fees reduced or cut
May 1885 - poll tax abolished and inheritance tax imposed on nobility
1883 - Peasants Land Bank.
