Alexander II Flashcards
1855-1881 (12 cards)
what was the geography of Russia at the time?
Russia spread over 8 million miles
middle of 19th century represents demographic explosion
majority population were peasants of different races
what was the economy like at the time?
sluggish economic growth
trade limited by transport and communications, especially as Russia lacked railway system
undeveloped banking system
what was society like at the time?
society dominated by gentry who had control over peasants helped collect taxes, allocating plots of land
peasants either provided cash or labour for shelter
city dwellers employed in iron industries but there was deteriorating working conditions
what were government and politics like at the time?
governed by Tsar (autocrat) and power was ordained from God
members of government drawn from aristocracy
secret police forced to maintain law
1855- army consisted of 1.4 million poorly trained serfs
how did Alexander II react to the loss of the Crimean war?
1) proto-management
2) emancipation of the serfs
what was proto-management and why was it introduced?
what is was = aimed to increase railway construction, attract foreign technical expertise and use foreign capital
why it was introduced = loss of Crimean war meant Russia had to ‘catch up to west’
what was the improvement in total length of track? (proto-management)
1862= 2194 miles
1878= 13,979 miles
what was the benefit of using foreign expertise? (proto-management)
J.J.Hughs transformed iron and steel production and by 1884, his new coal, iron and railmaking company and largest producer of pig iron
St Petersburg to Moscow line opened in 1851
what was the problem with proto-management?
foreign investment secured through government bonds and tax exemptions
government bailed out projects in financially difficulty-> led to corruption and made transport system expensive
what was the system before emancipation of the serfs? (emancipation of the serfs)
peasants work under the property of landowners of the state and worked under under system of serfdom
nobles had total control and serfs had no access to land
form of slavery labour and military services was provided in return for food and shelter
what were the conditions of the emancipation of the serfs?
(emancipation of the serfs) 1861
all privately serfs were freed, those kept by state were emancipated in 1866
freedom entailed being able to own property, run commercial enterprises and marry who they wanted
nobles had to hand over allotment of land to peasants, but were compensated by state based on valuations of market value
peasants had to pay redemption payments ->paid over 49 year period at 6%, legal rights made to land were only confirmed after last payment was made
what were problems of the emancipation of the serfs?
peasants were allocated poorer land quality and received less land
had to pay rural poll taxes
the administration of redemption payments was carried out by village elders (the mir), who ensured that land couldn’t be sold before final payment had been made
peasants had to answer to the mir, who decided what was to be produces and how crops cultivated
