The Reign of Alexander II

Beginning

Born: 17th April 1818, Moscow
Was educated and military experienced
Became Tzar in 1855
At the time Russia was in Crimean War which ended in 1856 due to Treaty of Paris
War made Alex realise Russia was no longer great military power
Serfdom economy couldn't compete with industrialised nations e.g. Britain
Alex considered the end of Serfdom
Nobility objected but Alex said: 'Better to abolish serfdom from above than to wait for time it abolishes itself from below'
1861: Emancipation Manifesto proposed 17 legislation acts to free serfs
- This allowed serfs to buy land
49 Annual sums (Redemption Payments) were paid by peasants
1864: Districts set up Zemstvo which were local councils with the power to provide roads, schools and medical services
The right to elect members was restricted to the wealthy
Alex introduced: improved municipal government (1870) and Universal military training (1874)

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Expansion of industry and railways was encouraged
Reforms didn't satify liberals or radicalists
Agriculteral reforms were disappointing as took peasants over 20 years to gain land
1876: Reformers formed 'Land and Liberty'
14th April 1879: Alexander Soloview tried to kill Alexander II but failed
Six military governor generals were hired imposing censorship system
Radical books were banned and reformers were arrested
October 1879: Land and Liberty split into People's Will and other fraction
The People's Will would call off terror campaign if granted constitution for free elections and end to censorship
25th February 1880: Alex considers it and released political prisoners
Loris Melikof (Minister of the Interior) had to devise the constitution
Russia Police established special section: Okhrana

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January 1881: Melikof's ideas were shown
Expansion of powers of Zemstvo allowing it to send delegates to national assembly
It would also have power to initiate legislation: Alexander worried this would be too much power
The People's Will became angry
1st March 1881: Alexander was assassinated by the People's Will
They threw a bomb at him which he was travelling to the Winter Palace, St. Petersburg

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