Chapter 3 - The autocracy of Alexander II and III Flashcards
What attempted assassinations did Alexander II have?
In 1866 a former student shot him and missed. A Polish immigrant fired on a carriage but hit the horse. In December 1879 bomb intended to blow up the Tsar on a railway was planted on the wrong train.
What did Alexander II do in 1866 (appointments)?
He was persuaded to make a series of new appointments replacing liberals with conservatives. For example Tolstoy replaced Golovnin as Minister for Education.
What educational reforms were reversed? (Alexander II)
Zemstva’s powers were reduced and the church regained authority over schools. More liberal subjects were replaced with traditional subjects and teacher training colleges were set up to increase Tsarist control.
What changed about law and control?(Alexander II)
Shuvalov strengthened the police and encouraged the Third Section. They also encouraged prosecution of ethnic minorities. They used show trials to demonstrate what would happen to those who disobey the Tsar.
What was the Loris-Melikov Constitution?
It was a report which recommended including the Zemstva and town governments in debating decrees. Alexander II had signed them but was assassinated on the same day.
What were Alexander III’s ideas?
He was tutored by Pobedonostev and believed that with God’s guidance he could alone decide what was right for Russia. His reign began by executing conspirators involved in his fathers assassination and he published the Manifesto of Unshakeable Autocracy. The Loris-Melikov Constitution was abandoned and all ministers were made conservatives.
How did Alexander III change local governments?
He appointed ‘Land Captains’ who could override election results and who were made responsible for law enforcement. Later, peasants vote was reduced and the Zemstva were placed under central government control.
What were Alexander III’s changes in policing?
The number of police increased and there was a drive to increase spies and agents for the Tsar. The 1882 Statute on Police Surveillance meant any area of the Empire could be searches and people could be imprisoned or exiled without committing crimes.
What changes were there in the judicial system by Alexander III?
The reforms of Alexander II were partially reversed as closed court sessions could be held and the volost courts were put under jurisdiction of Land Captains and judges.
What were the changes in education made by Alexander III’s?
Delyanov closed universities for women and children from the lowest classes were restricted to primary education. This lead to only 21% of the population being literate in 1897.
What were Alexander III’s censorship reforms?
Newspapers could be closed down, publications had to be officially approved and libraries were restricted in books they were allowed to stock.
