alexander III
- Created by: AliceEGray
- Created on: 17-03-15 15:05
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- Alexander III
- problems facing Alex III in 1881
- keeping the large multi-ethnic empire together
- maintaining his own supreme political power which was made difficult by his father's introduction to reforms which raised expectations
- pressure from advisers to reform the empire to make it more western by allowing an elective parliament
- problems with the legacy left by his father. did not agree with his modernisation
- repression and reaction
- threat to the tsar also meant a threat to the orthodox church and aristocracy (upper classes) as they derived most of their power from the Tsar
- therefore, when Alex III launched a campaign of repression it was supported by the upper classes
- political repression
- wanted a reform - from moderates to extremists
- moderates - supported peaceful political change
- extremists - wanted to destroy the tsar rule and give power to the people without any clear plan
- nationalists - wanted their own national state (eg:Poland)
- Alex II's ministers left office. someone who was part of the Russian Orthodox Church took over
- Pobedonostsev
- the church ha immense power and influence
- wrote a manifesto that declared absolute political power to the Tsar
- needed to destroy the terrorist organisation
- government control the courts and could arrest political opponents without jury
- Pobedonostsev believed the basis of social stability lay in support for autocracy, the church and nationalism
- to prevent spread of radical ideas, press freedom was restricted
- major newspapers were banned
- foreign books and newspapers were censored
- uni fees increased to only the very wealthy
- these repressive policies did not destroy extremist groups - they operated underground to destroy the Tsar
- however, most were arrested and executed
- long term effects
- lenins brother was executed in 1918
- lenin ordered the murder of Alex III's son and his family
- lenins brother was executed in 1918
- increased central control
- pobedonostsev began to undo many reforms introduced by Alex II
- 1889 - 'land captain' to enforce local laws which replaced the elected justices of peace and in later years were made members of the local government bodies (zemstva)
- restrictions to the zemstva
- religious control over education
- restrictions to secondary schools
- government had the right to choose the jury
- russification
- unity, insisted on the use of the Russian language
- Pogroms - attack on jews - approved by government
- restrictions on education, religion, etc
- financial reforms
- Russia was very uneconomically developed
- mainly agriculture, underproductive, behind many western countries
- if Russia wanted to maintain its position as a great power, it needed to modernise and increase its wealth fast to maintain its armed forces
- reduce tax burden on peasants
- peasant land bank, loan facilities
- financial incentives for peasants to migrate to the east, to ease pressure for land
- foreign loans with Britain and france
- Russia was very uneconomically developed
- a truly repressive, autocratic state?
- 1894 Alex III died
- during Alex III's reign
- re-established autocratic power of the Tsar
- supported by church and upper class
- underpinned by the power of the Okhrana and vast army
- repression of political opponents
- financial and economic reform but economy still far behind other great powers
- political repression and secret police tackle extremist groups, attack still occurred sometimes
- New Nicholas II
- indecisive and weak, lacked clear direction
- he could not reach the raised expectations
- therefore he was the last tsar
- problems facing Alex III in 1881
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