Alexander II reforms Flashcards
What areas were Alexander II’s reforms of 1861-5 based in?
Education, Local Government, Military, Judiciary, Censorship
Aims regarding the Crimean War?
Modernization in line with the west, military improvement, economic development e.g., industrialization.
How is Alexander II’s liberal mindset relevant?
His liberal upbringing and education meant he was open to the idea of reform, willing to embrace it.
What were Alexander II’s political aims?
If Alexander could successfully modernize Russia it would secure his legacy.
Why were reforms necessary for subsiding a potential revolution/political instability?
- Pacify the peasants
- Appeal to the intelligentsia who were demanding reforms along “western” lines.
- Pacify the more radical section of the intelligentsia who were being attracted to evolutionary ideas. (e.g., overthrowing the autocracy.)
Why was reform necessary after the emancipation of the serfs? (Education)
Wider education needed:
1. peasants now had increased responsibilities and demands that would require an increased skill level.
2. Provide skilled and disciplined workers for industry as well as entrepreneurs capable of creating industrial enterprises.
3. Encourage a new way of thinking instead of sticking to tradition - in order for Russia to progress.
Why was reform necessary after the emancipation of the serfs? (judicial)
Peasants no longer subject to judicial control of their landowner - there needed to be a renewal of courts to deal with this gap.
Also, the current legal system was inefficient, and there were rising disputes regarding the transfer of land associated with Emancipation.
Why was reform necessary after the emancipation of the serfs? (Nobility/Local Government)
Needed to satisfy the nobility that lost their political influence following emancipation.
To provide local infrastructure (e.g., welfare, health, building of roads etc.) now that the landowner’s responsibly over serfs were taken away.
Why was reform necessary after the emancipation of the serfs? (military)
Now that serfdom was abolished the fear of revolution lessened, thus, the period of conscription could be reduced.
This would allow for a small standing my, allowing for government finance to be spent elsewhere - the government in 1855 spent 45% of their funds on the military.
What was the current judicial system like?
Inefficient:
1. Complex system of courts that were not coordinated - slowed down the judicial process.
2. Judges rarely trained.
3. Judges were unpaid, meaning they commonly accepted bribes, favoring the rich.
4. Judges were illiterate, all evidence was written.
5. Judges often were landowners from local areas, meaning they had ties to the criminal and thus prejudices.
6. Guilty before proven innocent
Were the judges trained before?
No, rarely trained and most were illiterate
In what ways was the previous judicial system inefficient?
There was a complex system of courts which was chaotic - slowed down the process.
In what ways did the previous judicial system favor the rich?
Judges were unpaid, meaning they commonly accepted bribes from the rich.
What was the current Local Government system like in 1855?
Inefficient and chaotic:
1. Tsar relied on a small number of the nobility (Provincial Governors and District Marshals) to help him administer Russia.
2. Provincial Governors and Marshals had no clear defined responsibility or power, they simply were there to carry out the instructions of the tsar rather than using their own initiative. (autocratic)
3. Often did not take their jobs seriously - huge paperwork which often slowed down them doing their job.
What were Provincial Governors and Marshals?
Person of the nobility that acted on behalf of the tsar in government. (bureaucrat’s).
