Alexander 11 The Tsar Liberator Flashcards
(101 cards)
1
Q
What is the northern part of Russia called?
A
The tundra
2
Q
What is the tundra like?
A
Frozen for most of the year and only supports scrub vegetation
3
Q
Where is the fertile land for agriculture found?
A
In the steppes
- black earth region
4
Q
What is south of the tundra?
A
Endless miles of impenetrable forest
5
Q
What does Russia have in the far south?
A
Deserts
6
Q
Why is Russia difficult to rule geographically ?
A
Sheer size
Poor communications
-few paved roads
-roads impassable in winter (muddy)
7
Q
How may different nationalities were there in Russia?
A
Over 100
8
Q
How much of the population are actually Russians?
A
1/2
9
Q
What was the range of culture in Russia?
A
Sophisticated European Russians - nomadic Muslim people’s - wandering tribes
10
Q
How many people were peasants in 1859?
A
Over 90% of the population
11
Q
How much of the population are nobles in 1859?
A
Less than 1%
12
Q
What were the two groups of peasants?
A
Serfs
State peasants
13
Q
What was it like as a serf?
A
Bound to the estates of nobles
Required to work
Had a plot of land on which they could grow food
No access to legal system
No rights - couldn’t leave, marry who they want and could be traded and sold
14
Q
What are state peasants?
A
Lived on estates owned by state
Legally free
Paid rent
Restricted travel
15
Q
What is the Mir?
A
The peasant commune
16
Q
What did the Mir do?
A
Allocated land
Made sure serfs fulfilled their labour obligations
17
Q
How much of the worlds total land mass does Russia occupy?
A
1/6
18
Q
Who dominated the peasant commune (Mir)?
A
Older peasants who resisted change
19
Q
What are the two faces of the Mir?
A
A model of co-operation and mutual support
A spite of petty jealousies and rivalries where violence wasn’t uncommon
20
Q
How much of the population were members of the Russian Orthodox Church?
A
70%
21
Q
What was the main mean through which peasants got all their information?
A
The church
22
Q
Who made up the ordinary soldiers in the Russian army?
A
Conscripts from the villages who had to serve for 25 years
23
Q
Who was the leading power in Russia in 1815?
A
Russia
24
Q
What was a high priority for Russians?
A
Maintaining great power status
25
What was huge shock to the Russian regime?
Defeat in the Crimean war, especially as it was being fought on their own territory
26
When was the Crimean war?
1853-56
27
What did the Crimean war reveal about Russia?
Highlighted poor communications as no railways so troops had to be moved along muddy roads
Army's files and artillery hopelessly outclassed by French and British
Questions raised about efficiency of army and leadership
Russia's backwardness
28
How did the Crimean war damage the Romanov dynasty?
Cast doubt on Russia's status as a major power
| Many high up people thought it was Russia's backwardness which led to defeat
29
When did Alexander 11 gain the throne?
February 1855
30
What did Alexander 11 do in 1837?
Went on a tour of 29 Russian provinces - build a bond between future tsar and people - enormous success
31
Who was a II tutor?
Zhukovsky a poet who believed a person must be raised as a "human being" and win the love of his subjects
32
What did a II do in 1939?
Embarked on a European tour - knowledge of western ideas and traditions - met German wife
33
Why was a II well fitted for his role as tsar?
His father believed he should take personal hand in all aspects of government so put him on several committees and councils to gain experience
34
Was a II a firm believer in autocracy?
Yes but he knew Russia needed to become part of the modern world
35
What did a II do on 30 March 1856?
Gave speech to marshals of the nobility - signalled start of emancipation
36
What is a II famous quote on the emancipation?
"It is better to abolish serfdom from above, than to wait for the time when it starts to abolish itself from below"
37
What is the moral reason for abolishing serfdom?
Members of royal family dating from Catherine the great believed it was morally and ethically wrong
Turgenev (writer) shows nobles and state officials the plight of the serfs - majority of nobles object
38
What was the risk of revolt reason for abolishing serfdom?
Serious peasant revolts and disturbances had been increasing since 1840
1848 revolutions in Europe unsettle tsar
Army made up of peasants so may not be able to control uprising
December 1857 tsar orders weekly reports on peasantry mood
39
What is the Crimean war reason for abolishing serfdom?
Drew attention to the state of the army - peasants who enlisted for 25 years and then were freed from serfdom
Military reform couldn't go ahead without releasing freed serfs back into their village with military training - risky - loyalty - needed a smaller better trained army
40
What is the economic reason for the abolition of serfdom?
