Preserving Autocracy

• the 1891 - 1892 famine was caused by extremely dry weather which meant that production dropped and Stolypin's work was hindered.
• Iconography refers to traditional images and symbols associated with a subject.
• Slavophiles believe in supreme autocracy and oligarchy.
• Westernisers believed that Russia should look to the west to improve.
• Obrok serfs are serfs that pay rent.
• Barschina serfs are serfs that specifically work on the land during harvest time.
• State Peasants are bound to the land and must ask for permission to leave the village. They must also save up and buy their own freedom.
• The mir is a peasant commune.
• Freed serfs had to pay redemption payments for 49 years.
• Kulaks were wealthy peasants that had the ability to make their own wealth.
• Emancipation was often flawed due to the land distribution being unfair. In 1878, only 50% of peasantry was capable of producing a surplus.
• On the 30th March 1856, Alexander II gave a speech to the marshals of nobility which signified the beginning of the abolition of serfdom.
• Serfdom was abolished in 1861
• Nicholas Milyutin was the driving force behind emancipation but was seen as too radical so was disliked by Alexander II.
• Landlords received compensation for the loss of labour and the value of the land they owned.
• The serfs paid for the cost of redemption payments over 49 years with interest rates at 5%. They remained in the Mir until the payments were made. This meant that it took longer than expected to pay off the debt.
• The Crimean War was fought between Russia and the Ottoman Empire from 1853-1856.
• Russia lost the Crimean War due to poor leadership on the battlefield which highlighted their weaknesses.
• The Crimean War showed that communication between Russians was extremely weak and the Tsar was unable to control his army.
• Judicial Reforms under Alexander II meant that reforms challenged political authority and freedom of representation and speech.
• Features of the Judicial Reforms under Alexander II included:

  • a simplified system
  • judges were made independent from the government.
• Military Reforms under Alexander II introduced Universal Conscription.
• Universal Conscription meant that all social classes were liable for military service at the age of 21.
• Military reforms posed a threat to autocracy but it meant that it created an army based off merit and not class privilage.
• Education Reforms under Alexander II meant that the curriculum was extended, universities regained the right to govern themselves and women could attend courses but not take degrees.
• Education Reforms under Alexander II were positive because 1 million pupils were in attendance in 1878.
• Education Reforms under Alexander II was negative because many students were poor and relied on state financial help.
• Censorship Reforms under Alexander II introduced Preventive Censorship.
• Preventive Censorship refers to books and newspapers no longer having to submit to prior censorship.
• Preventive Censorship meant that there was more freedom of speech and newspapers were allowed to criticise the government.
• Censorship Reforms under Alexander II were positive because public opinion was taking place.
• The Zemstva were the elected council, responsible for the local government.
• The Third Element refered to teachers, doctors and lawyers.
• Local Government Reforms under Alexander II were negative because the electoral system still favoured the nobility.
• 40% of the Zemstva were made up of the nobility during Alexander II's Local Government Reforms.
• The 'People's Will' were a revolutionary socialist organisation which attempted to overthrow the tsarist regime.
• The People's Will assassinated Alexander II in March 1881 with a bomb in St Petersburg.
• Alexander III introduced the Inheritance Tax, the Peasants Land Bank and Factory Legislations.
• Factory Legislation under Alexander III prohibited child labour and introduced factory inspections.
• The Peasants Land Bank was set up in 1883 to help peasants purchase their own farms.