chapter 2: Alexander II, the 'Tsar Reformer'

Who was Vasily Zhukovsky?

A romantic poet, Alexandr's tutor, interested especially in personal experience.

Alexander's reasons for emancipation

Served on his father's council of states

Believed it would curb tensions and stimulate economy

Romanovs shared opinion

How did he come to this decision?

Set up a committee to examine emancipation after Crimean war.

Toured the country giving pro emancipation speeches 1858-59

how many serfs in Russia 1861

51 million

Tsar Liberator

nickname for Alexander II's nickname for his efforts and steps he took to increase industrial production to reduce industrialization gap between russia and the west

Enlightened Despotism

system of government in which absolute rulers granted domestic reforms in order to benefit his people

Party of St Petersburg Progress

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

Nikolai Milyutin

In the ministry of international affairs favoured slavophile tradition. Drafted terms of emancipation edict

Dmitry Milyutin

Minister of War (1861-1881) believed that Russia was being held back by serfdom

Political motives

Nobility became too reliant on serfs and incomes were declining

Younger members of nobility grew critical of the regime

West believed Russia should abandon serfdom

Economic motives

Serfs were prevented from working in factories

Little internal demand for goods

Debt of 54 million roubles

Reasons for Emancipation

Increasing uprisings and disorder, doubled from 1844 to 1859, against increased pay and military conscription

Main cause for emancipation

Failures in Crimean war, great embarrassment held Russia back from western world

Emancipation Edict

1861- Initially applied to privately owned serfs

1866- state serfs

Granted freedom and allotments of land, landowners received compensation

Contents of emancipation edict

Serfs were given own cottage and allotment of land

Landowners were allowed to retain meadows, pasture, and woodland and personal land

Obruk remained for 2 years

Redemption Payments

Money owed by freed serfs to government for the land that was distributed to them at Emancipation for 49 years. Mir was responsible for controlling assets and farming

Volost

A peasant community consisting of several villages, run by representatives of the mirs, had their own courts from 1863

Benefits of emancipation

Kulaks bought extra land and produced surplus of grain, others obtained passport to leave the Mir, enabled growth in industrialisation

What was a problem with land allocations after emancipation?

Land allocations were unfair.

What was the issue with land prices after emancipation?

Land prices were fixed on market value, which was too expensive.

What was the Mir system's impact on peasant surplus production in 1878?

Only 50% of peasants produced surplus in 1878.

What restriction was placed on peasants after emancipation?

Restrictions on travel were imposed.

What was the effect of emancipation on landowners' influence?

Landowners lost influence.

How many incidents of riot occurred after the emancipation decree?

There were 647 incidents of riot after the decree.

What was made compulsory for all classes from age 21 for 15 years during the military reforms of 1874-75?

Conscription

What type of army was created as a result of the military reforms of 1874-75?

A smaller, better trained army

How were punishments changed during the military reforms of 1874-75?

Made less severe

What was introduced to the military as part of the reforms in 1874-75?

Modern weaponry

What type of institutions were set up for better training during the military reforms of 1874-75?

Military colleges

What type of campaigns were conducted to educate the army during the military reforms of 1874-75?

Mass army education campaigns

War against Turkey

1877-78, concluding the Treaty of San Stefano, creating Bulgaria under Russian protection, but was later split up by the treaty of Berlin.

Treaty of Berlin (1878)

redraws boundary lines of Bulgaria so Russia have less land. Leads to conflicts because they had Bulgarians living outside the boundaries.

Electoral College

Peasants would elect members of an 'electoral college', then vote for nominee to sit in the zemstvo

Zemstva

Given powers to improve public service

Dominated by nobility peasants had little influence.

No control over state and local taxes

What was a key feature of the Judiciary Reforms of 1864?

Equality before the law with a single system of local, provincial, and national courts.

Who heard criminal cases according to the Judiciary Reforms of 1864?

Criminal cases were heard before barristers and a jury, from lists of property owners.

What was a significant change regarding court proceedings in the Judiciary Reforms of 1864?

Courts were opened to the public, and proceedings could be freely reported with little bias.

How often were local justices of the peace elected?

Every three years

Who was minister for education?

Alexander Golovnin (1862-67)

Eccesiastical and military courts

Church courts where punishments were given by priests

Military army officers awarded sentences

What responsibility was given to Zemstva in the education reforms of 1863-64?

Schooling responsibility transferred from the Orthodox Church.

What opportunity was given to universities during the education reforms of 1863-64?

Govern themselves

What was declared about schools in the education reforms of 1863-64?

Open to all, regardless of class and sex.

How many children were educated in primary school?

Rose from 400,000 to over a million

What remained dominant within the economy?

Agricultural practice

censorship reform (1858-70)

Restrictions on publishers were reduced

Foreign publications were permitted with gov approval

Growth in criticism led to tightening in 1870s