Important Russian Figures 1881-1924

Question 0

Ignatier

Answer 0

One of Alexander IIs ministers. Liberal so sacked by Alexander III on his ascension to power.

Question 1

Loris- Melikov

Answer 1

One of Alexander IIs ministers. Liberal, had proposed national Zemstvo, so sacked by Alexander III on his ascension to power.

Question 2

Alexander III

Answer 2

Reactionary son of Alexander II. 1881- 1894. Second son, not meant to be Tsar, trained for military. Rejected reforms as ‘ill-advised and pushing Russia on the wrong road’. ‘The Reaction’ - Russification, Statute of State Security, etc. Modernisation - The Great spurt.

Question 3

Constantine Pobedonostev

Answer 3

Chief Procurator of the Holy Synod. Leading thinker of Russian conservatism. Defender of autocracy. Tutor to both Alexander III and Nicholas II. Alexander’s advisor. ‘Autocracy, Orthodoxy and Nationality’

Question 4

Alexander II

Answer 4

Tsar Liberator. ‘The Great Reformer’. Emancipated the surfs 1861. Made reforms to government at local level (Zemstva), judicial system, army and planned to form advisory assembly. ‘It is better to abolish it from above than to have it abolished from below’. Assassinated 1881.

Question 5

Ivan Vshnegradsky

Answer 5

Finance minister 1887 - 1892.
Encouraged foreign investment and increased taxes to raise money for industrialisation. BUT exported grain to finance policies, despite major Russian famine 1891. Sacked 1892

Question 6

Nikolai Bunge

Answer 6

Finance minister 1881 - 1887. Created Peasant’s Land Bank, intended to encourage peasants to expand their small holdings. BUT Land Bank too small to be effective

Question 7

Sergei Witte

Answer 7

Finance minister 1892 - 1903. Developed policy of state intervention in Russian economy. Focused on key areas of railways + foreign investment.