1. ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMS

2. ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMS
THE DETERMINED REFORMER
Undertook program of vast & far-reaching reform (most significant = emancipation)
Crimean War pointed out weaknesses, inferiority, & backwardness of Russia
Determined to ensure greatness of Russia
But never went too far with liberalism & consistently upheld autocracy

3. ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMS
THE BIG ISSUE: SERFDOM
Motivations for abolition:
Contributed to military backwardness
Economically inefficient
Fear of revolt from below
Morally wrong
Tsar said so

4. ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMS
THE BIG ISSUE: SERFDOM
Process of emancipation:
Creation of SECRET COMMITTEE
Made up of large landholders
No consensus about land redistribution
Secret Committee made MAIN COMMITTEE
Finally agree on terms, approved by Tsar in 1861

5. ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMS
THE BIG ISSUE: SERFDOM
Emancipation Settlement:
Freed serfs from bondage
But had to buy land
Govt. would loan money
Redemption payment plan over 49 years at 6% interest
Land given to obshchina
State peasants also freed

6. ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMS
THE BIG ISSUE: SERFDOM
Reactions:
Nobles sullen over loss of income
Intelligentsia wanted more for peasants
Peasants dazed & confused
insufficient land for survival

7. ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMS
THE BIG ISSUE: SERFDOM
Emancipation?
Peasants bound to commune
Commune perpetuated backwardness & inefficiency
Peasants not given legal or political rights
Did not lead to serious improvement of lives

8. ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMS
OTHER REFORMS
Administrative reforms
ZEMSTVO system (1864)
Attempt to make local govt. more effective
Engaged in civic projects
Gave nobles bigger say in local govt.
But had many problems
Commune perpetuated backwardness & inefficiency

9. ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMS
OTHER REFORMS
Administrative reforms
Village commune govt.
Controlled lives of peasants
Town govt.
Ensured law & order in villages

10. ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMS
OTHER REFORMS
Judicial reforms (1864)
Clean up of legal system
Established equality before law (except for peasants)
Judiciary made separate branch of govt.
Made system equal to most advanced Western systems

11. ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMS
OTHER REFORMS
Military reforms (1874)
Object = create better trained, more effective, social just army
Changed terms & conditions of service
Introduced education into army

12. ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMS
OTHER REFORMS
Economic reforms
Creates state treasury & state bank
Educational reforms
Allows students to go abroad
Some higher ed. for women
Reduces censorship in law
But remains in practice

13. ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMS
ASSESSMENTS
Reforms did help transform Russia
Sweeping social, economic, legal change
Russia moves further toward modernization
Led to pressure for more reform
But Alexander would only go so far
Much opposition to reform