Tsarist Reaction + Radical Opposition After 1881

Question 1

What happened after Alexander II’s assassination?

Answer 1

-a turning point
-security stepped up which ended populist movement but some supporters still met in secret + did commit acts of terrorism

Question 2

What were the ‘self education’ circles?

Answer 2

-e.g. the Muscovite Society of Translators + Publishers
-translated + reproduced writings of foreign socialists
-Swiss Georgi Plekhanov est emancipation of lab group 1883 which translated + arranged marxist tracts be smuggled into Russia
-it had limited impact at time but when Plekhanov developed ‘two stage rev strategy’ it was vital in advancing Marxism in Russia

Question 3

Why was Plekhanov viewed as the father of Russian Marxism?

Answer 3

-he argued revs had to accept inevitability Marx’s ‘stages of development’
-they should concentrated activities among workers in cities + not peasants
-1886 students St.P tried reform People’s Will + march 1887 group who made bombs atrested
-2 months later 5 including Lenin’s older brother were hanged