Russia (1881-1894) - Alexander III Flashcards
What are some of the things Alexander III enforced, and things he did?
- Russification
- Abandoned the Loris-Melikov proposals
- The Unshakable Manifesto of Autocracy essentially gave Alexander III emergency powers
- (1890) closed court sessions re-introduced.
Changes under Alexander III:
Govt, judiciary, poilitical, etc.
- (1882) New press regulations and statue on police surveillance, this gives more arresting powers.
- (Jul 1889) Land Captains introduced, and they could override the Zemstva in court and in elections.
- Uni life closely supervised.
- Literacy and books had to be reviewed prior to publication.
What did Russification entail?
Expanding the Russian Empire and enforcing Russian ideology as far and wide as possible.
Due to threat of Germanising Poland
What did the Populists establish?
Part of radical opposition, to Alexander II
Land and Liberty, who were commmitted to assassination.
Land and Liberty est. the Black Partition and the People’s Will.
What did Russification entail:
Plus their results, opposition?
- In Finland, the postal service was abolished, and the parliament was re-organised.
- Uprising suppressed in Bashkira (1884) and in Armenia (1886) and in Tashkent (1892).
- A rise in Orthodox Church adherance.
- (Jun 1888) 388 mass disturbances occured in 9 out of 12 Russia’s central provinces.
- (By 1900) Approx 100k Tartars converted to Christianity + (Until 1917) Sepratism became a strong ambition Tartars
(1864) Duke Nikolaivich crushes Guerilla warfare.
Von Reutern’s economic reforms, with pros and cons
(1862-1878) - During Alexander II’s reign.
- (1860) est. state banks and then municipal banks in (1862).
- Reformed treasury, govt. accounts and dpartments audited.
- Railways subsidised.
- (1871) Oil extraction in Baku, however, rouble subject to wild value variations.
- Despite avg. 6% annual growth, peasentry kept poor and a third of govt. spending covered debts.
Points on economic transformation
(By 1895)
- Baku oil extraction.
- (1880-1895) foreign investment goes from 98m roubles to 280m roubles.
- (1885) Land Banks for peasants facilitated land purchase + However, loans caused debts to rise
- (1887) Vyshnegradsky introduced a tariff on 30% of imports
- (1888) Vyshnegradsky successfully negotiated French loans.
- (1892) Russian Budget in surplus.
- (1881-92) Grain exports rise by 18%.
Points on economic stagnation:
(By 1895)
- Third of govt. spending repaid debts
- (1891-92) ‘The Great Famine’ kills 350k peasents.
- Peasentry kept poor due to 66% of govt. spending coming from indirect tax.
Points on industrialisation:
plus social progress
(By 1880) 94% of railway lines in private ownership.
- Economic modernisation was committed to by Witte.
What were the social divisions?
Landed Elite
The middle class
The urban working class
Peasentry
Some of Vyshnegrasky’s work:
- Introduced a prohibitive import tariff of 30%, and negotiated French loans in 1888 to balance the budget.
Some of Alexander III’s policies towards the Jews…
- In Poland, the Pale of Settlement expells Jews from certain areas.
- Army Laws prevent Jews from advancing in army ranks.
- No Jews can be elected in positions of power
- Alexander III refused to oppose Pogroms, (800 Jews murdered in Odessa).
- (1881-1905) 215 pogroms against Jews
May Laws prevent Jews from having high power.
Alex III’s two police groups…
- Gendarmerie -> Uniformed police who investigated cases + They could declare an ‘area of subversion’ and arrest anyone thought to be involved in a crime
- The Okhrana -> Secret police + Infiltrated activities
Zemstva things…
- (By 1914) Just 43/70 provinces in Russia elected by Zemstva!
- ## Laws of 1890 and 1892 revised who had voting rights -> In St Petersburg, electorate fell from 21k to 7k
