Unit 1- Alexander II Flashcards
Who fought in the crimean war?
Russia vs France, Britain and the Ottomans
State the key social problems Russia faced in 1855
-Many people oppressed and unhappy
-Religious and ethnic division
-Isolated villages across huge areas.
-Rapid population increase
-Famine
-Split between Westernizers and Slavophiles
-Threat of revolution from serfs
State the key economic issues Russia faced in 1855
-Underdeveloped- little industry or agricultural understanding
-Wide spread empire with poor transport and communication.
-Lack of entrepreneurial middle class
-All top jobs go to the nobility
-Serfdom keeps many oppressed and tied to land
-Land inequality- 25% owned by top 1%
What % of Russia’s population were serfs in 1855?
90
What caused Russia to lose the Crimean War?
-Lack of support from Austria due to concerns over Balkans
-Fear of arming serfs
-Improved allied equipment
-Lack of industry, transport and communication
-Poor leadership
How is land in Russia policed in 1855?
By the nobility who own the land.
What were ‘mirs’
Local communes which made decisions on farming
What power did the Tsar hold
Total autocratic power due to his divine right to rule. Could pass ukazy (laws) immediately. Could choose advisers and set up committees
What were the 3 core beliefs of Russia as dictated by Nicholas 1
autocracy, orthodoxy and nationality
What early attempts were there to abolish serfdom?
1803- Land can be sold to serfs.
Estonia, Livonia and Kurland abolish serfdom, but not awarding peasants land
What was the name of liberal reformer who drafted the emancipation edict?
Nicholas Milyutin
When was the emancipation statue passed?
19th February 1861
When were state serfs freed?
1866
What were redemption payments
Payments to the government for land gained in emancipation. 49 years of payments at 6% interest.
How did the role of the mir change after emancipation?
Redemption payments made through the mir, mirs distributed allotments of land and organised taxation. Mir could issue internal passports allowing people to travel.
What is a volost?
A peasant court in an area
Who was responsible for policing after emancipation?
The nobility
How many peasant revolts occurred during 1861?
1000, one involving 10000 peasants. Army had to be brought in to 300 estates.
How did the Tsar appease the nobility during and after emancipation?
Receive government bonds worth the value of their land.
Nobles could choose which land they would give away.
MIlyutin was sacked
What were kulaks
Peasants who went ahead and bought the land of poorer neighbours, then renting back to them and made some money.
What happened to the landowners after emancipation
Many couldn’t afford to pay off their debts. many rented their lands and moved to the cities as absentee landlords. From 1862 to 1905, the land holdings of the nobility decreased from 87 to 50 million desyatiny.
When were the local government reforms
1864
What changed in the local government reforms of 1864
New self-government at provincial levels, zemstvo, elected largely by nobles. only introduced to 19/70 provinces. In 1870, a similar system was introduced in towns. zemstvo responsible for health, education and maintenance.
When were the judicial reforms?
1864
What changed in the judicial reforms of 1864?
Courts simplified, each province has its own court. Judges made more independant. Courts open to public. Juries introduced for serious cases. removes power of the state in court cases. Justices of the peace opened to hear smaller cases, helped peasants.
When were the military reforms?
1861-81`
What changed in the military reforms?
Universal conscription
Length of service reduced
Increased reserve
Officer training improved
Colleges established for officers
Reduced punishment
Who masterminded the military reforms?
Alexander Milyutin
What was universal conscription?
All social classes could be called up at 21. generally 1/4 chosen to serve
How did the length of military service change
From 25 years service to 15 years, with 6 active and 9 in reserve.
How did the army reserve change from 1862 to 70
Increased from 210000 to 550000
How was army administration reorganised by Milyutin
Split into 15 districts
How did middle and upper class people avoid military service
By paying peasants people to take their place
When did Education reforms take place?
1863-64
What changed in educational reforms?
Zemstvo start running schools. New primary schools built, secondary schools open to all, Universities liberalised
How many new primary schools were built from 1856 and 1878
17000
What changed in Universities
Women could attend universities, radical change in professors, 50% left from 1854 to 1862. Liberal professors, such as Nicholai Pirogov hired. New radical ideas spread.
When were censorship reforms?
1863
What changed in the censorship reforms?
Censorship was relaxed, publications don’t have to be read before being published. Could criticise and discuss government policy. 3rd section abolished
What caused ‘the reaction’
In 1866, Karakozov tried to assassinate the Tsar. This made the Tsar fear his position was under threat. Kazakarov was a student of noble descent.
Who was appointed after the attempt on the Tsars life in 1866
Golovin replaced by Dimitrii Tolstoy as head of Public instruction
Piotr Shuvalov becomes head of 3rd section
Alexander Timashev- minister of internal affairs
Konstantin Pahlen- Minister of justice
What changed in education in the reaction?
Church regain authority over rural schools
from 1871, only students from gimnazi (private schools) could go to university
Tsar regain control over university appointments
What changed in Law in the reaction?
Increased use of secret police. Vetted appointments to government. 1879- Governor Generals introduced with emergency powers. Political criminals transferred to secret court.
What happened in the case of Vera Zasulich
Vera tried to shoot an unpopular police officer. On trial she was acquitted by jury as the public didn’t like the officer. Public trials backfire on government.
Aside from Vera, what other show trials backfired?
Trial of 50 in 1877, Trial of 193 1877-78. Many of them were acquitted.
Following the failure of the reaction, what did Alexander do?
Loris-Melikov appointed as minister for internal affairs. 1880- report recommends the inclusion of all governments into a central government. lots of new liberal reforms. Known as Loris-Melikov constitution
What happened on 13th March 1881
Meeting of council of ministers to discuss Loris Melikov constitution. Alexander II assassinated by bomb from the People’s Will terrorist group.
What were conservative reactionaries
Political advisors who wanted Alexander II to undo reforms in reaction to the assassination attempt
What was the Third element?
the secret police
When was the Polish uprising
1863
How many Poles revolted in 1863
2 million
Give 3 examples of tolerant treatment of ethnic minorities under Alexander II
-Ukrainian language journals
-Ukrainian cultural societies
-polish archbishops
-Jews allowed to university
-Finn ‘diet’ (parliament) set up
