Section 4 - Alexander II, Reaction + Opposition

• Reforms in the 1860s created feelings of excitement and opposition.
• Censorship relaxation encouraged more radical books.
• Educational changes led to the growth of radical student organisations.
• Legal reforms promoted legal careers that attracted the middle class who were critical of the government.
• Young Russia was formed in 1862 and they were hostile to the Tsar and the Church.
• The Organisation was formed in 1863 and it was set up by Moscow Uni alumni that carried out revolutionary activities.
• A period of reaction set in between 1866-67 because of attempted Tsar assassinations.
• Alexander II appointed reactionary ministers such as Dmitry Tolstoy and Peter Shuvalov.
• Reactionary ministers argued that Westernising changes were weakening Russia.
• Economic and legal reforms still continued in the reactionary period but other reforms were halted or reversed.
• The authority of primary schools were returned to the Church and the activities of the Zemstva were restricted.
• Secondary schools were ordered to remove sciences from their curriculum.
• As of 1871, vocational students could only attend higher technical institutions.
• Literature and history were banned in universities as they encouraged critical thought.
• Student organisations were banned.
• The government could veto university appointments.
• The new education policies were reasserted with religious control and the curriculum became restricted.
• Female education declined and people escaped restrictions by studying abroad.
• The work of the Third Section increased.
• Political offenders could face show trials until 1878.
• Political crimes could be tried in secret military courts from 1878.
• Governor-generals were given emergency powers for military courts and exile from 1879.
• Critics and opponents thrived underground.
• Show trials were abandoned due to sympathetic juries like Vera Zasulich.
• The Russo-Turkish War took place between 1877-78 and a famine took place between 1879-80.
• An industrial recession started in the late 1870s and assassination attempts related to the Tsar from the 1860s had repeated itself.
• Loris-Melikov was appointed to Minister of the Interior in 1880 and he was to investigate revolutionary activities.
• Political prisoners were released because of Loris-Melikov.
• Censorship was relaxed because of Loris-Melikov.
• Zemstva restrictions were lifted because of Loris-Melikov.
• Tax from salt was removed because of Loris-Melikov.
• The Third Section was abolished by Loris-Melikov and the Okhrana replaced them.