Chapter 3 - Autocracy of Alexander II and III Flashcards
what happened in 1866, following an attempt on Alexander II’s life
Alexander adopted a more repressive policy except some areas such as the military where reform continued
when did Alexander III’s reign begin
1881
what was Alexander III’s reign characterised by
reaction
reasons for reaction
reactionary conservatives emphasised that reforms had gone to far and were wearing the church and nobility
four assassination attempts between 1866 and 1880
alexanders eldest son and heir died - spent more time with his mistress
when did Alexander II’s oldest son and heir die and why did it add to the reasons for reaction
1865
it caused him to spend more time with his mistress and less time with the reformists grand duchess Elena and grand duke Konstantin
who are the two reformists that influenced Alexander II the most
grand duke Konstantin
grand duchess elena
what actions did Alexander take in 1866 to prevent more reforms
he replaced four reformist ministers with conservatives
who became the new minister for education in 1866
Tolstoy
what did Tolstoy want
tight control over education
eradicate western liberal ideas and growing criticism of the autocracy
what actions did Tolstoy take after becoming the minster of education
reduced zemstvas powers over education
church regained authority over rural schools
modern schools were no longer allowed to send students to university
in universities liberal coursed were replaced with a traditional curriculum
higher gimnazii schools had to follow a traditional curriculum
who was appointed as the new head of the third section
shuvalov
what did shuvalov do
strengthened the police
increased persecution of ethnic and religious minorities
what were show trials
they were aimed at deterring others from revolutionary activities however it had the opposite effect and in 1878 political crimes were transferred to special secret courts
when political crisis was deepening in the late 1870s what did Alexander try to do
he tried to reduce unrest by widening democratic consultation
he appointed a new minister for internal affairs
who was appointed as the new minister for internal affairs
loris melikov
what did loris melikov originally do
relaxed many restrictions
abolished the third section
why was loris melikovs action of abolishing the third section not very successful
its powers were transferred to a new special section of the regular police known as the okhrana which were just as oppressive
when did loris melikov produce the ‘loris melikov constitution’
1880
what did loris melikovs report aim to do and what happened to it
iy recommended incudling elected representatives in debating some state decrees.
although Alexander accepted it, this was the same day that he died
when did Alexander II die and how
13 march 1881
assassination - bomb
what was Alexander III afraid of
revolutionary activity
who was Alexander III strongly influenced by and what did he believe in
His tutor - Pobedonostev who believed in absolutism, nationalism and anti semitism
what were Alexander III’s views on how the country should be ruled
He alone should decide what was right for the country
He thought the duty of his subjects was not to question but not just love and obey
what did Alexander III do at the start of his reign
publicly hanged conspirators involved in his fathers assassination
abandoned the loris melikov constitution
accepted resignations of former reforming ministers such as Dmitry Milyutin, and relied on conservatives
what manifesto did Alexander III issue as the start of his reign
Manifesto of unshakeable autocracy
how did policing change under Alexander III
number of police increased
new branches of the criminal investigation department were set up
spies and ‘agents provocteurs’ were recruited
Okhrana investigated communists, socialists and trade unionists
what was passed that gave the police tremendous power under Alexander III and when
1882 Statue on Polic surveilence
police could search, arrest, detain, question, imprison or exile anyone who committed a crime, was suspected, knew about a crime, was likely to have committed it, or was related to a crime
what changes happened to education under Alexander III
universities for women were closed
low class children were restricted to primary school education which was under church control
went against the governments attempts to promote economic modernisation
university appointments has to be approved by the education ministry
what percentage of the population were literate by 1897
only 21%
examples of some of the positive change under Alexander III
1881 - redemption fees reduced
1885 - poll tax abolished and inheritance tax introduced - helped shift burden of taxes away from just the lowest classes
Rights to appeal to higher courts allowed
1883 - peasants land bank established
