Alexander 2nd reforms

Question 1

When did alexander the 2nd come into power and what age?

Answer 1

1855-81 at age if 36

Question 2

What did nich the first say about Alexander?

Answer 2

’ Best prepared heir the russian throne has ever had’

Question 3

What were problems Alexander faced upon tsardom?

Answer 3

Loss of Crimean war 1854-56
- Defeated by ottoman Empire, France, GB, and Sardinia
- Bad communication = only 60k soldiers fought
- bad industrialization = no modern weapons for soldiers
- administration = corrupt and ineffective loses b/c of peasant unrest and diseases

Question 4

What was the main social reform?

Answer 4

Emancipation of the serfs feb 1861

Question 5

What were the problem of emancipation?

Answer 5

1. Landlords/ nobility financially dependant on how many serfs they owned
2. Russian social system depended on institution of serfdom
3. only 5 years to emancipate

Question 6

What were the changes emancipation created?

Answer 6

1. Uninterfered marriages, law courts, set up and use businesses
2. 75% serfs received allotment, 20% received smaller land than they worked on, an estimated 80% needed to feed a family
3. Redemption dues to be paid over 49Y 6% interest
4. State serfs received larger land while house hold serfs received no London only freedom

Question 7

What were the reactions to emancipation?

Answer 7

1. Prince Kropotkin “the reforms pleased no one’
2. Nobility/ landowners felt betrayed, peasants were disapointed

Question 8

What were the success of the emancipation?

Answer 8

1. 40M liberated
2. 85%+ former farmer serfs became landowners over 20Y
3. Peasant disturbances reduced in the next 40 years

Question 9

What did Hugh Watson and David moon say about emancipation?

Answer 9

They compared it to the abolishment of usa’s slavery in 1865 because it guranteed land

Question 10

What did David Christian say about emancipation?

Answer 10

” emancipation was a success achieving immediate objectives “

Question 11

What were the failures of emancipation?

Answer 11

1. peasants were still; under control of MIR (peasant village commune)
2. did not solve industrial backwardness

Question 12

What did legal reforms include?

Answer 12

The establishment of proper court NOv 1864

Question 13

Prior to legal reforms how were peasants treated in court?

Answer 13

Guilty till proven inncoent

Question 14

What did Alexander issue in his statue about court?

Answer 14

“Establish in Russia, courts of justice that are fair, swift, merciful, and equal to all subjects”

Question 15

What kind of practices did new courts have?

Answer 15

Mix of English and french

Question 16

What were some changes in courts?

Answer 16

1. proper training for judges + increased pay and position for life
2. ‘seperation of powers’ established
3. Juries can’t handle cases of treason

Question 17

What were results of court?

Answer 17

1. courts established in St Petersburg and Moscow by 1866 but not in the entire Russian empire (ex. Poland) b/c shortage of trained lawyers
2. 3rd section could still stop, search, and arrest ppl as it wished
3. Gov tries to reduce some earlier reforms after some danger (post Alex death)

Question 18

What did HUgh Watson say about courts?

Answer 18

” The courtroom was the one place in Russia where real freedom of speech prevailed”

Question 19

What did the government reforms include?

Answer 19

Establishment of zemstvo (1864) and city Duma (1870)

Question 20

What was the zemstvo?

Answer 20

Local gov assemblies set up by nikolai mylutin later Pyotr valuev

Question 21

What was zemstvo voting system like?

Answer 21

At 2 dif levels 1. uezd (district) and gubirniya (province)
- members were chosen at 3 elector collages 1. landowners/ nobility
2. town dwellers
3. peasants (mIR)

Question 22

What were the responsibilities of zemstvo?

Answer 22

1. Public health = hired zemstvo doctor for free care for peasants
2. EDUcation = built primary schools and hired teachers increasing literacy r8
3. infrastructure = maintaining roads, building bridges, managing insurance against fires and crop failure

Question 23

What was the city Duma?

Answer 23

1870, municipal self gov that had general assembly and upraven ( executive board) led by a mayor

Question 24

How did Duma voting system work?

Answer 24

Based on property franchise and tax players were divided into three groups so small shopkeepers had more voting power than wealthy merchants

Question 25

What were the responsibilities of the Duma?

Answer 25

1. installing street lights, paving roads, building sewerage system and managing marketplaces

Question 26

What were the successes of the Duma and zemstvo?

Answer 26

1. Promoted public health and welfare improving hygiene, literacy, and environment

Question 27

What were the failures of zemstvo and Duma?

Answer 27

1. Police remained in control 2. provincial gov could override zemstvo decisions 3. only existed in 43 of russia's 70 provinces 4. 41% of people who voted members to uezd were nobles

Question 28

What did John Westwood say about the zemstvo?

Answer 28

Refered to it as 'seedbeds of liberalism '

Question 29

What happened at the start of military reforms?

Answer 29

Dimitri mylutin started raising morale to ending cruel punishment like'flogging' and 'running the gaunlet' 1863 and created 'cheif of staff'

Question 30

What were some terms of the 'conscription act of January 1 1874'

Answer 30

1. Nobles must also serve in military 2. Conscription age at 20 for all men 3. Conscription reduced from 25Y-10Y in service and 5Y in reserve 4. 1/4 men 20Y would serve each year 5. those w/out education were taught to read

Question 31

What were the results of military reforms?

Answer 31

1. GOV spending reduced, 45% total expedenture 2. Russia did not keep up w/ western production of rifles, machine guns, artillery, ships 3. Franco-prussian war 1870-71 boosted reforms