Political Authority + Attempts At Reform

• Alexander II came to the throne in 1855 in the midst of the Crimean War.
• Facing increased peasant revolts as demand for reform grew, he saw that things needed to be done if Russia was to remain as a great power.
• Alexander II himself favoured reform and was supported by a new generation of liberal minded nobles.

  These included the Milyutin brothers, Grand Duke Konstantin and Grand Duchess Elene Palovna.
• The difficulty the Tsar faced was bringing about reform without weakening autocracy and his grip on power.

  Reform in the West had gone side by side with revolution or growing democracy.