To what extent did the reforms of Alexander II change Russian society

Question 1

Emancipation of the Serfs (1861)

Answer 1

• New class of Kulaks emerge
• 85% reduction in peasants tied to land = inc. population of urban towns
• Grain exports 31% of exports (1861-1865) -> 47% of exports (1891-1895)
• reduced reliant on serfdom = potential for industrialisation = huge change

Counter:
- High redemption payments = 15% of peasants until 1881

Question 2

Cultural, Educational Reforms

Answer 2

• Newspapers no longer had to submit to censorship
• Books of 160+ pages didn’t have to be approved by (1865)
• 1863 University Statute = allowed women to attend uni = permitted to establish own research programmes
• 1856, 400000 children in primary schools
• 1878, more than 1 million in primary schools

Counter:

• Censorship made responsibility of minister of interior in 1863 = censorship still under conservative control = autocracy still held power

Question 3

Local Government reforms

Answer 3

• Zemstva and duma developed greater understanding of life of peasants
• Alan Wood: “gradual intellectual osmosis”
• Promoted public health, welfare, hygiene, literacy

Counter:
- dependent on central govt funding
- many aspects of local govt remained with provincial governors, appointed by tsar
- Therefore autocratic influence remained strong

Question 4

Judicial changes

Answer 4

Perspectives: George Vernadsky “*Under Alexander II, the legal system more efficient and just

Evidence:

• 1864 - Judicial reorganisation — abolished the old legal system and created a unified system of courts + Public allowing a defence lawyer
• 1862 - 68 courts — 2,647 -1885
• The number of professional judges in Russia increased from 1,450 in 1864 to 4,700 in 1884.
• The number of law students in Russia increased from 244 in 1861 to 1,544 in 1884.
• The number of executions in Russia decreased from 953 in 1863 to 191 in 1885.

Question 5

Perspectives on Judicial Changes?

Answer 5

• Alexander II ensured that Juries could not handle cases such as treason.
• Furthermore, although these new courts were established in Moscow in 1866, they were never fully introduced into other parts of Russia – in Poland, these court systems did not replace the old ones.
• Ministry of Justice in 1881, only 8.7% of civil lawsuits in Russia were initiated by peasants — 48% by landowners