Chapter 3 Alexander II and reaction Alexander III as Tsar In 1887 the Ministry was granted powers to hold Konstantin Pobedonostev (1827-1907) – tutor to
• Death of son + ill wife distanced him from • He was tutored by Konstantin Pobedonostev and closed court sessions and in 1889 it became Alexander III from 1865 and had nickname ‘the Black
reforming as well as assassination attempts. In brought up with very autocratic views. Reign responsible for app of town judges. 1889, volost tsar’. Probably wrote Alexander’s accession
1866 he made new apps replacing more liberal began with hanging of public conspirators courts were put under direct jurisdiction of the Land manifesto ‘on Unshakable Autocracy’. As over-
ministers with conservatives ie. Dmitry Tolstoy as involved in his father’s assassination and the captains in countryside + judges in the towns Procurator of the Holy Synod from 1880, he spoke
Minister for education + Pyotr Shuvavlov as Head 1881 ‘manifesto of Unshakable Autocracy’. He • New university charter in 1884 made app of out for absolutism, nationalism and anti-Semitism.
of Third Section issued a law on exceptional measures which chancellors, deans and professors subject to He also tutored Nicholas II
• In education, zemstvo’s powers reduced, church declared that if necessary, a commander in chief approval of the education Ministry based on
regained authority over rural schools; in unis, could be app to take control of a locality, using religious, moral and patriotic orientation, not Alexander III (1845-1894) – after father’s death was
subjects that encouraged critical thought were military police courts and arbitrary powers of academic grounds. Universities closed for very fearful of revolutionary activity that he refused
forced out; censorship tightened imprisonment women + abolished separate uni courts; students to live in the Winter Palace and moved to a fortified
• By 1890, under 30% population still illiterate • Loris-Melikov proposals were abandoned and forbidden to gather in groups of more than 5. fortress in Gatchina
• Shuvalov stepped up persecution of ethnic and reforming ministers, incl Dmitry Milyutin Children from lowest classes were restricted to
religious minorities; searches + arrests increased resigned. A new state appointed office of ‘Land primary education and primary education in Empress Maria Feodorovna (1847-1928) – was born
+ new governor-general was established in 1879 Captain’ was created in July 1889, with power to hands of orthodox church. Overall no. of schools Princess Dagmar of Denmark but adopted Orthodox
with emergency powers to prosecute in military override elections to the zemstvo and village and those receiving education increased, only religion and new name when she married Alexander
courts + exile political offenders. Konstantin assemblies and to disregard zemstvo decisions. 21% of population were literate by time of first III. She was a domineering mother and tried to
Pahlen held show trials but it backfired and in Made responsible for law enforcement and govt census in 1897 oppose her eldest son Nicholas’ marriage to
1878, political crimes were transferred from civil in countryside and could ignore normal judicial • Failed to prevent student involvement in illegal Alexandra for fear she would lose influence over him
courts to special secret courts process. In 1890 zemstvo was put under central political movements, particularly in 1890s
• Count Mikhail Loris-Melikov was app Minister for govt control • Tolstoy established a govt committee in 1882 Count Dmitry Andreyevich Tolstoy (1823-89) – noble
Internal Affairs, he released political prisoners, • June 1892, in towns the electorate reduced to which issued the so-called ‘temporary who became Over-Procurator of the Holy Synod in
relaxed censorship, Third Section abolished but property owners above certain value regulations’ which allowed newspapers to be 1865 until 1880. In 1866 he joined the State Council
special section in police called the Okhrana was • Police, incl Okhrana was led by von Plehve closed down and a life ban placed on editors + where he was Minister of Education from 1866-80.
created and soon became just as oppressive; between 1881-84, and from ‘84 by Pyotr publishers. Censors became more active; all From 1882-89 he was Minister of Internal Affairs
lifted restrictions on zemstvo etc. In 1880 he Durnovo. No. of police increased and new literary publications had to be approved an and chief of the Gendarmerie.
produced a report in response to zemstvo branches of criminal investigations were set up; libraries were restricted in the books they were
demands + it recommended inclusion of elected drive to recruit spies, counter-spies and ‘agent allowed to stock. Censorship extended to theatre Mikhail Katkov (1919-87) – an influential right-wing
representatives of nobility + of town govts provocateurs’. Okhrana intercepted + read mail art + culture where russification was enforced journalist who helped to justify Alexander III’s
debating drafts of some state decrees – these etc and communists, socialists and trade • Some positive change – May 1881, law reduced conservative views to the literate public. He edited
proposals became known as the Loris-Melikov unionists were particular subjects of their the redemption fees and cancelled the arrears if the Moscow News from 1863 until his death in 1887
constitution. Alexander Ii signed this report on 13 investigations but also watched civil service + gov ex-serfs in the 37 provinces of Empire and it gave him considerable power over the literate
March 1881 but the same day he was killed by a • By the 1882 Statute on Police Surveillance, any • May 1885 – Poll tax abolished + introduction of public and he was much favoured by Alexander III
bomb area of empire could be searched by police inheritance tax helped to shift burden of taxation
• He was travelling to winter palace but members agents and could arrest, detain, exile etc anyone a little away from lower classes Von Plehve (1846-1904) – made director of the
of the revolutionary group The People’s Will, who had committed crimes or their family • Right to appeal to higher court (after trial before Secret Police in the Ministry of Internal Affairs in
threw bombs at the carriage – when Tsar got out members or those likely to do it. They had great Land Captain), establishment of Peasant’s land 1881-84. He was committed to upholding autocratic
to check on injured Cossacks, they threw one at power over people’s lives since any arrested bank in 1883 – theoretically, would divide land principles; he suppressed revolutionary and liberal
him which killed him instantly person had no right to legal representation up equally – put back in ‘pot’ and share out. In activity; he subjected minorities to forced
• Changes in judicial system – in 1885, decree some factories, better working conditions Russification; he secretly organized Jewish pogroms;
provided for the Minister of Justice to exercise said to have encouraged war against Japan in 1904;
greater control ie. in dismissal of judges backed police controlled labour unions
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