Autocracy of Alexander 2nd Flashcards
What slowed his appetite for reform?
An assassination attempt in 1866.
What failure of Alex 2nds meant that Alex 3rd had to rely on repression?
His failure to set up rule of law or civil institutions/
What caused Alex 2nd to become distant and aloof in 1865?
His eldest son died, his wife had tuberculosis and he sought consolation in his mistress.
What was the impact of Alex’s aloofness?
He couldn’t resist the reactionary conservatives, who appointed the conservatives Tolstoy as Minister for Education, Shuvalov as Head of 3rd Section and Pahlen as Minister for Justice.
What was Tolstoy’s view on education?
He was very orthodox and wanted a tight control in order to eradicate Western ideas and anti-tsarism.
What were Tolstoy’s educational reforms?
He reduced the zemstva influence, handed control back to the church and the gimnazii had to follow a classical curriculum.
From 1871, only gimnazii students could go onto university.
He tightened censorship as there was strict control over student activities and organisations.
What did Shuvalov do as soon as he came into power?
Strengthened 3rd section and the police and stepped up National Minority persecution.
What was Pahlen’s main aim for political criminals?
TO make an example of them in show trials. This backfired:
Trial of 193 - 153 acquitted due to jury sympathies
Vera Zasulich - shot governor of St Petersburg - acquitted.
What was instituted in 1879?
Governor-Generals - they had emergency powers to prosecute in military courts and exile political offenders.
What caused Alexander to accept that democratic consultation was his only option?
Turkish war, famine and industrial recession in 1880 - violence was only able to be curbed by democratic consultation.
Who was appointed Minister for Internal Affairs in 1880?
Count Mikhail Loris-Melikov.
What did Loris-Melikov do straight away?
Release some political prisoners, relax censorship, remove the salt tax, and lift zemstva restrictions. He also abolished the 3rd Section but created the Okhrana.
What was the 1880 Loris-Melikov Constitution?
Included inclusion of elected representatives from nobility, zemstva and of town governments in debates on state decrees. It was not really a constitutions, more a National Assembly.
