The Autocracy of Alexander II and Alexander III

Question 1

What year was the first assassination attempt on Alexander II?

Answer 1

1866

Question 2

What was the effect of the 1866 assassination attempt?

Answer 2

a more repressive policy was adopted

Question 3

What reasons does historian Hosking give for Alexander II failures?

Answer 3

he failed to set up a civil society or rule of law: key concepts of a democratic society

Question 4

How did Alexander II react to the reactonaires fears of western ideas and ethnic minorities?

Answer 4

he took a series of new appointments in 1866, replacing more liberal ministers with conservatives.

Question 5

What changes did Dmitry Tolstoy make to education?

Answer 5

tight control was needed to eradicate western ideas.
Zemstva’s power over education was reduced.
The church regained authority over rural schools.
from 1871, only upper class children could go on to university.
Censorship over subjects and content was increased.

Question 6

What changes did Pyotr Shuvalov make to the police force?

Answer 6

encouraged third section to strengthen police.
stepped up persecution of ethnic and religious minorities.
searches and arrests increased.

Question 7

What changes did Konstantin Pahlen make to law and control?

Answer 7

judicial system would make an example of those accused

show trials were held to deter others from revolutionary activity.

Question 8

What changes did Loris-Melikov make as Minister for Internal affairs in the 1870s?

Answer 8

Released political prisoners, relaxed censorship, lifted zemstva restrictions, abolished the third section for regular police.

Question 9

What was the Loris-Melikov Constitution?

Answer 9

A report in response to Zemstva demands

Question 10

How did Alexander II respond to the Loris-Melikov constitutions?

Answer 10

He accepted and signed it, calling for a meeting to discuss what could be done.

Question 11

What stopped the Loris-Melikov Constitutions from being put into practice?

Answer 11

Alexander II was assassinated the day he signed the document.

Question 12

Who was Konstantin Pobedonostev?

Answer 12

Alexander III tutor.

Question 13

How had Pobedonostev raised Alexander III?

Answer 13

with strong sense of commitment to Autocracy and authority.

Question 14

How did Alexander III begin his reign?

Answer 14

Public hanging of those involved in his father’s murder,

1881- ‘Manifesto of Unshakeable Autocracy’

Question 15

What year was the Manifesto of ‘Unshakeable Autocracy?’

Answer 15

1881

Question 16

What happened to the Loris-Melikov proposals after Alexander III came into power?

Answer 16

They were abandoned and reforming ministers such as Dmitry Milyutin resigned.

Question 17

What changes were made to local gov. under Alexander III?

Answer 17

‘Land Captains’ were created with power to override elections in the Zemstva.
Land Captains were also made responsible for law enforcement.
Pesant’s vote in the zemstva elections was reduced.

Question 18

Who led the changes in policing between 1881 and 1884?

Answer 18

Vyacheslav von Plehve

Question 19

Who led changes in policing post 1884?

Answer 19

Pyotr Durnovo

Question 20

What changes were made to policing after 1881?

Answer 20

police numbers were increased, new branches of criminal investigation were set up.
There was a drive to recruit spies, counter-spies and agents provocateurs.

Question 21

What was the role of the ‘agents provocateurs’

Answer 21

To pose as revolutionaries in order to incriminate others.

Question 22

What was the role of the Okhrana in the 1880s?

Answer 22

They took responsibility for security and investigation.

Intercepting mail, checking up on activities in factories, universities, the army and the state.

Question 23

What practices did the Okhrana exercise to assert authority?

Answer 23

detaining suspects, torture and summary executions.

Question 24

What changes were made to the judicial system in the 1880s?

Answer 24

The Minister of Justice could exercise greater control from 1885.
From 1887, closed court sessions were allowed.

Question 25

What year did a decree allow the Minister of justice to exercise greater control?

Answer 25

1885

Question 26

What year were closed court sessions allowed?

Answer 26

1887

Question 27

What year did the court become responsible for the appointment of judges?

Answer 27

1889

Question 28

What year were the educational requirements for jurors increased?

Answer 28

1887

Question 29

What year were the volost courts put under control of the Land Captains?

Answer 29

1889

Question 30

Who oversaw the educational developments under Alexander III?

Answer 30

Delyanov

Question 31

What was the effect of deylanov’s 1884 university charter?

Answer 31

appointment of chancellors, dean and professors were subject to the education ministry based on religious, moral and patriotic orientation.

Question 32

What restrictions were placed on education under Delyanov?

Answer 32

Lower class children were limited to primary education. 
 Primary education was firmly in the hands of the orthodox church.

Question 33

What percentage of the population was literate by 1897?

Answer 33

21%

Question 34

What changes were made to censorship under Alexander III?

Answer 34

Newspapers could be closed down and lifelong bans placed on editors and publishers. All literary publications had to be officially approved. Censorship was extended to theatre, art and culture where Russification was enforced.

Question 35

What year did Alexander III reduce redemption fees?

Answer 35

1881

Question 36

What year was the Poll Tax abolished under Alexander III?

Answer 36

1885