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AQA History A-level - Tsarist and Communist Russia 1855-1964 - Trying to…
AQA History A-level - Tsarist and Communist Russia 1855-1964 - Trying to preserve autocracy, 1855-1894 - The autocracy of Alexander II & Alexander III 3️⃣
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Alexander III as Tsar
Background
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Strongly influenced by tutor Pobedonostsev, who believed in absolutism/nationalism/anti-Semitism
Believed he could alone choose the right path for country - his subjects were to love and obey, not question
At the start of reign
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Accepted reforming ministers resignations, incl. Dmitry Milyutin, heavily relying on conservatives
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Policing
Dept. of Policing (incl. Okhrana) led by Plehve between 1881-84, and from 1884 by Durnovo
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Okhrana investigated communists, socialists, TUs; also watched govn./civil servants
1882 Statute on Police Surveillance gave tremendous police powers over people's lives - any Empire area could be deemed 'area of subversion' & police could search, arrest, detain, question, imprison, exile any (suspected) criminal or those related
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Education
Alex II's reforms eroded
1884 - uni appointments became subject to approval of Education Ministry, which were now based no 'religious, moral patriotic orientation', rather than academic grounds
Women uni's closed, separate uni courts abolished, uni life was closely supervised
Low-class kids were restricted to primary education, which was under Church control
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Definitions
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Civil Society & Rule of Law - Key concepts of a democratic society; all members of society enjoy the protection of laws, which are applied equally and fairly, while organisations exist in which people of country can express their views and influence decisions.
Reaction - Implies actions and policies that are backward looking in an attempt to restore the past; those who support reaction known as reactionaries
Show trial - Trial that took place in front of general public, usually for ‘propaganda’ purposes
Constitution - set of rules which a country is governed, e.g regarding where power lies & which bodies should make laws and how
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Key Profiles
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Alexander II (1845-'94)
Watched father died and was afraid of revolutionary activity, refusing to live in Winter Palace
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Married Danish princess, Dagmar (Maria Feodorovna) & had 6 kids
Died of kidney ailment, possibly from drinking in '94
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Mikhail Katkov (1818-87)
Influential right-wing journalist, edited Moscow News from '63 'til death
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Favoured by Alex III for Cons. political views, support of Russian interests, and opposition to Polish nationalism
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Closer Look
Show trials: 'Trial of 50' (1877) & 'Trial of 193' (1877-78) accused people of revolutionary activities; in 'Trial of 193' jury acquitted 153/193 defendants & gave light sentences to the rest; Vera Zasulich shot the St Petersburg governor, Dmitri Trepov, & wasn't guilty at her trial
13/03/1881 Alex II was travelling to Winter Palace in St Petersburg in closed carriage; Narodnaya Volya had concealed bombs along route, which missed but Tsar was hit by another terrorist
Okhrana: Had offices in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Warsaw; responsible for 'security and investigation'; intercepted/read mail, checked on activities in factories/universities/army/State, detaining suspects and torturing them; Communists/socialists/TUs were particularly subjected, but also civil servants and govn.