Mid-19c European Nationalism

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Russia under Alexander II
2

• Alexander II (1855-1881)
• Perhaps the greatest Czar since Catherine the
  Great
• Perhaps the most liberal ruler in Russian history
  prior to 20th century.

3

• In the 1850s, Tsar Alexander II was an autocrat
  whose will was law.
• Russias aristocracy continued to own almost all
  the land and was exempt from taxes.
• Russia had a very small middle class.95 of the
  people were peasants, most of whom were serfs.

4

• Serfdom had prevented Russias modernization
  agriculture had been poor for centuries
• 90 of Russian people worked in agriculture
• Serfdom had led to peasant uprisings, poor
  agricultural output, and exploitation of serfs by
  lords
• Serfs could be bought or sold with or without
  land in early 19th century
• Serfs could be conscripted into the army for 25
  years.

5

• Emancipation Act (or Emancipation Edict), 1861
• Alexander believed ending serfdom was a key to
  Russias modernization
• Abolished serfdom peasants no longer dependent
  on the lord free to move and change occupations
  could enter contracts and own property
• Most Russians were not impacted by the
  Emancipation Edict

6

• Creation of Zemstvos
• In 1864- Alexander introduced a system of local
  and regional self-government through elected
  assemblies (Zemstvos)
• The zemstvos did provide opportunity for public
  discussion, they did not lead to the creation of
  a national assembly.
• Lords controlled the Zemstvos and had more power
  than the towns and peasant villages

7

• Most Russians lived in communes which were highly
  regulated
• Collective ownership and responsibility made it
  difficult for individual peasants to improve
  agricultural methods or leave their villages
• Other reforms
• Judiciary improved
• Censorship relaxed (but not removed
• Education liberalized

8

• Industrialization in Russia was stimulated by
  railroad construction
• Russia had fallen behind major industrialized
  nations in Western Central Europe
• Russia needed better railroads, better armaments
  and reorganization of the army
• Between 1860 and 1880 railroad mileage grew from
  1,250 to 15,500

9

• Railroads enabled Russia to export grain and earn
  profits for further industrialization
• Stimulated domestic manufacturing industrial
  suburbs grew up around Moscow and St. Petersburg,
  and a class of modern factory workers began to
  emerge
• Strengthened Russias military giving rise to
  territorial expansion to the south and east

10

• Alexander II increasingly turned to more
  traditional (conservative) values
• Radical populist movement emerged that sought a
  utopian agrarian order
• Many believed reforms still favored the
  aristocracy and did not do enough for the working
  classes
• Alexander II was assassinated in 1881 by radicals
  who bombed his carriage in St. Petersburg

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Russia under Alexander III
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Alexander III (r.1881-1894) was committed to the
traditional policies of autocracy, orthodoxy, and
Russification. As tsar, he reversed most of the
liberal changes introduced by his father. He
encouraged anti-Semitic attacks on Jews. He also
weakened the power of the zmestvos (local
administration).
13
Russia strengthened its military, but did not go
to war under his reign. Alexander III was against
foreign influence, especially German. Russia did
continue to industrialize which led to political
problems and the rise of socialism there.