Section 1:chapter 2 Flashcards
1
Q
Why was Alex II known as the ‘Tsar liberator’
A
- decision to emancipate Russias 51 mil serfs in 1861
- argument that this was only to strengthen autocracy
2
Q
What was Alex II’s motives for reform
A
- Emancipation supporters argued serfdom = morally wrong
- economic - free serfs = greater incentive to work
- peasant uprisings increased
- Crimean war defeat (Milyutin) - ‘free population’ provide workforce to improve army
3
Q
What reforms did Alex II introduce in the first year of his reign
A
- released political prisoners
- relaxed censorship controls
- cancelled tax debts etc
4
Q
When was the emancipation edict
A
1861
5
Q
Who did the emancipation edict apply to
A
Privately owned serfs immediately (1861)
State serfs from 1866
6
Q
What were the conditions of the emancipation edict
A
- serfs granted freedom/land allotment
- landlords compensated by gov
- ‘freed serfs’ paid ‘redemption payments’ over 49 years to gov for their land
7
Q
Why were the volosts established
A
- established to surpervise the mirs
- from 1863 volosts ran their own courts
8
Q
What was the period of ‘temporary obligation’
A
- theoretical 2 yr period before freedom granted
- allocations arranged in this period
- around 15% of serfs remained temporary obligated to landlords until 1881
9
Q
What were the positive results of emancipation
A
- peasants now had free status
- kulaks did well out of emancipation
- some landlords used compensation to get out of debt
10
Q
Negative results of emancipation
A
- land allocations rarely fair
- landowners resented loss of influence - newspapers ran articles about their disappointment- led to protests
- land in each Mir divided between all males, allotments grew smaller as population increased
11
Q
When were local government reforms instituted
A
1864-70
12
Q
What were the local government reforms
A
- elected local councils (Zemstva) replaced rights of serf owning gentry:
- composed of men who understand locality + needs.
- power to improve public services
13
Q
What were the negative impacts of the government reforms
A
- power of Zemstva strictly limited
- voting procedure favoured nobility
- councils never ‘people’s assemblies’ - they attracted doctors, lawyers - used meetings to debate political issues
14
Q
When we’re the judiciary reforms introduced
A
1864
15
Q
What were the judiciary reforms
A
- new system modelled on the west
- single system of courts established equality before the law
- accused - innocent until proven guilty
- ‘local justices of the peace’ elected every 3 yrs by Zemstva - independent from political control
