ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMS

ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMS

THE DETERMINED REFORMER

Undertook program of vast & far-reaching reform (most significant = emancipation)

Crimean War pointed out weaknesses, inferiority, & backwardness of Russia

Determined to ensure greatness of Russia

But never went too far with liberalism & consistently upheld autocracy

ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMS

THE BIG ISSUE: SERFDOM

Motivations for abolition:

Contributed to military backwardness

Economically inefficient

Fear of revolt from below

Morally wrong

Tsar said so

ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMS

THE BIG ISSUE: SERFDOM

Process of emancipation:

Creation of SECRET COMMITTEE

• Made up of large landholders

• No consensus about land redistribution

Secret Committee made MAIN COMMITTEE

Finally agree on terms, approved by Tsar in 1861

ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMS

THE BIG ISSUE: SERFDOM

Emancipation Settlement:

Freed serfs from bondage

But had to buy land

• Govt. would loan money

• Redemption payment plan over 49 years at 6% interest

Land given to obshchina

State peasants also freed

ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMS

THE BIG ISSUE: SERFDOM

Reactions:

Nobles sullen over loss of income

Intelligentsia wanted more for peasants

Peasants dazed & confused

• insufficient land for survival

ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMS

THE BIG ISSUE: SERFDOM

Emancipation?

Peasants bound to commune

Commune perpetuated backwardness & inefficiency

Peasants not given legal or political rights

Did not lead to serious improvement of lives

ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMS

OTHER REFORMS

Administrative reforms

ZEMSTVO system (1864)

• Attempt to make local govt. more effective

• Engaged in civic projects

• Gave nobles bigger say in local govt.

• But had many problems

Commune perpetuated backwardness & inefficiency

ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMS

OTHER REFORMS

Administrative reforms

Village commune govt.

• Controlled lives of peasants

Town govt.

• Ensured law & order in villages

ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMS

OTHER REFORMS

Judicial reforms (1864)

Clean up of legal system

Established equality before law (except for peasants)

Judiciary made separate branch of govt.

Made system equal to most advanced Western systems

ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMS

OTHER REFORMS

Military reforms (1874)

Object = create better trained, more effective, social just army

• Changed terms & conditions of service

• Introduced education into army

ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMS

OTHER REFORMS

Economic reforms

Creates state treasury & state bank

Educational reforms

Allows students to go abroad

Some higher ed. for women

Reduces censorship in law

But remains in practice

ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMS

ASSESSMENTS

Reforms did help transform Russia

Sweeping social, economic, legal change

Russia moves further toward modernization

Led to pressure for more reform

But Alexander would only go so far

Much opposition to reform