Key debate 1: Alexander II Flashcards
Why is the Zemstva significant in debating the liberal nature of Alexander II
-The Tsar was forced to introduce an element of democracy at local level alongside emancipation yet seemed to regret it as liberal members being criticising the “administrative monopoly of officialdom”
-District and provisional Zemstva dominated by the nobility and diverted the attention of reformist nobility away from changes to central government
-Zemstva did much good work on education, public health and local economies with it so successful it was copied in towns and cities
In what ways can it be argued that opposition to Alexander II came about as a result of his reforms
-Creation of the Zemstva resulted in the emergence of the populist movement
-When this populists failed to gain support in 1874 the people’s will was formed turning to assassinating government officials in hope they would weaken autocracy for revolt
-Four attempts were made to assassinate the Tsar so it was only a matter of time before one succeeded (1881)
What were the conditions of the emancipation edict
-All privately owned serfs were freed and those kept by state emancipated in 1866, with full freedoms
-Nobles had to hand proportions of land to peasants measured by official surveyors
-The state provided compensation to landowners way above market level
-Peasants had to help pay for compensation through redemption payments over 49 years at 6% interest with full legal rights only given after payment
-Administration of redemption payments done through the mir
Why did many peasants react badly to the reforms of Alexander II
-Peasants given poorer quality land and less then farmed under emancipation
-Many peasants struggled to meet redemption payments furthered by the poll tax
-Peasants were not totally free as they had to answer to the mir but though what crops produced and the principles of subsistence farming
In what ways was the Crimean War responsible for the reforms of Alexander II
-War revealed weakness in how Nicholas I had riled in maintainence of serfdom and strict autocratic rule
-Army recruited from serfs who did not make professional armies like britain and france
-Serfs were more inclined to revolt and not committed to war
-Soldiers were poorly supplied with armaments and uniform
What pressures outside of the crimean war caused reform
-Pressure to abolish serfdom as it was seen as slavery and immoral
-Growing peasant unrest dated back to the 1700s
-Demands from politicians and entrepreneurs who wanted to work on railway projects
-Population growth put pressure on the out of date farming system
How far were issues relating to the empire and minorities neglected by Alexander II
-Polish rebellion of 1863 was a complex interplay of factors with A2 trying very hard to compromise. After rebellion Tsar imposed reforms which benefitted the majority of peasants to the detriment of the nobility
-Polish rebellion start of the russification process supporting idea that A2 concerned with maintaining order
-Other hints of separatism given much attention such as an official commission to investigate separatist activity in Ukraine
-A2 continued liberal policy towards the baltic germans in the face of rising nationalism
-Tsar took measures improving the lives of the Jews
-Oversaw expansion into central asia
