Alexander II, the 'Tsar Reformer' Flashcards
(14 cards)
Tsar Liberator
Emancipated russias 51 million serfs in 1861
Motives for reform
- His tutor, Zhukovsky
- His earlier travels around the empire
- His brother and Aunt (Konsatine, Elena Pavlona)
Economic motives for Emancipation
1) Free peasants
2) Greater incentive to work
3) Grain surplus
4) Export of grain
5) Investment in industry within Russia
6) Mobile peasantry moving to towns
7) Greater prosperity
Social motives for reform
- peasant uprisings had increased since the 1940s
- Alexander II needed to surpress the dark masses
Crimean war
Russias defeat highlighted the need for the population to be free to improve the army
Early Reforms
- Released political prisoners
- Relaxed controls on censorship
- lessened restrictions on foreign travel and uni entrance
- Cancelled tax debts
- Restored the rights of poland and the catholic church
The Emancipation Edict 1861
- didnt apply to state serfs until 1866
- serfs were granted freedom and land
- landlord were compensated by the government
- The serfs had to pay redmption payments for 49 years for their land
- they could not leave the mir until these had been payed
- There was a 2 year period of temporary obligation before freedom was granted.
- 15% remained temporarily obligated to their landlords
Positive results of the Emancipation
- peasants were no longer tied to the state
- Some peasants (kulacks) did well out of the land allocations and bought extra land and exported grain
- Some peasants sold their land and moved to the cities
Negative results of the emancipation
- Not all freed immediately
- peasant unrest because of redemption payments
- landlords retained 2/3 of the land whilst the peasantry only had 1/3
- landlord compensation disappointment
- peasants provided with less land
- serfs now paid the state
- mirs control was strengthened
Local government reforms (1864-70)
-Elected councils (zemstva). they were given power to improve public services and administer poor relief
- In 1870, elected town councils (dumas) were set up
However:
- Power of the Zemstva was limited
- no control over taxes
- favoured the nobility
provincial government could overturn zemstvo decisions
- they were used as more of meetings to debate political issues
Judicial Reforms (1864)
the new system modelled the west:
- Accused was presumed innocent until proven guilty
- criminal cases were heard before a jury
- judges were appointed by the Tsar
- Justices of the peace were elected every 3 years by the Zemstva
- Open courts
The new system was fairer however:
- layers could criticise the regime
- Sometimes aquitted the guilty out of sympathy (vera Zasulich)
Education reforms (1863-64)
Emancipation increased the need for basic literacy and numeracy:
Under Golovnin:
- Universities could govern. themselves an appoint their own staff
- the zemstava controlled schools rather than the church
- primary and secondary education was extended
- numbers attending schools grew
Military reforms (1874-75)
Dmitry milyutin reorganised the armed forces:
- Conscription became compulsary from 21 but length of service was reduced from 25 years to 10
- punishments were made less severe
- Better provisioning and medical care were introduced
- modern weaponry
However:
- richer often found substitites to serve for them
- The officer class remained largely aristocratic
Censorship reforms
press censorship was relaxed between 1858 and 1870
