Autocracy and Reaction

• Autocracy


  A system of government in which unlimited power is held by a single ruler
• Reaction


  Opposition to reform or change
• Alexander II


  • Reforming Tsar
  • Reactionary at times
  • Difficult to pin down
• Alexander II emancipated the serfs in 1861 and made further reforms to local government, the law, and the military
• People tried to kill Alexander II

  This led him to become more reactionary
• Alexander II had a controversial private life, including taking a mistress Catherine while his first wife Maria was still alive
• There were several attempts on Alexander II's life, including in 1866, 1867, 1879, and 1880
• Young Russia


  Opposition group formed in 1862 that opposed the Tsar and the Russian Orthodox Church
• Organization


  Opposition group set up in 1863 by Moscow students
• After the attempts on his life, Alexander II became more reactionary, appointing conservative ministers like Dmitri Tolstoy, Timoshev, Shuvalov, and Palen
• Tolstoy's reforms in education

  1. Gave the church control of rural schools

  2. Banned the study of literature, science, and foreign languages at universities

  3. Set up new teacher training colleges to maintain traditional subjects and Tsar's control
• The regime under Alexander II became increasingly oppressive, with increased censorship, persecution of minorities, and the use of secret courts and military tribunals
• As opposition grew


  Alexander II seemed to shift back towards reform
• Loris-Melikov Constitution


  A set of reforms proposed in 1881, including releasing political prisoners, relaxing censorship, and creating a national assembly
• Alexander II was assassinated on March 13, 1881 by members of the revolutionary group People's Will, just after signing the Loris-Melikov reforms
• Alexander III, who succeeded Alexander II, was unlikely to continue the reform process after witnessing his father's assassination by revolutionaries