The Reactionary Policies of Tsar Alexander III
How successful were the reactionary policies of Tsar Alexander III?
Tsar Alexander’s reign (1881-1894) has been known as a period of extreme repression. He turned his back on reform all together and instituted a series of predictable repressive measures that collectively known as “The Reaction”. There were numerous reactionary policies brought in by the new and unexpected Tsar, one of which was known as Russification. This particular policy was brought in in 1881 at the very beginning of the Tsar’s reign, it has three main aims: repression of opponents; undoing the liberal reforms of his father and restoring Russia’s position internationally alongside her national identity which he believed had been diluted in the nineteenth century. As well as pacification of minorities.
In order for these reactionary policies to be successful, they must first and foremost strengthen the autocratic state. These ideals would also need to pacify minorities, repress opponents and strengthen Tsarism, the economy and social divides.
One of the main ideals of Russification was to rid Russia of Western ideas that the Tsar believed would weaken the Nation. The Western ideas that he wanted to abolish from Russia included the democratic Government system adopted by many European countries and the new technology that could industrialize Russia and make it more modern in terms of trade and industry. In an attempt to abolish Western ideas, fourteen newspapers were banned between 1882 and 1889 and press freedom was curtailed. This meant that the press no longer had the power that they previously had and were unable to publish anything that would suggest that the autocratic system was weak in comparison or that the Government was failing to provide what was best for its people. This also meant that even the well-educated Russians had no way of comparing their situation to the situation in the rest of Europe. They were essentially forced believe that Tsarism was a superior, more effective way
Tsar Alexander’s reign (1881-1894) has been known as a period of extreme repression. He turned his back on reform all together and instituted a series of predictable repressive measures that collectively known as “The Reaction”. There were numerous reactionary policies brought in by the new and unexpected Tsar, one of which was known as Russification. This particular policy was brought in in 1881 at the very beginning of the Tsar’s reign, it has three main aims: repression of opponents; undoing the liberal reforms of his father and restoring Russia’s position internationally alongside her national identity which he believed had been diluted in the nineteenth century. As well as pacification of minorities.
In order for these reactionary policies to be successful, they must first and foremost strengthen the autocratic state. These ideals would also need to pacify minorities, repress opponents and strengthen Tsarism, the economy and social divides.
One of the main ideals of Russification was to rid Russia of Western ideas that the Tsar believed would weaken the Nation. The Western ideas that he wanted to abolish from Russia included the democratic Government system adopted by many European countries and the new technology that could industrialize Russia and make it more modern in terms of trade and industry. In an attempt to abolish Western ideas, fourteen newspapers were banned between 1882 and 1889 and press freedom was curtailed. This meant that the press no longer had the power that they previously had and were unable to publish anything that would suggest that the autocratic system was weak in comparison or that the Government was failing to provide what was best for its people. This also meant that even the well-educated Russians had no way of comparing their situation to the situation in the rest of Europe. They were essentially forced believe that Tsarism was a superior, more effective way