History Alexander II Counter reforms and opposition groups

Question 1

What political counter reforms did Alexander II introduce

Answer 1

• Alexander replaced the more liberal ministers with conservatives. Eg. Dimitry Tolstoy as Minister for education in 1866

Question 2

What political counter reforms did Alexander II introduce (liberal ideas)

Answer 2

• Alexander appointed Mikhail Loris Melikov as Minister of Internal Affairs - He released political prisoners, relaxed censorship and lifted restrictions on the activities of the Zemvsta.
  The Loris Melikov constitution never put into action

Question 3

What education counter reforms did Alexander II introduce

Answer 3

Zemvsta’s power over education was reduced - Tolstoy felt that a tight control over education was essential to eradicate western liberal ideas.
Church regained it’s authority over rural schools. From 1871 onbly students from a gimnaziya (gramma schools) could progress to universities

Question 4

What social counter reforms did Alexander II introduce

Answer 4

Pyotr Shuvalov strengthened the police, encouraged the third section and stepped up the persecution of ethnic and religious minorities
Searches and arrests increased and new governor-generals were established in 1879 with emergency powers to prosecute in military courts.
Opened ‘show trials’ with the intention of deterring others from revolutionary activity.

Question 5

Issue with show trials

Answer 5

Whole experiment backfired and in 1878 political crimes were from the civil courts to special secret courts

Question 6

Key figures of Populists/Narodniks

Answer 6

Sergei Nechaev - dedicated to active revolt
Forerunners of the populists movement

Question 7

Beliefs of the populists/narodniks

Answer 7

Believed intellectuals should share their knowledge with the peasants
Believed in argarian socialism based around the peasant commune
They thought the commune would provide the route to the ‘good’ society without the need to go through capitalism and the evils of industrialisation

Question 8

Tactics of the populists/ narodniks

Answer 8

Decided to ‘go to the people’ and spread their message
Several thousands young people dressed up ads peasants and went to live as peasant. In many villages they found incomprehension and suspicions from peasants and were rejected.
Could be argued that the peasants did share their views on egalitarianism in land holding

Question 9

Repercussion the narodniks tactic

Answer 9

800 narodniks were arrested and imprisoned for their good intentions. Two large trials in 1977 ‘Trial of the 50’ and ‘Trial of the 193’ - many got light sentences and were acquitted - the court did not see them as dangerously subversive

Question 10

Who led the Black Partition

Answer 10

Organised by Georgi Plekhanov with Vera Zasulich

Question 11

Basis if support for Black Partition

Answer 11

Black partition was made up of people who wanted to challenge the autocracy in a peaceful manner

Question 12

Tactics of the Black Partition

Answer 12

Worked peacefully - developed ties with students and workers - published radical material with the hope of stimulating radical change

Question 13

Who led the People’s Will

Answer 13

Led by Alexander Mikchailov

Question 14

Bases of support for People’s Will

Answer 14

Made up of people who want to challenge the autocracy through violent measures

Question 15

Aims of the People’s Will

Answer 15

Determined to use terorist violence to achieve their revolutionary aims
Aims were to see the destruction of the state and land redistributed

Question 16

Key acts of the People’s Will

Answer 16

On 13th March 1881 they assassinated Tsar Alexander II for crimes against the people

Question 17

Most famous members of the Intelligentsia/ Intellectuals and what were they known for

Answer 17

Bakunin - Almost anarchist
Chernyshevsky - In 1862 wrote the influential novel ‘What is to be done?’ which encouraged activists to set up their own groups
Herzen - Edited an influential periodical ‘The Bell’

Question 19

Aims of the Intelligentsia

Answer 19

Wanted to enter industrial growth through the avoidance of capitalism
Believed in Western Ideas but was critical of the materialistic mindset that emerged from capitalism
Herzen was intent on overthrowing the the political and social system - believed in the superiority of the peasants

Question 20

Limitations of the influence that the Intelligentsia exerted

Answer 20

The vast majority of Russians were still illiterate and therefore did not have access to philosophical debate and therefore was difficult for intelligentsia to gain support