Essay - reversal of policies

Question 1

Question.

Answer 1

‘The main aim of Alexander III was to reverse his father’s policies.‘ Assess the validity of this view with reference to the years 1855-1894.

Question 2

The 3 factors to consider.

Answer 2

• Economic
• Social
• Political

Question 3

Evidence of Alexander III reversing economic policies.

Answer 3

Increased state control: The state increased its involvement in the economy, regulating industries and infrastructure projects to ensure that they aligned with national interests.

Question 4

Evidence of Alexander III continuing economic policies.

Answer 4

• Alexander III reduced the length of compulsory military service from 6 years to 3 years.
• Between 1881 and 1890, industrial production increased by approximately 50%.
• Number of factories doubled between 1881 and 1890.
• Reduced the redemption fees placed on serfs and cancelled the arrears of ex-serfs in 37 central provinces.
• In May 1885 he poll tax was abolished.

Question 5

Evidence of Alexander III reversing social policies.

Answer 5

• 1882 the Statute on Police Surveillance meant that any area in Russia could be subject to search by the police.
• In 1885 a decree provided for the Minister of Justice to exercise greater control - they could now dismiss judges.
• Delyanov closed universities for women.
• Under Alexander III, the Finnish diet’s power was reduced and people were encouraged to revert to Orthodoxy to receive benefits (this lead to 37,000 Baltic Germany converting).
• Under Alexander III Jews suffered immensely with 20,000 being deported from capital cities such as Moscow and St Petersburg.

Question 6

Evidence of Alexander III continuing social policies.

Answer 6

• Children in lower classes were restricted to primary education which was in the hands of the Orthodox Church.
• After the Polish Revolt of 1863, Alexander II took a harsher stance against ethnic minority groups. In 1876 he prohibited the use of the Ukrainian language in any publications

Question 7

Evidence of Alexander III reversing political policies.

Answer 7

• A new state-appointed office of ‘Land Captain’ was created in July 1889, which had the power to override elections to the zemstvo and village assemblies.
• He got rid of the proposed ‘constitution’.
• Issued the 1881 ‘Manifesto of Unshakeable Autocracy’
• Issue a Law on Exceptional measures, which stated that a commander in chief could be appointed to take over a locality, using military police courts and arbitrary powers of imprisonment

Question 8

Evidence of Alexander III continuing political policies.

Answer 8

The zemstva still continued to build roads and hospitals and helped to alleviate the impacts of the 1891 famine - they still had some political power.