A complete set of revision notes which go into detail in explaining the opposition seen under the rule of Tsar Alexander II of Russia, suitable for both A Level and GCSE students.
Alexander II – Opposition
1. National Minorities
2. Peasant unrest
3. Intelligentsia
4. Radical & Revolutionary opposition
National Minorities
Russian empire = diverse & multinational with a range of ethnic & religious groups
Most significant national opposition…
Poland Polish Revolt 1863
Polish Revolt 1863
1795: Poland divided between Austria, Prussia, and Russia
Russian section of Poland = had some technical autonomy but was controlled from St Petersburg
Poles would NOT accept Russian rule
Unsuccessful Polish Revolt in 1830 Russia tightened its control over their part of Poland
Russian defeat in Crimean War combined with Alexander II’s reformist attitudes = gave hope to Poles
for independence
1860: demonstrations held to commemorate uprising of 1830
Revolutionary committee was set up in Poland gathered Poles ready to fights for Independence
Before 1863 Russia had launched a recruitment drive in Poland many avoided this as those
eligible for military service began to flee their villages and were quickly attracted to the uprising
Polish officers, landowners and professionals also joined the uprising = keen to restore influence
they had enjoyed before tightening of Russian control after 1830
April 1863: uprising spread to Lithuania, Latvia, Belarus, and Ukraine
Reasons why the uprising failed:
Uprising lasted from January 1863 1864
Internal
Russian government responded with overwhelming
divisions:
Military Force:
Reds
195,000 Russian troops stationed in Poland
supported
Brutal punishments mass hangings & exile to
armed revolt
Siberia
Whites
supported
negotiation and foreign backing
Failed to unite different social groups:
, Failure to attract foreign support:
Neither Britain nor France wanted to resume
conflict with Russia, whilst Prussia returned
fleeing Polish rebels to Russia
Russia able to use overwhelming military force
Whites tended to be Polish Nobles
whilst the peasants were never
really mobilised behind the uprising
Russian government brought in
concessions for Polish peasants
which undermined support
Following suppression of the uprising Russia launched campaign of Russification to try and destroy
the Polish culture, language, and independence
Russification enforce Russian culture and influence on something that wasn’t previously Russian,
make something Russian
Brutal wave of executions of those linked to the uprising with 25,000 Polish deaths
Threat to Tsarist Regime?
Would only pose serious threat if spread to Russia itself
Showed global opposition
Not strong enough opposition
Lacked support
Russia = strong enough to easily crush uprising not a match of powers
Peasant Unrest
One of main motives behind the Emancipation Edict
1840 – 44: fewer than 30 outbreaks of peasant disorder per year on privately owned estates over
next 15 years this doubled
Emancipation = aimed to reduce opposition but ended up creating more…
647 incidents of riot in the 4 months post Emancipation
Major outbreaks peasant riot at Bezdna in the Kazan area in April 1861 = put down by
Russian army killing 70 peasants
Peasant unrest = significant threat to the Tsarist Regime…
Peasants made up most of the country
Peasants = backbone of the army
If became a united force = very dangerous
Used a combination of reforms to deal with peasant unrest…
1. Military force
+ Reforms to improve lives of peasants…
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