Opposition To Alexander III’s Rule Flashcards
(13 cards)
What happened to the members of the people’s will responsible for Alexander II’s assassination?
They were publicly hanged
What was the emancipation of Labour?
It was a Russian Marxist group founded in 1883 by Gregori Plekhanov. It translated Marxist writing into Russian and disseminated Marxist ideas and literature back to Russia
How did Marxists spread their ideas?
Some infiltrated factories, others produced pamphlets and posters
Where was it easy for revolutionary ideas to gain support?
Russians in poverty stricken towns and cities found the idea of a revolution to overthrow the corrupt tsarist regime appealing
What were populists trying to do?
They tried to mobilise the peasants against the autocracy by inciting uprisings- they faced sever repression from the state and were forced to operate very secretively
What did liberals want?
Constitutional reforms and greater political freedoms- their role became increasingly important in the zemstvo a and in industry during the reign of Alexander III
Why did Alexander III introduce counter reforms?
To reverse the liberal policies of his father. This included increasing censorship, police powers and restricting activities of the zemstvo
What did the 1881 statute introduce?
It allowed the Tsar’s ministers to declare martial law, imprison people without trial, prohibit public gatherings, dismiss local officials and exile suspected revolutionaries to Siberia
What was the Okhrana?
It was a secret political police force, organised to combat socialist and revolutionary activists. They would infiltrate opposition groups and conduct surveillance
Why was censorship increased?
To suppress anti-tsarist publications and limit the spread of revolutionary ideas
What happened to many opposition leaders and activists?
They were arrested, imprisoned or exiled to Siberia. This removed them from the political scene.
How were public gatherings and demonstrations prohibited?
Those who attempted to organise or participate in such activities were severely punished eg through prison or exile
