Alexander II, Crimean War, Emancipation, Great Reforms

Alexander II

Tsar of Russia from 1855–1881; known as the Tsar Liberator for emancipating the serfs in 1861

Autocracy

System of government in which the Tsar held absolute power and ruled without a constitution or parliament

Crimean War

Conflict fought between 1853–1856 that exposed Russia's military and economic weaknesses

State of Russia in 1855

Largely agricultural, economically backward, and ruled through autocracy

Serfdom

System where peasants were legally tied to landowners and their estates

Third Section

Secret police organisation used to monitor and suppress opposition under the Tsars

Orthodox Church

Official state religion that promoted loyalty to the Tsar and autocracy

Russian Nobility

Landowning elite who dominated local administration and government positions

Peasantry

Largest social group in Russia, making up around 80–85% of the population

Industrial Backwardness

Russia's lack of industrial development compared with Western Europe

Crimean Defeat

Demonstrated Russia's military and economic weaknesses and encouraged reform

Great Reforms

Name given to Alexander II's programme of reforms during the 1860s and 1870s

Emancipation Edict (1861)

Law freeing over 20 million serfs from legal bondage

Redemption Payments

Long-term payments made by peasants for land received after emancipation

Mir

Peasant village commune responsible for allocating land and collecting taxes

Obshchina

Alternative name for the peasant commune or mir

Zemstva

Local government councils established in 1864 to improve administration and services

Judicial Reforms

Reforms introducing independent courts, juries and public trials

Military Reforms

Changes introduced by Dmitri Milyutin to modernise the Russian army

Dmitri Milyutin

War Minister responsible for army reforms under Alexander II

Universal Conscription

Compulsory military service introduced for all social classes

Education Reforms

Expansion of schools and greater university autonomy under Alexander II

Censorship Reforms

Relaxation of restrictions on newspapers and publishing during the 1860s

Railway Expansion

Growth of railways that improved communication, trade and military transport

Loris-Melikov Proposal

Plan for limited representative government proposed in 1881