Hinders development
Free labour more productive than forced labour
No growth of domestic demand
Emancipation would free serfs to move to where they could be the most productive
41
What was the editing commission?
1859 - drafted plans for the emancipation
42
When was the emancipation of the serfs?
1861 19 February
43
What were the main terms of the emancipation?
Serfs legally free - marry who want travel vote and trade
Have land - annual payments
Under control of Mir
Nobility police
Landowners compensated for loss of land in government bonds
44
How long did the freed serfs have to pay their reparation payments over?
49 years
45
What happened in 1866?
State peasants given right to buy land like former serfs
46
How long did the emancipation take?
Two year transitional period - land allocated to peasant by the Mir - huge variation between regions
47
What were the three key aspects of the emancipation?
Peasants received slightly less land than had previously worked - quality limited
Landowners received above market value for land given to serfs - serfs had to pay more - landowners kept best land
Mir strengthened - peasant tied to village
48
How much of the land did the peasants receive?
1/3rd
49
What were some of the peasant consequences of emancipation?
Peasants felt cheated - beloved land belonged to those who worked it
Deep resentment over payments
Over 1000 disturbances in 1861 army had to be brought in to restore order in over 300 states
50
What happened in the village of bezdna after the emancipation?
Anton petrov claimed the statutes did grant immediate freedom for all with land - peasants flocked in support - army opened fire on them
51
What were the nobles consequences of the emancipation?
Disgruntled - lost slaves
Losing power status and influence
Stirred up criticism of regime
52
What did landlord landholdings fall to 1862-1905?
87million to 50 million desyatiny
53
How did the radical intelligentsia feel about the emancipation?
Felt it protected the nobles and betrayed the peasants - growth of opposition to regime
54
What are kulaks?
Go ahead peasants who bought land from poorer neighbours rented land from nobility and hired labour
55
What was the problem with the emancipation?
Tsar didn't want to damage offend or destroy the ruling class - nobody was satisified by it - peasants remained a segregated class tied to the commune
56
Who was Nicholas milyutin?
Driving force behind emancipation - dismissed after emancipation to please nobles who thought he was too liberal
57
What was the local government reform of 1864?
Zemstvos created - elected councils
Favoured nobility who made up 40% district zemstva and 70% provincial councils
Only in provinces where Russians majority of population (19/70)
58
What were the consequences of the local government reform?
Better improvement to areas - better roads - health facilities - schools
Nobles and others gained political experience and wanted taking to next level
Third element developed self esteem and demanded social reform
Many hostile and frustrated with state
59
What were the weaknesses and limitations of the local government reforms?
Only introduced in limited number of provinces 19/70
Noble dominated - used for their own affairs
Results varied
Peasants didn't really participate (high zemstva tax) - restrictions on zemstva power
60
What were the judicial reforms and when were they?
1864
New system of civil and criminal courts
- judges good salaries - fewer courts
Judges couldn't be dismissed for giving verdicts government no like
Now predictors and defenders - jury voting secret avoid intimidation
Justices of peace - dealt small cases
61
What was the problems with the old justice system?
Huge variety of courts - cases take years
Judges illiterate and have no legal training
Judges had rules eg word of noble taken over peasant , man over woman
Court secretaries relied on bribes
62
What wer ether consequences of the judicial reforms?
Fairer trial - greater access to justice - les corruption
Jps courts worked quickly - protected small man against local officials
Legal profession emerged 1860s and 70s - some went to Duma some revolution
Challenged political authority of the autocracy
63
How did the judicial reforms challenge tha autocracy?
Independent courts and judges - idea of rule of law
Courtroom a space for challenge of the government - free speech
New juries would quit people government would like to give long sentence s
64
When was the case of Vera Zasulich?
1878
65
What was the case of Vera Zasulich ?
She shot and wounded government of St P general trepov
Admitted but jury accepted her plea was politically justified and said not guilty
Public applauded verdict
Trepov cruel and flogged prisoners
66
What were the weaknesses of the judicial reforms?
Seperate courts fro peasants segregated them
Some courts outside the system eg church courts and revolutionaries tried by special courts 1870s
Bureaucracy did still intervene
Only most impact in large cities s
67
When were the military reforms?
1861-81
68
How much of the governments invoke did the army take up 1860s?
1/3rd
69
What were the military reforms?
