Motives for reform

• Alexander II wanted to preserve his ⭐ autocracy ⭐He said "Better to abolish serfdom from above than let it abolish itself from below"
• Serfs needed to be freed to grow industry and modernise agriculture
• Crimean War:

  • Showed the lack of soldiers - many soldiers did not serve due to bad health: 800,000 soldiers out of a possible 25 million
  • Showed lack of armament - highlighted how slow Russia had been to industrialise
  • Rising anger about the forced peace settlement
  • 500,000 casualties
  • Army recruited mainly by serfs who weren't that committed or trained to the extent of of British/ French armies
  • Highlighted how far behind Russia was
• Population growth put pressure on farming - increasingly difficult to feed the growing population.
• Peasant revolts - there had been 1,467 since 1800