Alexander II's Reforms

Alexander II (1855-1881):

Reforms:

• Military Reform:

  • Viewed as a priority

  • Dmitrii Milyutin reorganised armed forces

  • Aim - create small, professional, cheaper army

  • Reforms:

    • Army service no longer punishment

    • Military Colonies abandoned

    • Military care est.

    • Length of service reduced - 25yrs to 15yrs

    • Conscription of all classes

    • Corporal punishment abolished

    • Modern weaponry introduced

    • Military colleges set up

  • Approved in 1874, into effect 1875

  • Overall success: opposition from nobles, created smaller army, cheaper, still mostly illiterate, officers still mostly upper class, peasant conscript army -> Russia still lost R-T War

• Emancipation of the Serfs:  

  • Serfdom:

    • 1858: 22.5 million privately owned serfs, 19 million state serfs  

    • 712 outbreaks of revolt between 1826 & 1854

    • Landowner debts were mounting - 60% of private serfs mortgaged out to the state

    • Russia needed workers for the industrial revolution

    • Treatment of Serfs:

      • Could be bought & sold

      • Needed permission to marry

      • Conscripted into army

      • Corporal punishment

  • Serfs who served in wars were typically declared free - AII delayed this

  • Considered all-embracing measure - increased tensions

  • March 1856: AII asked group of nobles to suggest an Emancipation measure - failed to respond

  • 1857: secret committee convened - led by Alexei Fedorovich - slow progress

  • 1858-59: secrecy abandoned, AII toured country - pro-reform speeches - emphasis on ‘personal bond’ between nobles and the monarchy

  • Landowners accepted need for reform - gave themselves an advantage

  • Commission of 38 given job to draw up a measure - led by Nicholas Alexander Milyutin

  • Oct 1860: measure produced

  • Feb 1861: Ukase proclaimed as law

  • Reasons for the Emancipation of the Serfs:

    • Political:

      • Peasant unrest had increased

      • Pressure from nobles

    • Economic:

      • Serfdom prevented industrialisation - stopped movement of workers

      • Serfdom was an economic break

      • Supply crisis

      • Landowners suffered from mounting debt

    • Social/moral:

      • General pressure for reform

      • Serfdom was immoral

    • AII’s own views:

      • Wanted to improve prestige of Russia

      • Wanted to stimulate economy

      • Support from family (his brother, Duke Constantine & his aunt, Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna)

      • Enlightened bureaucrats pressed for change

  • The Emancipation Ukase 1861:

    • Only applied to privately owned serfs

    • Key Terms:

      • Serfs became free men

      • Entitled to keep cottage

      • landlords received compensation

      • Peasants paid ‘redemption payments’ @ 6% interest

      • Had to stay within their Mir - controlled farming, collected taxes,etc

      • Peasants would continue to pay Obrok

      • communal open fields remained in common

    • …