Chapter 2 Flashcards
When emancipation edict
March 1861
How many serfs emancipated
51million
when state serfs receive freedom
1866
Why did the emancipation of the serfs not have the benefits that it could’ve had
- Pay redemption payments for 49 years
- Only leave commune with Mir’s permission
- Land allocations were rarely fair, with the average peasant recieving less than four hectares
How much did the average peasant recieve from land allocation after emancipation
Less than 4 hectares
Statistic to show how no mobile labour force after emancipation
Around 15% serfs remained obliged to their landlords until 1881
Extent of development of Kulak class after emancipation
Less than 1% of population by 1914
Statistic to show extent of outrage over emancipation edict
647 outbreaks or riots in the four months that followed the decree
Statistic to show how emancipation of the serfs didn’t provide economic promise
By 1878, only 50% of peasantary were producing a surplus
What is important to remember regarding all of Alexander II’s reforms
Intended to maintain autocracy
What motives for reform did Alexander II gain from his childhood
Tutored by Romantic Poet, Vasily Zhukovsy
What motives for reform did Alexander II gain from nobles
Circle of progressive nobles came into prominence - ‘Party of St Petersburg Progress’
What motives for reform did Alexander II gain from family
- Brother Grand Duke Konstantin
- Aunt, Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna
- All fuelled his determination to act
How significant was serf disoder in relation to the emancipation of the serfs
Posed no real threat to autocracy, but Alexander used it as an excuse to convince the nobles that emancipation was necessary
Statistic to show how serf disorder was increasing before emancipation
Between 1840-4, there had been fewer than 30 outbreak of disorder per year. This figure more than doubled in the next 15 years
What did Milyutin believe was needed in order to modernise the army
A free population (achieved through emancipation)
Significant introduction in 1864
Zemstva
Limitations of zemstva
- Voting procedure allowed nobility to dominate
- No control over state and local taxes
- When introduced, Land Captains could overturn descisions
Powers of zemstva
- Could improve public services, and administer relief to the poor in times of hardship
- Gave opposition a platform to speak out from
Influence of the Church under Alexander II
Remained unchanged
Did emancipation change the way in which peasants attended to their crops
No
Nickname of Alexander II
‘Tsar Liberator’
Summary statement for the reason why some felt hostile to Alexander II’s reforms
The tsarist Government approached reform in a piecemeal fashion, meaning expectations were raised which were then not fulfiled
Milyutin’s military reforms
- Conscription down to 15years, with 10 in reserve
- Military colonies abolished
- New command structure establsihed
- Mass education campaigns