Universal conscription - all classes liable
Length of service reduced to 15 years (6 active 9 reserve)
Officer training military colleges admitted non nobles
Modern rifles and artillery
Flogging abolished
Conditions improved - barracks introduced
70
From 1862-70 how much did The reserve increases?
210 000 - over 550 000
71
What were the consequences of the military reforms?
Attempt to break class privileges - smaller and more professional army
Still high proportion of noble officers
Saving in government expense
Reforms opposed by nobility didn't want mixing
Still relied on peasant conscripts - uneducated and illiterate - reduced effectiveness of training
72
When were the education reforms?
1863 - 64
73
What were the eduction reforms?
```
Number of pupils double in 1st decade of reign
Primary chills built open all classes
Secondary schools open all classes
Curriculum extended
Women attend uni courses
```
74
What did the number of primary schools increase to?
1856 - 1878
| 8000 - 25000
75
What did student numbers at uni grow to?
1865-1899
| 4000 - 16000
76
What were the consequences of the education reforms?
More literate peasant population - aspirations
Higher education made students question the regime
Radical study circles led to students joining the revolution
77
When was censorship relaxed?
In the 1860s
| - newspaper s could write anything
78
What was a result of relaxation of censorship?
Public opinion taking shape and becoming more informed
79
What happened in 1866?
Karakazov narrowly missed tsar with pistol shot - conservatives used as evidence reforms were creating revolution - a brought in more reactionary policies
80
Why did a bring in more reactionary policies?
Reforms led to demands he didn't want to meet didn't create contentment like he wanted he was nearly assassinated - polish revolt of 1863 unsettled him
81
What family events also may have influenced his switch to reaction reforms?
Fav son Nicholas died 1865
Wife withdrew from public life - I'll
Openly acknowledged mistress dolgorukaia - child 1872 - dissent in royal family a 111 not happy
1880 married mistress after wife died
82
What reactionary things did he do?
Liberal ministers lost influence in government
| Shuvalov made head of third section - tightened up censorship - tighter controls on unis
83
What did the ministry of education Tolstoy do?
Believed revolution originated in schools
Ministry inspectors of schools
Science withdrawn from some schools - classical subjects favoured
Uni entry's restricted - nobles favoured
Crackdown on uni circles of revolution
84
When were the first women admitted into Moscow uni?
1872
85
When did the reactionary policies start?
1866
86
What kick started the revolutionary movement in Russia?
Emancipation of the serfs
87
Where did lots of support for the revolution come from?
The students
88
What fed the revolution?
The flow of books made possible by the relaxation of censorship eg chernyshevsky
89
What was the most notable of ten early revolution groups?
1860s - radical land and Liberty
90
What are nihilists?
Young people challenging traditional attitudes - men grew hair long - women cut it short
Ridiculed in press and many went to revolution.
91
What led to the increasing radicalisation of students?
Hunting down of activists and tightening in censorship and crackdown in unis
92
Who are the populists?
1870s revolutionaries - beloved in agrarian socialism around peasant commune
Thought commune would provide food society without the need to go through the evils of industrialisation
93
What did the populists do?
Went to the people (narod)
Gave up current lives and went to live with the peasant s
- peasants didn't share their views and rejected them failed and they were arrested and imprisoned
94
What was the trial of the 50 and the trial of the 193?
The narodniks got sentenced (many got light sentence a) some exiled to Siberia
95
Who is Vera figner
Worked in zemstva hospital and gave advice to peasants and set up free school with sister
96
What did the failed go to the people movement cause?
Showed people being peaceful wouldn't help - cells formed in villages - violent art aka killing informers officials and helping imprisoned members escape - military moved political trials to military courts
97
What was the split in the revolution movement in 1879?
Black partition - plekhanov + Vera zasulich. - peaceful
The people's will - terrorist violence
Wanted destruction of the state and land redistribution
Condemned tsar August 26 1879 to death for crimes against the people march 1881 managed to kill him
98
When did the people's will assassinate Alexander 11?
March 1881
99
What were the last two years of Alexander 11 clouded by?
Terrorism
Government officials attacked and killed all over Russia
Attempts to blow up royal train
Explosion under winter palace dining room killed ten guards
100
What did a 11 give preliminary approval to before he was assassinated?
Abolish third section
More civil rights of peasant
Creation of consultative body to help make laws
101
What happened in his assassination?
Travelling to winter palace by coach
Bomb killed Cossack guards tsar got out to help them and was blown up died hour later at winter palace
Five people's will publicly executed 3 April
