Chapter 2- Alexander II The 'Tsar Reformer'

Question 1

When did Alexander II emancipate the serfs?

Answer 1

1861

Question 2

What other reforms did the Tsar introduce?

Answer 2

Reforms involving:
Military
Education
Judiciary 
Local government
Censorship
Other

Question 3

Which figures influenced the Tsar to introduce reforms?

Answer 3

Zhukovsky (his tutor)
‘Party of St Petersburg Progress’ (political group of more liberal nobles)
Grand Duke Konstatin (brother)
Grand Duchess Elena (aunt)
Milyutin brothers, Nikolai and Dmitri (and other enlightened bureaucrats)

Question 4

Who were the Milyutin brothers?

Answer 4

Members of the intelligentsia who thought that serfdom was morally and economically damaging

Question 5

What were the achievements of Nikolai Miyutin?

Answer 5

Planned terms of the Emancipation Edict

Supported introduction of the zemstva

Question 6

Why was Dmitry Milyutin a significant figure?

Answer 6

He was a ‘military scholar’ and was Minister of War 1861-81

Made a count in recognition of his work

Question 7

What other reasons meant that Alexander himself was keen to reform?

Answer 7

He traveled around the empire which showed him the backwardness of Russia and poverty people faced

Peasant uprisings increased as peasants had to pay/produce more as their landowners were not financially stable.
Protests against conscription to the army

Defeat in the Crimean War emphasised need for change

Question 8

What did Alexander II famously write to nobility in Moscow 1856?

Answer 8

“It is far better that this should come from above, rather than from below”

Question 9

How did he Tsar get support from nobility to emancipate?

Answer 9

He went around the empire making speeches

Question 10

Which serfs were released in 1861?

Answer 10

Privately owned serfs

Question 11

When were state serfs freed?

Answer 11

1866

Question 12

How did emancipation benefit serfs?

Answer 12

Morally (they had rights)
Received their own allotment of land
Had the opportunity to grow economically
Working class could develop
Could sell their allotment of land and find employment in cities
Increased living standards

Question 12

How did landowners benefit from emancipation?

Answer 12

They received compensation so could pay off debts

Invested in industry and could make profits

Question 13

How did emancipation benefit kulaks?

Answer 13

They could produce surplus grain for export

Could buy extra land

Question 15

How was the emancipation disadvantageous for the land owners?

Answer 15

Loss of influence in society
Some no les had to sell their own land
Bankruptcies

Question 16

Who was primarily responsible for military reforms?

Answer 16

Dmitry Milyutin

Question 17

Name military reforms

Answer 17

Smaller, more efficient army
All classes conscripted over age of 21
Only conscripted for 15 years rather than 25
Less severe punishments
Abolished military colonies
Modernised weaponry to an extent
Military colleges trained peasant soldiers 
Mass army education campaigns 70s-90s
Improved medical care

Question 18

How was there continuity in the military?

Answer 18

Most officers remained aristocratic

Russia was defeated by Turkey, had to sign the Treaty of Berlin in July 1878, and by Japan and then Germany

Question 19

How did local government change?

Answer 19

Zemstva set up
They could control public services, industrial projects and establish poor relief
Dumas set up
Local government gave intelligentsia hope

Question 20

How were these local government reforms limited?

Answer 20

Nobility could still dominate because voting methods were corrupt
Intellectuals used meetings to discuss politics and oppose central gvt
Arguably their significance was poor, they did not control tax
Provincial governors could overturn zemstvo decisions

Question 21

In what areas did peasants have more authority?

Answer 21

Rural

Question 22

How was the judiciary system changed?

Answer 22

Property rights and local justice improved
System based on western countries- defendant innocent u til proven guilty
Established jury and lawyers to represent suspects
Local, provincial and national courts
Volost courts for peasants
Judges’ training and payment improved
Local ‘Justices of the Peace’ elected (separate from police)
Press increased on court cases / published
Open courts for the public

Question 23

How was the new judiciary system limited?

Answer 23

Lawyers of the intelligentsia criticised the regime /caused unrest
Juries were too sympathetic and acquitted guilty defendants at times
Juries were selected from land owners
Peasantry received different treatment in volost courts
Military / ecclesiastical (church) courts not included in reforms
Trail by jury not introduced in some regions
Tsar chose judges so still dominated

Question 24

What education reforms were introduced?

Answer 24

Universities could choose their own staff
Russian Orthodox Church’s control decreased
Extended schooling in primary and secondary schools
‘Modern schools’ set up at secondary level for those who didn’t want traditional schooling at gimnaziya schools
Students of any class or gender could receive an education
(From 1870 women could go to secondary school for non vocational education)

Question 25

Which individual was responsible for the majority of education reforms?

Answer 25

Alexander Golovnin (Minister of Education 1862-67)

Question 26

Why were education reforms limited?

Answer 26

Curriculum restricted and controlled by professional and upper classes
Independence in universities increased radical students and intellectuals so government control reasserted in 1866

Question 27

What censorship reforms were set up?

Answer 27

Press censorship relaxed
Number of publications increased
Foreign publications allowed

Question 28

How were censorship reforms limited?

Answer 28

They were short-lived due to increase in critical writings

government control retightened in 1870s

Question 29

What other reforms were introduced by Alex II?

Answer 29

Von Reutern introduced economic liberalisation which benefited peasants
Attempts to stop corruption in the church
Change in treatment of ethnic minorities

Question 30

Which event reversed the reform of change in treatment of ethnic minorities?

Answer 30

Polish Revolt 1863

Question 31

Overall what continuity was there during Alex II’s reign?

Answer 31

Agriculture dominated economy
Nobility retained control
Peasantry did not progress due to illiteracy, Mir control and superstitious teachings

Question 32

Why was the autocracy in danger?

Answer 32

The government raised expectations which were then not fulfilled.

Question 33

Why was the emancipation disadvantageous for peasants?

Answer 33

They were made to pay redemption payments and couldn’t leave peasant communes until it was paid
Still supervised by volosts / peace officers
Waiting in temporary obligation
Land allotment was small / unfairly shared
Technical backwardness remained
Frustration towards travel restriction and kulaks