Tsarist Russia Research Paper
Tsarist Russia: Reform and Reaction 1855 - 81
Q. Explain why Alexander II’s policies became more reactionary after 1866 (12 marks)
The year of 1866 can be seen to have been a turning point in the Tsar’s policies becoming more reactionary and reversing many of the changes his reforms had brought. The reforms had been put in place in an attempt to propel Russia out of its increasingly backward state; as much as reforms such as the emancipation of the serfs, greater freedoms and opportunities in education and relaxation of censorship occurred with good intentions, much opposition arose. This came alongside the Tsar’s own personal problems, accompanied by increasing pressure from both events of the time and individuals.
April 1866 came with …show more content…
Tolstoy was extremely conservative and alongside other ministers, convinced the Tsar that his reforms were undermining the autocracy and the church, weakening the very foundations of the monarchy and Russia. As much as Alexander wanted to reform and improve his nation, he too was very much intent on keeping a firm hold of his autocratic position and so became more reactionary in order to secure his position and control over the people. Tolstoy too was able to use his strong pressure on the Tsar to reverse many of the educational reforms, reducing the apparent threat of the emergence of radical and liberalist thinkers that the education system was producing; the curriculum was reduced back to only traditional subjects and no extracurricular groups were …show more content…
Russians liberalists were able to gain huge amounts of publicity as the ‘Trial of 50’ and ‘Trial of 193’ were given in open courts, where majorities of defendants were acquitted, having made strong defence speeches, reported by the now relaxed press. This only encouraged more liberalists to follow suit in their activities as Russian law and order was made a fool of. Unsurprisingly, censorship was tightened once again in a bid to re-navigate control, yet another reactionary policy. Furthermore, the Polish revolution in 1863 was believed to be an example of what could potentially occur in Russia should Alexander’s reforms keep
Q. Explain why Alexander II’s policies became more reactionary after 1866 (12 marks)
The year of 1866 can be seen to have been a turning point in the Tsar’s policies becoming more reactionary and reversing many of the changes his reforms had brought. The reforms had been put in place in an attempt to propel Russia out of its increasingly backward state; as much as reforms such as the emancipation of the serfs, greater freedoms and opportunities in education and relaxation of censorship occurred with good intentions, much opposition arose. This came alongside the Tsar’s own personal problems, accompanied by increasing pressure from both events of the time and individuals.
April 1866 came with …show more content…
Tolstoy was extremely conservative and alongside other ministers, convinced the Tsar that his reforms were undermining the autocracy and the church, weakening the very foundations of the monarchy and Russia. As much as Alexander wanted to reform and improve his nation, he too was very much intent on keeping a firm hold of his autocratic position and so became more reactionary in order to secure his position and control over the people. Tolstoy too was able to use his strong pressure on the Tsar to reverse many of the educational reforms, reducing the apparent threat of the emergence of radical and liberalist thinkers that the education system was producing; the curriculum was reduced back to only traditional subjects and no extracurricular groups were …show more content…
Russians liberalists were able to gain huge amounts of publicity as the ‘Trial of 50’ and ‘Trial of 193’ were given in open courts, where majorities of defendants were acquitted, having made strong defence speeches, reported by the now relaxed press. This only encouraged more liberalists to follow suit in their activities as Russian law and order was made a fool of. Unsurprisingly, censorship was tightened once again in a bid to re-navigate control, yet another reactionary policy. Furthermore, the Polish revolution in 1863 was believed to be an example of what could potentially occur in Russia should Alexander’s reforms keep