The People's Will

• This was the group responsible for the assassination of Alexander II in 1881 and they were heavily suppressed following Alexander III’s accession to the throne.

  
  

  They wrote to the new Tsar demanding transfer of power to the people.
• Within days of the assassination, 150 members of the People’s Will were arrested.

  
  

  The new Tsar moved to the fortified Gachina Castle fearing assassination.
• In 1886, the group was reformed by students in St Petersburg.
• In 1887, members of the group who had made bombs to assassinate Alexander III were arrested.

  
  

  One of the members was Alexander Ulyanov, Lenin's older brother.

  
  

  Ulyanov was hanged along with 4 others convicted of making the bombs.
• Police activity and a lack of enthusiasm among peasants reduced the membership of the People’s Will significantly after 1887.