Chapter 1 - S2 Flashcards
What was Alex II called and why
Known as the ‘Tsar liberator’ - his decision to emancipate Russias 51 million in serfs in 1861
Can be argued his main aim was to strengthen Tsarsist autocracy
What were the 6 main motives/influences for reforms
‘Enlightened bureaucrats’
His aunt + tutor + brother
Earlier travels around the empire
Circle of nobles - ‘party of st Petersburg progress’
What was the economic and social motives for reform (emancipation)
Free peasants - greater incentive to work - grain surplus
Peasant uprisings had increased since 1840’s
Russias defeat in Crimean war - milyutin - only a ‘free’ population would provide labour to fund wars
What were the first 5 reforms Alex II brought in
Released political prisoners
Relaxed controls on censorship
Lessened restriction on foreign travel
Cancelled tax debts
Restored some rights of Poland
When did Alex II look into emancipation + when was it instigated
Looked into it in march 1856
Instigated in 1861
Who did the emancipation edict apply to
Privately owned serfs immediately (1861)
State owned serfs (1866)
What were the 4 terms of the emancipation edict
Serfs were granted freedom and a land allotment
Landlords compensated by gov - kept some land but open fields given to Mirs
Freed serfs paid ‘redemption’ payments over 49 yrs to gov. They remained in mirs until this was paid
Volosts established to supervise mirs - from 1863, Volosts ran their own courts
What was the period of ‘temporary obligation’
2 year period before freedom was granted - while allocations were arranged
15% of serfs remained ‘temporarily obligated’ to landlords until 1881 ( when redemption made compulsory)
What were the positive results of emancipation
Serfs no longer ‘property’ of their masters + had free status
Kulaks (prosperous peasants) did well out of land allocations - bought up extra land
Some peasants sold their land + raised living standards by finding work in cities
Some landowners used the compensation offered to get out of debt
Some landlords made profits through investment in industrial enterprises.
What were the negative results of emancipation
Land allocations rarely fair
Since land in each Mir was divided between all male peasants, land allocations grew smaller and population increased
Mir system still highly traditional - outdated + technical backwardness
Landowners resented their loss of influence - led to news publications + student protests.
Resentment of Kulaks - led to further violence
When were the local government reforms
1864-70
What were the local government reforms
Elected local councils (Zemstva) replaced rights/obligations of serf owners:
- chosen through ‘electoral colleges’ - separate college for nobles, townspeople,peasants etc - allowed for degree of popular representation
- composed of men who understood the locality + its needs
Given power to improve public services + develop industrial projects
1870 - elected town councils (Dumas) set up in towns
What were the limitations of the local government reforms
Power of Zemstva was strictly limited - no control over taxes
Voting procedure favoured nobility
Councils were never truly ‘people’s assemblies’ - a=they attracted doctors, lawyers etc who used meetings to debate political issues
When were the judiciary reforms
1864
What were the judiciary reforms
Previously - there was no jury system + accused were considered guilty until proven innocent
New system was modelled on west:
- courts open to public + proceedings could be reported
- single system of courts established equality before the law - accused presumed innocent + could employ a lawyer
What were the limitations of the judiciary reforms
Articulate lawyers could critique the regime
New juries sometimes acquitted the guilty out of sympathy
There were limitations + exclusions
When were the education reforms
1863-64
What were the education reforms
Under golovnin (minister for education 1862-67)
- universities could govern themselves + appoint staff
- schools declared open to boys and girls of all classes
- Primary + secondary extended
- responsibility for schools transferred from church to Zemstva
What were the limitations of the education reform
Universities new independence increased no. Of radical thinkers.
After 1866 - gov control was reasserted
When were the military reforms
1874-75
What were the military reforms
Milyutins reorganisation of armed forces improved efficiency + reduced cost
- conscription compulsory for all classes from age of 21 (length of service reduced)
- punishments made less severe
- modern weaponary intruded + better medical care and education
- new command structure created
What were the limitations of the military reforms
- richer people often found substitutes to serve for them
- officer class remained largely aristocrat
- problems of supply and leadership continued
What other reforms were implemented by Alex II
1858-70 - press censorship relaxed
Attempts to eliminate corruption in lower levels of the church
What were the limitations of the other reforms granted by Alex II
After critical writing increased, gov control was tightened again in 1870’s
Church reform stopped in reactionary years of 1870’s
