The Autocracy Of Alexander II And Alexander III Flashcards
What was Alexander II reaction?
He adopted a more repressive policy(military and reforming legislation continued).
What happened in the late 1870s?
There was a short period of further constitutional reform
What was the first reason for reaction?
In 1856 Alexander’s eldest son and heir died. Thereafter the Tsar spent more time with his mistress and less with the reformist Grand Duke Konstantin and Grand Duchess Elena
What was the second reason for reaction?
Reactionary conservatives emphasised that the reforms had gone too far and were weakening the church and the nobility
What was the third reason for reaction?
Four assassination attempts on Alexander between 1866 and 1880 reinforced the need for reaction
What did Alexander do in 1866?
Replaced four reformist ministers with conservatives
Who was the new Minister for Education?
Tolstoy
What did Tolstoy want?
He wanted a tight control system over education, to eradicate western liberal bias dead and growing criticism of the autocracy
What did education under Tolstoy enforce?
-the zemstvas power over education were reduced
-the church regained its authority over rural schools
-more liberal courses were replaced with traditional curriculum
-more state teacher training colleges were set up, but to increase tsarist control
Who was shuvalov?
The new head of the Third Section (secret police)
What did Shuvalov do?
Strengthened the police and increased the persecution of ethnic and religious minorities
Who was the new Justice Minister?
Pahlen
What did Pahlen do?
Ensured that that the judicial system made an example of ‘political alligators’
What happened to the law and control?
Searches and arrests increased; political offenders could be prosecuted under emergency powers and exiled; radicals who had fled Russia could be tracked down and recalled to face justice
What were show trials and there aims?
Aimed to deterring others from revolutionary activity
What was the effect of show trials?
Had the opposite effect and in 1878, political crimes were transferred to special secret courts
What were the causes for pressure in the late 1870s?
-Russo-Turkish war 1877-78
-famine 1879-80
-industrial recession
-attempted assassinations 1879-80
-pressure from reactionary conservatives
Due to the political crisis deepening, what did Alexander II do?
He tried to reduce unrest by widening democratic consultation
Who was Count Loris-Melikov?
Minister for Internal Affairs
What did Melikov do?
Relaxed many restrictions and abolished the Third Section
What happened to the Third Section after it was abolished?
It’s powers were transferred to a new special selection of the regular police known as the Okhrana
What did Melikov do in 1880?
Produced a report which became known as Loris-Melikov’s constitution
What did the Loris-Melikov’s constitution state?
Recommended including elected representatives in debating some state decrees
What happened to Alexander II when accepted the Melikov report?
He accepted the report in the morning of 13 March 1881, but was killed by a bomb the same day
