Alexander II - Political Authority 1885-1881

Question 1

What was the secret police called?

Answer 1

The Third Section

Question 2

How was Russia a police state?

Answer 2

• prevented people’s freedom of speech
• prevented freedom to press
• prevented freedom to travel abroad

Question 3

How significant was the army?

Answer 3

• 1.5 million conscripted serfs
• absorbed 45% of government spending

Question 4

Who were the Cossacks?

Answer 4

Ukrainian and southern Russian - skilled in horsemanship and military division

Question 5

How long was military service?

Answer 5

25 years

Question 6

What did the Cossacks do?

Answer 6

They acted as a personal bodyguard to the Tsar

Question 7

Who was the Tsar?

Answer 7

The leader of Russia

Question 8

What role did the Tsar also have?

Answer 8

Leader of Russian Orthodox Church

Question 9

What was the Tsar’s nickname?

Answer 9

‘Little Father’

Question 10

What was an ‘Edict’?

Answer 10

The law of the land

Question 11

What was the bureaucracy?

Answer 11

Complied with civil servants, paid noble officials etc

Question 12

When was the Emancipation Edict?

Answer 12

1861

Question 13

How many serfs were freed?

Answer 13

51 million

Question 14

What was Alexander II’s nickname?

Answer 14

‘Tsar Liberator’

Question 15

What did Alexander II say about reforms?

Answer 15

‘Reform from above, rather than below’

Question 16

What had Alexander II done between 1858-59?

Answer 16

Toured the countryside and made speeches about emancipation

Question 17

What power was given to the Mir?

Answer 17

To distribute land and control the farming

Question 18

Why was there a 2 year period?

Answer 18

This was a ‘temporary obligation’ before freedom

Question 19

When were state serfs freed?

Answer 19

1866

Question 20

How long were redemption payments to be made?

Answer 20

49 years

Question 21

What was the Loris Melikov constitution?

Answer 21

1880 response to the demands of the Zemstva

Question 22

Who was Loris Melikov?

Answer 22

Minister of Internal Affairs

Question 23

When was the Third Section abolished?

Answer 23

1880

Question 24

When was the Okhrana formed?

Answer 24

1881

Question 25

When was the Loris Melikov constitution signed?

Answer 25

13 March 1881

Question 26

When was Alexander II assassinated?

Answer 26

13 March 1881