Economy and society: Alexander II Flashcards
Why had Alexander been reluctant to engage in industrialization?
It was associated with a rise in the urban proletariat and it was thought it would create unrest and challenge the regime.
Who was Alexander’s minster of finance 1862-78?
Mikhail Reutern, his policies revolved around railway construction, foreign expertise and foreign investment.
How did railway construction increase under Reutern?
There was a seven fold increase in the amount of track opened, going from 2200 miles in 1862 to 14,000 miles in 1878.
What were the consequences of Reutern’s policies?
Growth rate was 6% per year and industrial output doubled.
How were foreign experts enticed into Russia?
With taxation exemptions, government bonds and monopoly concessions. The government promised to bail out any investors if projects collapsed, this led to much corruption and by 1880 94% of railways were in private hands.
Give three major educational reforms
- In 1863 private schools were permitted. 2. In 1864 the zemstva became responsible for schooling, not the church. 3. In 1870 girls were allowed the same education as boys.
Who was appointed minister of education in 1865 and what did he do?
Dmitri Tolstoy, he took away the authority of the zemstva over education in 1870 and by 1877 central government had almost total control over what the zemstva could do, they controlled the appointment of teachers and what schools could teach.
What was the ‘new code’ for secondary schools and what were its consequences?
It allowed to continuation of traditional gymnasia schools alongside modern gymnasia which taught ‘new’ subjects such as science and math. The number of students in secondary schools doubled 1855-65.
How did Alexander change universities?
In 1863 he reinstated their independence and decreased tuition fees to allow middle classes and even some peasants to attend.
Why was Alexander worried about food shortages?
He thought they could lead to social unrest, so placed the zemstva in charge of drawing up emergency measures to deal with famine. These would have little effect.
What were three motives behind the emancipation?
- Moral- opposition from the west who saw it as backward. 2. Economic- serfdom kept Russia backward and tied serfs to the land. 3. Pressure- young nobles were apathetic toward the system and critical of the regime.
Give three terms of the edict
- Serfs declared free, could marry and travel freely. 2. Serfs given their own cottage and an allotment of land. 3. Landlords given government bonds as compensation and peasants had to pay redemption payments for 49 years.
Give three positives of the edict
- Allowed enterprising peasants to buy up land, increase output and make money. 2. Allowed peasants to sell their land and move to the cities to become industrial workers. 3. Landowners could use compensation to get themselves out of debt.
Give four negatives of the edict
- Some peasants were allocated land that was uninhabitable. 2. Peasants’ rights were only theoretical. 3. Redemption payments tied many peasants to the land. 4. Some peasants found themselves worse off without additional land to farm.
Give two more negatives of the emancipation
- Serfs lost the protection of their landlords. 6. 647 peasant riots in four months.
