Chapter 2 - Alexander II

Question 1

when did Alexander II emancipate Russias 51 million serfs

Answer 1

1861

Question 2

What has Alexander II been called but why do some people disagree with this name

Answer 2

‘Tsar Liberator’
However some people think he doesn’t deserve this as it can be argued that his main aim when granting them emancipation was to strengthen tsarist autocracy

Question 3

what were the economic reasons for reform

Answer 3

peasants being free would create a greater incentive to work, and therefore there would be a grain surplus. the increase in export of grain would provide money for landowners and the state. Therefore more investments in industries would be made in Russia and peasants could work in industry

Question 4

social reasons for the emancipation

Answer 4

there were many peasant uprisings since the 1840s which may have encouraged Alexander

Question 5

what was the main trigger for the emancipation to be granted

Answer 5

the crimean war

Question 6

what did Alexander do in his first year of his reign

Answer 6

released political prisoners
relaxed controls on censorship
cancelled tax debts
lessened restrictions on travel and university entrance
restored some rights of Poland and the Catholic Church

Question 7

was Alexanders design to reform Russia purely because he thought it would be good for the country

Answer 7

no, Alexander wanted to maintain Tsarist autocracy but he felt the pressure from the people for reform

Question 8

did the emancipation edict of 1861 apply to all serfs

Answer 8

no, the edict applied to privately owned serfs from 1861 and state serfs from 1866

Question 9

how were serfs granted ‘freedom’

Answer 9

they had to pay redemption payments over 49 years for their land. they had to remain within their mir until these had been paid

Question 10

how did landlords benefit from the emancipation edict

Answer 10

they were compensated by the government
they kept some lands but eh open fields were given to the mir (peasant commune)

Question 11

who supervised the miss

Answer 11

volosts who were established in 1863

Question 12

positives of the emancipation for peasants

Answer 12

serfs no longer subjects of masters
kulaks did well with allocations, and bought extra land, exporting surplus grain
some peasants sold their land, bought a passport to leave the mir, and found work in cities which improved their living standard

Question 13

positives of the emancipation for landowners

Answer 13

some used the compensation given to them to get out their own debt

Question 14

positives of the emancipation for landlords

Answer 14

enterprising landlords made profits through investment in industrial enterprises

Question 15

what were the negatives about the land allocation in the edict

Answer 15

land allocations were rarely fair
the land in each mir had to be divided by the male peasants - as the population grew the allocations became smaller
allotments were small - difficult to adopt new farming methods
mir system was traditional - technical backwardness persisted

Question 16

negatives of the emancipation for landowners

Answer 16

they resented their loss of influence.
newspapers ran articles about their disappointments and there was a wave of student protests and riots

Question 17

negatives for the serfs in the emancipation

Answer 17

there was resentment of kulaks and disputes over landholding and redemption payments led to further violence

Question 18

what did the local government reforms do

Answer 18

the zemstva replaced the rights and obligations of the serf owning gentry
dumas (elected town councils) were set up in the towns

Question 19

how were the zemstva chosen

Answer 19

though ‘electoral colleges’
they were composed of men who understood the locality and it’s needs

Question 20

what did the zemstva have power to do

Answer 20

improve public services
develop industrial projects
administer poor relief

Question 21

when were the dumas created

Answer 21

1870

Question 22

what were the problems with the local government reforms

Answer 22

powers of the zemstva were limited
they had no control over taxes
voting procedure still favoured nobility
provincial governors could overturn zemstvo decisons
the councils weren’t truly ‘peoples assemblies’ - mainly doctors, lawyers and teachers

Question 23

what did judiciary reforms do

Answer 23

a new system was modelled on the west
the accused was now assumed innocent until proven guilty and could employ a lawyer
judges were appointed by the tsar and had better training and pay
courts were opened - became public
local justices of peace were elected every three years by the zemstva
was now a jury

Question 24

what was bad about the judiciary reforms

Answer 24

articulate lawyers could criticise the regime
new juries sometimes acquitted to the guilt out of sympathy - so a decree was issued so that political crimes would be tried in a different way
there were limitations and exclusions

Question 25

what did the educational reforms do

Answer 25

schools were open to boys and girls of all classes
numbers of those at schools and universities grew
universities could govern themselves and appoint their own staff
responsibility for schools transferred from church to the zemstva
primary + secondary education extended

Question 26

problems with educational reforms

Answer 26

independence of universities increased radical thinkers
therefore after 1866, government had more control again

Question 27

what did military reforms do

Answer 27

conscription was conclusory for all classes from 21, length of service reduced
punishments less severe
modern weaponry
new command structure
military colleges made - provided better training for non noble officer corps
better health care, education

Question 28

who reorganised the army and was responsible for most military reforms

Answer 28

Dmitry Milyutin

Question 29

problems with military reforms

Answer 29

the rich often found substitutes to serve for them
problems of supply and leadership continued
officer class stayed aristocratic