1. THE AGE OF ALEXANDER II (1855-1881) Prepared by:John Carlo Castillo-CabalitAB History Student National Youth Commission & Pilipinas Natin VolunteerOffice of the President

2. ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMS 3. (born April 29, 1818, Moscow, Russia died March 13,1881, St. Petersburg) Tsar of Russia (185581). Hesucceeded to the throne at the height of the CrimeanWar, which revealed Russias backwardness on theworld stage. In response, he undertook drastic reform,improving communications, government, and education,and most importantly, emancipating the serfs (1861). Hisreforms reduced class privilege and fosteredhumanitarian progress and economic development.Though sometimes described as a liberal, Alexander wasin reality a firm upholder of autocratic principles, and anassassination attempt in 1866 strengthened hiscommitment to conservatism. A period of repressionafter 1866 led to a resurgence of revolutionary terrorism,and in 1881 he was killed in a plot sponsored by theterrorist organization PeoplesWill. 4. ALEXANDER II He succeeded at a bankrupt regime. Considered the most attractive figure in theRomanov dynasty. Son of a Prussian princess,he had in him more Hohenzollern thanRomanov traits, and found it hard to adopt theRussian way of life. He was by nature soft and tractable, but even sohe was no weakling. He had also the ability toresist external influences. Ruthlessness, cruelty and willfulness were aliento his nature. He was a good man. 5. On his accession to the throne it was clear to him that thestate, tottering and exhausted as it was, would needthorough overhaul and reform if he and the dynasty wereto survive. He kept an open mind regarding the reformingmovements. But he wanted reform to be initiated fromtraditional seat of authority, to come from above and beoffered to the people as a gift. After Sevastopol fell, the regions south of the Danubewhich Russia had acquired earlier were given up. Theblack sea neutralized. Russia was not permitted tomaintain a fleet there nor erect fortifications. The straitswere closed to warships of all nations. Russia had tosurrender the protectorate it claimed over BalkanChristians, who were now placed under the protectorate ofall the great powers. Russias activities were severelycircumscribed. 6. The ending of the Crimean war cleared the way for theage of Reforms. The reforms carried out under Alexandermade a far deeper impression on Russia than did theprocess of Westernization under Peter the Great andCatherine II. The age of Reform struck at the very heart ofthe established order. It altered the whole social structureand re-shaped the political system on Western lines. BothAlexander himself and the more intelligent of his adviserswere aware of the possibility of revolution. He se out thecombat of threat of revolution by reforms which hehimself initiated. Considering its fear of revolution, its is not surprising thatthe government mistrusted this forcesliberalism. Butafter 1855, they were allowed to develop somewhat morefreely. This could be seen in journalism, in literature andin the first stirrings of political parties. 7. On the other hand, it is striking how quickly the liberalgovernment became radical. These were circumstances inwhich a widespread radical and revolutionary oppositionscame to a head, of which a N.G. Chernyshevskly (1828-89), a man of radical and vaguely socialist views was theleader. Associated with him were Dobrolyubov (1836-81)and Pisarev (1840-1908) who were persecuted by thegovernment and honoured as martyrs by their supporters. A Sportsmans Sketches- describe the miserable conditions of the peasants. Oblomov- (I.A. Goncharov) portrays the true Russian in contrast to Westernalized Russian of German extraction. Who can be happy and free Russia?- (N.A. Nekrassov) a poetry The House of the Dead and Crime and Punishment- Dostoyevsky 8. ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMSTHE DETERMINED REFORMER Undertook program of vast & far-reachingreform (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 9. ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMSTHE BIG ISSUE: SERFDOM Motivations for abolition: Contributed to militarybackwardness Economically inefficient Fear of revolt from below Morally wrong Tsar said so 10. ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMSTHE 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 11. ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMSTHE 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 12. ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMSTHE BIG ISSUE: SERFDOM Reactions: Nobles sullen over loss of income Intelligentsia wanted more for peasants Peasants dazed & confused insufficient land for survival 13. ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMSTHE 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 14. ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMSOTHER 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 15. ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMSOTHER REFORMS Administrative reforms Village commune govt. Controlled lives of peasants Town govt. Ensured law & order in villages 16. ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMSOTHER 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 17. ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMSOTHER REFORMS Military reforms (1874) Object = create better trained, more effective, social just army Changed terms & conditions of service Introduced education into army 18. ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMSOTHER 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 19. ALEXANDER II & THE GREAT REFORMSASSESSMENTS 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 20. In the second half of his reign, reactionary tendencieshad not got the upper hand. From then until 1905 therewas a return to a rigid conservative absolutism whichwas hostile to all reform. Despite the concessionswhich had been wrung from them, the Tsar himself,the aristocracy and the bureaucracy were determinedto maintain their position, and in this way they weresuccessful. From the middle of the 60s, reaction was again in thesaddle. The reforms could not be undone; Russia afterthe 1865, was and remained completely different fromthe Russia of Nicholas I. but their effects were greatlyweakened and the hope of further harmoniousdevelopment was dashed. 21. Alexander II was no advocate of aggression andexpansion. He wanted peace and indeed he kept it for aconsiderable period. Under Alexander II, territorial expansion greatlyincreased Russias power in Asia, and from thebeginning of the 70s there was increasing tension withEngland. The two countries, however, avoided comingblows. Russias colonial possessions in Asia wererounded off without war, and they became the mosttightly knit colonial empire in the world. Not that is was bought by Alexander II was personallyresponsible for this; it was bought about, rather by theimpetus of commercial and industrial capitalism, whichbegan to press markets, new sources of raw materialsand a field from which other powers were excluded. 22. There were two main phases of Russian expansion in Asia. The completion of the conquest And the pacification of the Caucasus, from Black Sea(1859) to the Caspian (1864); the other was marked by the Far Eastern treaties (1858 and 1860), by which Russia acquired the regions of the Amur and Ussuri. It absorbed the who of Siberia and reached there Pacific ocean. It was a movement of world wide importance. It meant theextension of European influence in Asia. In the context of international politics, it increased the dangerof a clash that Russia and England were brought into closecontact in Asia, resulting in a rivalry which was for decadesone of the focal points of the international tension during thereign of Alexander II. 23. Alexander II only desired was to maintain the League of the threeEmperors with Germany and Austria established in 1872. but thegrowth of nationalism and pan-Slavism drove him against his willinto a new conflict with Turkey (April 1877). In January 1878, Russian troops advanced across Balkans and laidsiege to Andrianople. Russian forces had never before penetrated sofar. Constantinople and the Dardanelles lay close at hand. But atthis point England and Austria intervened with a threat of war andRussia exhausted and distracted by troubles at home, was forced togive way. Alexander II had also to struggle with an internal situation whichbecoming more and more critical. The failure to follow through hisearly reforms, increasing the power of the opposition, and heexhaustion brought about by war, all contributed. On the otherhand, aggressive nationalism drove him into a dangerous war. Theopposition was to become increasingly radical, revolutionary andterroristic. 24. For the time being, the peaceful populist movementthe socalled narodnichestvowas in the ascendant.But it failed. This failure provided the incentive foranother party which wanted revolution, and sought tobring it about assassination and terror. This movement,Zemlya I Volya or land and Freedom , sought to bringabout revolution by propaganda. It regardedassassination as one form of this propaganda. Revolutionaries split into 2 groups: Black Partition (Cherny Peredel)-with a programme ofsomewhat ill defined agrarian socialism. Peoples Will (Narodnaya Volya)- which convinced of theimpossibility of a mass uprising, relied entirely on theelimination of leading personality by assassination. In the end, its activities were directed exclusivelyagainst the Tsar on whom the executive committee ofthe Narodnaya Volya passed sentence of death. 25. The last decade of Alexander IIs reign saw Marxism makeit first inroads into Russia. If Alexander II did not attain thesame level of personal greatness as Peter I and Catherine II,the years covered by his reign had more profound effectsthan theirs on the course of his countrys development. In the midst of these changes, and the unrest arising fromthe revolutionary movement, Alexander once again made agenuine attempt at reform. On March 13 1881, Alexandersign a decree which seemed to point the way to aconstitutional system by associating elected representativeswith the business of legislation. On the same day he was assassinated. The assassination didnot lead into revolution. And thus the political and socialorder stood firm. 26. Thank you!!!Have a great week and goodluck with 2nd exam!Email add: johncarlo_cabalit@yahoo.com