section 1 : Alexander II; emancipation of the serfs and attempts at domestic and military reform Flashcards
What was the state of Russia by 1855?
- Rural population- 11:1
- Illiterate (85%)
- serfs tied to land
What were the impacts of the Crimean War?
- 45% of GDP being spent on the war
- Russia were defeated in 1856
How had Alexander experienced the treatment of serfs?
- Travelled the empire
- Served on his father’s Council of state
- led the serfdom committee
What were the motives of abolishing serfdom?
Ethical motives: like the west abandoned slavery
Economic Motives: provide urban migration –> industrialisation was low
+Growing serf population=> declining incomes
+ The internal demand for goods low (no middle class)
Political motive: To preserve Autocracy by eliminating the risk of revolution. (appease the peasants)
+Young nobility became apathetic to emancipation (maintain support from nobles)
When were state and private serfs emancipated?
Private serfs -1861
State serfs -1866
What were the terms of emancipation?
- Serfs were free: Own property, Marry, Travel (No longer tied to land) and set up business.
- Landlords granted gov bonds as compensation
- 49 annual redemption payments
What was the significance/benefits of emancipation?
- Enterprising peasants could buy and sell land (Now comodity) , increase output , employ other peasants and stimulate economy
- -> Created a middle class=> stimulated growth of consumer goods.
- Rural to urban migration–> Work in factories => Increase industrial output=> again stimulating economic growth
- Landowners use bonds to redeem debts and invest in industry
What were the problems with emancipation?
- Land Allocations varied (often overpriced) - insufficient to live on -Nobles kept best land
- Redemption payments crippled peasantry economically –> unrest 647 in 4 months
- Economically tied to land instead of politically ( payments made it infeasible to move around)
- Serfs lost land lords protection
- Peasants rights remained theoretical
- Landlords didn’t really invest bonds
Why was there need for further reform after emancipation?
- Unrest in the countryside due to failings of emancipation => potential revolution
- Still areas in society that needed tending to ( to avoid revelotion)
=FURTHER APPEASEMENT TO PEASANTRY TO MAINTAIN AUTOCRACY!!
What were the terms of the military reforms?
Length of service reduced (25-> 15 years)
- Modern weaponry- through industry
- Better, more intensive training. + increased fitness requirements.
How were the Military reforms successful?
- Created a smaller better trained army
- Reduced the cost of the army
However: Army still dominated by nobles
What was created as a part of the local government reforms?
(1863) The Zemstva ( Local councils) -elected
=> providing local representation
How were the local government reforms successful?
Stepping stone towards democracy?
-attracted the middle class who were critical of the government
How were the local government reforms unsuccessful?
- Zemstva was dominated by nobles (Hardly representative)
- Peasants had little influence. (constituency boundaries bias to nobles)
- Zemstava had no control over taxation and law and order (What really mattered) -Zemstva had little power
What changed as part of the Judicial reforms?
- 1864:single unitary system of local, provincial and national courts. (Consistency of Justice system)
- All classes judged before law.Public trials with jury –> no shady trials and less bias towards elite.
- Innocent to proven guilty
- Judges training and pay improved- less likely to take a bribe
