Reforms of Alexander II Flashcards
Who can be seen to have influenced the reforms of Alexander II?
-His brother - Duke Konstantin
-His aunt
-‘enlightened bureaucrats’ > Milyutin brothers
-All committed to the abolition of serfdom for some time
What was one of the main catalysts for action in reform?
-Humiliations and inefficiencies of the Crimean war 1853-56
Who was the Minister of war 1861-71 and what did he plead?
-Dmitry Milyutin
-pleaded for reform to ‘strengthen the state and restore dignity’
-Believed army needed to be modernised > only a ‘free’ population would provide the needed labour for improvement
when were the local govt reforms?
-1864 to 1870
What did the local govt reforms of 1864-1870 do?
-created a local self-run government > Zemstva
-Elective assemblies > restricted right over taxation
-New rural and municipal police und
What was the ‘Zemstvo”?
-rural self-government in the Russian Empire was established in 1864
-provide social and economic services
- significant liberal influence within imperial Russia.
What were the problems with the Zemstva?
-Voting procedures arranged that Nobles dominated
-No control over state and local taxes
-Provincial govt could overturn zemstvo decisions
-Never truly a ‘people’s assembly’ > attracted the Intelligentsia
When were the Judicial reforms?
1864
What influenced the Judicial reforms?
-Emancipation > overhaul of law needed - especially regarding property rights
What did the Judicial reforms do?
-Local, Provincial and National courts set up (Volost courts > peasants) > Accused guilty until proven innocent
-Criminal cases > heard before barristers and a jury - selected from property owners - Judges appointed by the Tsar
-Local Justices of the peace elected every 3 years by Zemstva > independent from political control
What were the benefit of the Judicial reforms?
-Judge used to examine handwritten evidence > prepared by landowner and police
-No Jury system before
-No examination of witnesses
What were the limitations of the Judicial reforms?
-Trail by Jury was never established in Poland, the western provinces and the Caucasus
-Ecclesiastical and military courts were excluded from reforms
-peasantry was still treated differently in the Volost Courts
What were Ecclesiastical and military courts?
-Ecclesiastical > church court > punishments in hands of priests
-Military courts > Army officers awarded sentences
When were the educational reforms?
1863-1864
Why were Educational reforms needed?
-Abolition of serfdom > need for basic literacy & numeracy increased
-Zemstva provided an opportunity for a change in control and funding of education
Who was the minister for education in 1862-1867?
Alexander Golovnin
What did the education reforms do?
-Universities could govern themselves > and appoint their own staff
-the responsibility of schooling was given to the zemstva rather than by the church
-Primary and secondary education were extended
-Schools were open to all > regardless of class and sex
What was the significance of the educational reforms?
-Student court grew from 3,600 to 10,000
-Increase in the number of educated
-Due to education more people could be critical of the Tsar
When were the Military reforms?
1874-1875
Who was in charge of the Military organisation during the reforms?
Dmitry Milyutin
What were the Military reforms?
-universal conscription, was introduced for all social classes starting in 1874.
-Service reduced to 15yrs rather than 25yrs but with 10yrs in the reserves
- Punishments = less severe
-`Modern weaponry
-Military colleges set up > train non-nobles
-Mass army education in the 1870s-80s > literacy improved
when were the censorship reforms?
-1858-1870
What did the censorship reforms do?
-Initial relaxation of press censorship
-Restrictions on publishers reduced
-Foreign publications were permitted with govt approval
-Press was allowed to print editorials with comments on govt policy
Why were the censorship reforms significant?
-Number of books published grew from 1020 in 1855 to 1836 in 1864
How come the little reform to reform the condition of the Jews and ethnic minorities was reversed?
-1863 Polish Rebellions
