Autocracy and Revolt in Russia

Paper 1 : Autocracy and Revolt in Russia, 1881 - 1914

The Reign of Alexander III

The Reign of Alexander III

• Became Tsar after Alexander II's assassination in 1881.
• Cancels father's plans to introduce a representative assembly and had no intention to limiting his autocratic prowess.
• During his reign, Russia was not involved in any wars.
  • Because of this, he was dubbed peacemaker of Russia.
• He was much more conservative - he believed autocracy was better than democracy. 
• Reversed all of his father's reforms.
• Impact of his father's death made him
  - reverse his father's reforms, realised it did not work since his father was assassinated due to      population discontent.
  - blame the Jews for his father's assassination.
  - believed that autocracy was better than democracy.

Main policies on...
All policies = 
Impact of the assassination of Alexander II. 
Alexander III, Pobedonostsev and reaction. 
Restoration of autocracy, censorship, and the policy of Russification.

1. Autocracy

• Tsar took repressive measures to uphold his autocratic rule.
  • Tsar passed the Temporary Regulations to deal with the "Will of The People."
  • populists, professional revolutionaries, supporter of political struggle against the autocratic rule. 
  • Anybody who threatened public order were arrested by police. (harsh security measures)
  • As a result :
    - It eliminates political opposition. (only a few revolutionaries remain)
    - Terrorism and "Will of The People" died down.

• In 1884, Tsar passed a new University Statue.
  • This statue abolished university autonomy and banned students' political activities.
  • Secondary schools were "advised" to give more attention to teaching of classical languages. 
  • Raised tuition fees. This made is difficult for lower classes to obtain education.
  • Working class and peasant children were forbidden to study in secondary schools.
    • This meant that only the upper class could be educated further than the core education. 
    • This would then expand the gap between the rich and the poor that already exists in Russia.
    • Increased Russia's illiteracy go up to 79%.
  • Severe restrictions and censorship of press.
  •  
• Introduction of the "Land Commandants"
  • Had to be of the local nobility. - nobility overruled the zemstva.
    • Reduced urban assemblies.
  • They held a wide authority over the peasant communities.
  • "Justices of Peace" were transferred to them.
  • Exercised (omnipotent - meaning having unlimited powers.) administrative and judicial authority in the Russian countryside.  (such as increasing tax for zemstva)
  • Local officials feared the Land Commandants because they could be dismissed by them.
  • Zemstva powers were limited. (due to fear and social hierarchy)
  • The Land Commandant encourages the idea of a social hierarchy. It represents the upper-class/nobilities as richer and of higher rank.
  • As a result :
    - Peasant delegates and westernised intellectuals were reduced.
    - Representation of nobles were increased.
    - Land captains were automatically members of the zemstva.
    - Zemstva decisions were subject to review by the provincial governors and the minister of the interior. (no authority)
    - In 1892, the municipal government also raised property requirement in order to limit the right to vote of the radical intellectuals and the lower classes.

2. Russification

• He believes strongly in…