Changes in Local Government

Question 1

How did local Government work before 1861?

Answer 1

The provinces were under the durisdiction of noble landowners. Villiage issues were discussed by the mir.

Question 2

5 points

How did Alexander II reform local government after 1861?

Answer 2

• In 1864 he created the Zemstva. There was Zemstva for both districts and provinces. Whilst people were elected to this body, the vote was weighted in favour of the landowners.
• In 1870 the Dumas (Dumy) were set up. These were municipal councils set up in towns and cities. Only those who paid taxes or owned land could vote for members for the Dumy.
• The responsibilities of both bodies were limited to public health, prisons, roads, agriculture, relief of famine and in some areas education, with the provincial governor having the power to countermand any Zemstva decision.
• However, they provided an opportunity for people to get involved in politics as well as Russia’s social problems.
• These changes came about as a result of the emancipation of the serfs, since the old system no longer worked.

Question 3

4 points

How did Alexander II change the judiciary system in 1864?

Answer 3

• Introduced a jury system for criminal cases.
• Created different types of court for different cases.
• Increased judges’ salaries (meaning there would be less corruption.
• Allowed public attendance at court.

Question 4

3 points

What impacts did the events of the late 1870s have on the judiciary system?

Answer 4

• In 1877 there was an assassination attempt of Alexander II, which led to him losing his will to reform.
• In 1878, a jury decided that Verz Zasulcih, a revolutionary who shot and wounded the governor of St Petersburg, was not guilty.
• This lead to juries being banned in courts again.

Question 5

2 points

How did Alexander III reform local government?

Answer 5

• Introduction of Land Captains, 1889: They could bypass the Zemstva, fine and arrest peasants, overrule peasant courts and use corporal punishment. Their role was to restore Tsarist control over the countryside.
• Tightening of Control, 1890: The independence of the zemstvo was reduced; number of voters eligible to take part in elections to zemstvo and dumy drastically cut

Question 6

How did Alexander III impact the judiciary system?

Answer 6

In 1881 he moved away from his father’s reforms and increased central control:
* The police were centralised under the minister of the interior.
* New courts were made for political cases.
* Justices of the peace were replaced by land captains.

Question 7

How did Nicholas II’s reign impact local government?

Answer 7

Nicholas II’s reign had very little impact on local government. It didn’t change during his time, and the Fundamental Laws didn’t impact it either.

Question 8

What impact did the fall of the Tsar have on local government?

Answer 8

Both the Zemstva and the Dumy were abolished after 1917, since they were labled buorgeois and counter-revolutionary. Local government was then dominated by the soviets, and the situation remained that way until the end of the period.

Question 9

3 points

How did local government work under Lenin?

Answer 9

• Local government was controlled by the soviets.
• The system appeared democratic, village soviets elected representatives for district soviets, who in turn elected members for provincial soviets etc.
• BUT: Bolsheviks dominated soviets at every level.

Question 10

How did the judiciary system work under the communists?

Answer 10

The communist rule was dominated by the idea of ‘revolutionary justice’. The new criminal code of 1921 legalised the use of terror to deter crime.