Alexander II, 'The Tsar Reformer'

Question 1

What year was the Emancipation of the serfs?

Answer 1

1861

Question 2

What was the Party of St petersburg Progress?

Answer 2

a loose title given to the more liberal nobles and officials who frequented the salons of the Tsar’s aunt, or gathered around his brother.

Question 3

Name both of the ‘Milyutin Brothers’

Answer 3

Nikolai Alexander Milyutin & Dmitry Alekeseyevich Milyutin

Question 4

What were the motives of Nikolai Milyutin?

Answer 4

An influential voice in the Ministry of Internal affairs, favouring reforms within the Slavophile tradition. Advocated emancipation and the establishment of the Zemstva.

Question 5

What were the motives of Dmitry milyutin?

Answer 5

Military background, motivated by Russia’s failure in the crimea war, Alexander II’s Minister of War 1861-1881.

Question 6

What years was Dmitry Milyutin Minister of War?

Answer 6

1861-1881

Question 7

Why did the Milyutin Brothers advocated emancipation?

Answer 7

It held Russia back economically, weakening her ‘Great Power status,’ and was also morally wrong.

Question 8

Between 1840 and 1844, how many outbreaks of peasant uprisings were there a year?

Answer 8

fewer than 30.

Question 9

Why did the number of peasant outbreaks more than double after 1844?

Answer 9

landowners pushed peasants to produce more or pay higher rents,
protests against military conscription

Question 10

Why is Alexander II known as the ‘Reformer?’

Answer 10

He began his reign by releasing political prisoners & pardoning the Decembrists,
he relaxed censorship and restored some rights of Poland and the Catholic church.

Question 11

What year did Emancipation negotiations begin?

Answer 11

1856

Question 12

What years did Alexander II travel the country side?

Answer 12

1858-59

Question 13

Why did Alexander II travel the country side in 1858-59?

Answer 13

in attempts to win noble support for emancipation.

Question 14

What were ‘redemption payments?’

Answer 14

serfs were required to pay money in exchange for their freedom.

Question 15

How long were redemption payments to be paid for?

Answer 15

49 years

Question 16

What was the Mir?

Answer 16

the peasant commune

Question 17

Who supervises the Mir?

Answer 17

The Volosts

Question 18

From what year did the Volosts run their own courts?

Answer 18

1863

Question 19

What was the effect of Volosts running their own courts?

Answer 19

this replaced the landlord jurisdiction over serfs.

Question 20

How long did ‘temporary obligation’ go on for?

Answer 20

2 years

Question 21

What was ‘temporary obligation?’

Answer 21

allocations of land

Question 22

What percentage of peasants remained ‘temporarily obligated’ to their owners by 1881?

Answer 22

15%

Question 23

Which class of peasantry did well out of emancipation?

Answer 23

the kulaks

Question 24

How many incidents of riots were there in the four months after the Emancipation Edict?

Answer 24

647

Question 25

What years were the Milyutin Reforms

Answer 25

1874-75

Question 26

What changes did Milyutin make to military conscription?

Answer 26

Conscription was made compulsory for all classes from the age of 21, but the length of service was reduced from 25 to 15 years of service + 10 years in the reserves.

Question 27

What changes did Milyutin make to military punishment?

Answer 27

punishments were less severe & the system of military colonies was abandoned. Better medical care was established.

Question 28

What changes did Milyutin make to weaponry?

Answer 28

Modern weaponry was introduced and new command structure was established.

Question 29

What changes did Milyutin make to military education?

Answer 29

Military colleges were set up to provide better training | Mass army-education campaigns in the 1870s-90s.

Question 30

What year was the war against Turkey?

Answer 30

1877-78

Question 31

What year was the Treaty of San Stefano?

Answer 31

1878

Question 32

What was the effect of the Treaty of Stefano?

Answer 32

large Bulgaria under Russia's protection

Question 33

What year was the Treaty of Berlin?

Answer 33

1878

Question 34

What motivated the Treaty of Berlin?

Answer 34

Britain and Austria-Hungary were alarmed by Russian gains.

Question 35

What was the effect of the Treaty of Berlin?

Answer 35

it split up the new Bulgaria.

Question 36

What years were the Local Government Reforms?

Answer 36

1864-70

Question 37

What was the name of the system of elected local councils?

Answer 37

the Zemstva

Question 38

When was the Zemstva established?

Answer 38

around 1864, post emancipation.

Question 39

What were electoral colleges?

Answer 39

the system in which people vote for others to then vote nominees for the Zemstva.

Question 40

What powers did the Zemstva have?

Answer 40

to improve public services, develop industrial projects and administer relief in times of hardship.

Question 41

What years were the Judiciary reforms?

Answer 41

1864

Question 42

What was the new Judiciary system modelled on?

Answer 42

The West

Question 43

What was introduced in the new Judiciary reforms?

Answer 43

local courts open to the public, cases heard before juries (judges appointed by tsar) Local Justices of Peace

Question 44

Who elected the Local Justices of Peace?

Answer 44

The Tsar

Question 45

What Russian newspaper recorded national trials?

Answer 45

the Russian Courier

Question 46

What years were the educational reforms?

Answer 46

1863-64

Question 47

Who carried out the educational reforms?

Answer 47

Alexander Golovnin

Question 48

What years was Alexander Golovnin Minister for Education?

Answer 48

1862-67

Question 49

What changes were made to education?

Answer 49

Universities could govern themselves and appoint their own staff, responsibility for schooling was transferred from the Orthodox church to the Zemstva. Primary & Secondary education was extended, Schools were open to all regardless of class/gender.

Question 50

What years were the censorship reforms?

Answer 50

1858-70

Question 51

What changes did Alexander II make to censorship?

Answer 51

restrictions on publishers were further reduced, foreign publications were permitted with government approval, and the press was allowed to print editorials with comment on gov. policy.