Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Russia 1855 -1964 > Alexander II (1855-1881) > Flashcards

Alexander II (1855-1881) Flashcards

1
Q

What is Alexander II known as?

A

The Tsar Reformer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What reform in 1861 appeared that Alexander’s reign was adopting a ‘new course?

A

The Emancipation of the Serfs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

How many serfs were freed?

A

51 million serfs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

How long did the serfs have to pay redemption payments for?

A

49 years

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What other major condition did the serfs have that restricted the development of agriculture?

A

The serfs had to remain within their commune, the mir

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What were the benefits for the serfs after the emancipation in 1861?

A
  • They were granted an an allotment of land
  • Serfs were released from their bondage to landowners and become free men . They would be free to marry, own property, set up businesses and enjoy legal rights
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What were the six major areas in society of which Alexander II reformed?

A
  1. Emancipation of the serfs
  2. Military
  3. Education
  4. Local Government
  5. Judiciary
  6. Censorship
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What were the main changes within the military reform?

A
  • Length of service was reduced from 25 years to 15 years
  • Conscription was made compulsory for all classes (including nobles) from the age of 20
  • Punishments were made less serve
  • New modern weaponry was introduced
  • Military colleges were set up to provide better training for the officer corps
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Were Alexander’s military reforms in his early reign successful?

A
  • Created a smaller but better-trained army
  • Reduced the heavy government expenditure
  • Literacy improved however still a substantial amount of illiterate peasants who could not benefit from the better training on offer
  • Officer classes still remained and it remained, in essence, remained a peasant conscripted army
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Which minister was appointed to implement change within the Local Government?

A 
Alexander Milyutin (1860)
Pyotr Valuev (1864)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What was the main change in Local Government under Alexander II?

A

Local councils were set up - named the Zemstva which was organised through ‘electoral colleges’.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What powers did the Zemstva have?

A
  • It was given the power to improve public services (e.g. schools, roads), develop industrial projects and improve infrastructure
  • They were mainly filled by liberal-minded professional people, such as doctors, lawyers and teachers so it provided a forum for debate about central government
  • The powers of the Zemstva still however remained limited as the Tsar could overturn decisions and he appointed the officials
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What impact did Alexander’s education reforms have?

A
  • Universities could govern themselves
  • Zemstva had responsibility of schools
  • Primary/secondary education was extended - ‘open to all regardless of class and sex’
  • However this caused political opposition to increase as people became more aware of Western ideologies and radical ideas.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

How did the Judiciary change?

A
  1. Innocent till proven guilty
  2. ‘Equality before law’ was established
  3. Judges were given better training and better pay
  4. Juries and lawyers present
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What reform caused the development of the intelligentsia?

A

Censorship

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Who was the minister of finance between 1862 and 1878?

A

Von Reutern

17
Q

What economic changes did Von Reutern implement under Alexander II?
(GIFT)

A

G - government support increased for cotton & mining
I - import duties (tariffs) were reduced to promote trade
F - foreign investment was encouraged
T - the treasury was reformed - abolished tax-farming

18
Q

Who assassinated Alexander II?

A

A group of Social Revolutionaries known as the ‘People’s Will’

19
Q

Micheal Lynch quote about Alexander II’s reforms:

A

‘It was unthinkable that he would continue with a process that might compromise his power as tsar’

20
Q

What did Alexander II do when he feared he had gone ‘too far’ with his reforms?

A

He abandoned his reformist policies and returned to the tsarists tradition of oppression

21
Q

During Alexander II’s reign, what new ‘class’ emerged?

A

The Kulaks - richer peasants

22
Q

What was one of the major decision that Alexander II made that jeopardised the tsarists regime and its authority?

A

Removal of restrictions on the press meaning they could report freely and criticise the regime. This led to more people joining revolutionary groups that opposed the tsars and wanted individual freedom

23
Q

What is meant by ‘Young Russia’?

A

A new, more radical and modernised Russia.

In June 1882, a series of fires in St Petersburg destroyed over 2,000 shops, there were rumours that radical students and ‘Young Russia’ supporters were responsible.

24
Q

What was the Okhrana?

A

The secret police - used to control any opposition or illegal radical groups working underground

25
Q

Terrence Emmons quote on the outcome of the Emancipation of the Serfs:

A

the edict was a ‘state-directed’ manipulation of society aimed to ‘strengthen social and political stability’

26
Q

Why did some historians believe the Emancipation Edict in 1861 was vital?

A

For the transition towards a Capitalist economy

27
Q

Reasons for the Emancipation of the Serfs in 1861?

A
  1. Frequent peasant unrest/uprisings
  2. Prominence of liberal ideologies - intelligentsia
  3. Undeveloped economy
  4. Defeat in the Crimean war/poor military
  5. Influences over Alexander II - his brother, aunt, the nobility circle ‘Party of St.Petersburg progress’
28
Q

How many riots took place four months after the Emancipation Edict in 1861?

A

647 riots

29
Q

In 1861 what % of farms were not self-sufficient?

A

25%

30
Q

How many more primary schools were built from 1856 compared to 1880?

A

8000 in 1856

23,000 in 1880

31
Q

By the 1870s, how many university students were they?

A

10,000

32
Q

When was the Russo-Turkish war?

A

1879-1880

33
Q

Who was appointed Minister of Internal Affairs?

A

Mikhail Loris-Meilkov

34
Q

What major changes did Loris-Meilkov take?

A

Released political prisoners, relaxed censorship and lifted restrictions on the activities of the zemstva

35
Q

Who were ‘Westerners’?

A

People who believed Russia to adopt the best features of the political and economic systems of Western countries

36
Q

Who were ‘Slavophiles’?

A

People who regarded western values as corrupting and attempted to preserve traditional Russian values

Russia 1855 -1964 (7 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions