Alexander II - Knowledge organiser

Question 1

Serfdom

Answer 1

A system which had existed in Russia since the 12th century where peasants were owned by the landowner

Question 2

Emancipation

Answer 2

To free from bondage

Question 3

Judiciary

Answer 3

Part of government responsible for the legal system

Question 4

Bureaucracy

Answer 4

A system of government where most decisions are taken by state officials rather than by elected representatives

Question 5

Populist

Answer 5

A socialist movement who believed that propaganda among the peasantry would lead to the masses demanding change

Question 6

Revolutionary

Answer 6

Describes an individual, organisation or theory which supports fundamental political change often removing the government

Question 7

Liberal

Answer 7

A political philosophy that promotes individual rights, civil liberties and democracy

Question 8

Land and liberty

Answer 8

A 19th century socialist movement who continued the work of the Populists and pushed for constitutional reform

Question 9

People’s Will

Answer 9

A socialist revolutionary organisation that regarded terrorism as the best means of forcing political reform

Question 10

Autocracy

Answer 10

System of government by one person with absolute power

Question 11

Intelligentsia

Answer 11

More educated liberal leaning members of Russian society

Question 12

1856

Answer 12

Crimean War ends

Question 13

1860

Answer 13

Creation of state bank. Reform of tax collection.

Question 14

1861

Answer 14

The Emancipation Edict

Question 15

1863

Answer 15

Polish Revolt

Question 16

1864

Answer 16

Local self-government (zemstva) established

Question 17

1866

Answer 17

Attempted assassination of Alexander II

Question 18

1874

Answer 18

Populists begin ‘Go to the people’

Question 19

1879

Answer 19

Terrorist organisation, The People’s Will, established

Question 20

1881

Answer 20

Alexander II assassinated

Question 21

What was the state of Russia in 1855

Answer 21

Russia was a vast empire containing over 100 different ethnic groups. The empire was an autocracy with a tsar at its head. The economy was predominantly rural and most of the population were peasants.

Question 22

Why did Russia need reform?

Answer 22

There had been increasing number of peasants uprisings in Russia since the 1840s but it was the Crimean War which pushed Russia towards reform. It revealed military and administrative inadequacies in Russia.

Question 23

How did the Emancipation effect Russia?

Answer 23

The emancipation allowed some peasants to take advantage of their freedoms by leaving to find work or become more prosperous by buying land. For most little changed and the emancipation was disappointing.

Question 24

How successful were Alexander II’s attempts at domestic reform?

Answer 24

Alexander also brought in reforms in education, local government, the judiciary, the military and censorship. Although liberal, the reforms did nit affect the dominant position of the nobles in Russian society. The reforms facilitated the growth of a professional group in society and encouraged demands for more change.

Question 25

How did Alexander II’s rule change after 1866?

Answer 25

Following an attempt on his life, Alexander adopted a more repressive approach. Education was more carefully monitored and faced greater restrictions. The powers of the police were increased.

Question 26

How far did the economy change under Alexander II?

Answer 26

Minister of finance, von Reutern produced a series of reforms to boost the economy and drive industrial growth. Little attention was given to agriculture and productivity remained low.

Question 27

How far did society and culture change 1855-81?

Answer 27

A small class of wealthier peasants developed, some nobles sought new sources of income and there were more professionals, yet, overall the society changed little. The Russian Orthodox Church remained strong.

Question 28

Why did opposition develop and how effective was it?

Answer 28

Key individuals developed ideas opposing autocracy and Alexander’s reforms allowed their radical ideas to spread. Much of the opposition however was moderate and led by Liberals. There was little success.

Question 29

How were Jews and ethnic minorities treated under Alexander II?

Answer 29

Alexander used a mixture if repression and concessions to maintain Russian control over the states of the Empire. There was no systemic racial persecution, but intolerance of national differences increased towards the end of his reign. There was an increase in antisemitism following the Polish revolt.