Government
Alexander III was a military man who believed strongly in autocracy. His period of rule is
often seen as one of reaction and repression in response to the more relaxed liberal period
of governance under his father. He was intent on returning stability to Russia and on
ensuring that social unrest and opposition to tsarism did not get out of hand. His reign
proved to be relatively peaceful and some very positive economic reforms were carried out.
Opposition such as the People's Will was ruthlessly suppressed, and many of the changes
instigated by the previous tsar were reversed. This 'Reaction' was heavily influenced by
Pobedonostsev, who argued that constitutional government or 'parliamentarianism' was
unworkable.
Structure of government:
The assassination of Alexander II ended the careers of his more liberal ministers and their
policies. Mikhail Loris-Melikov was replaced as Minister of the Interior by Nikolai Ignatiev,
who was later succeeded by Dmitri Tolstoy. The new policy aimed to restore the Russian
nobility to its pre-emancipation strength and influence.
In July 1889, the office of justice of the peace in local government was abolished, and a new
office, that of Land Commandant (Zemsky nachalnik), was established. This position
required noble membership and held senior administrative and judicial power locally,
overriding the authority of the Zemstva. The partly elective zemstvo became a prime target
for reactionaries, with a revival of a zemstvo union. Laws in 1890 and 1892 revised the
franchise in rural and urban assembly elections to restrict the popular vote, reducing the
electorate in St. Petersburg from 21,000 to 7,000.
The assemblies' proposals were frequently obstructed by a government fundamentally
opposed to elected assemblies.
Dealing with opposition:
Alexander III utilised the Okhrana as a tool for spying on, arresting, imprisoning and/or
exiling opposition to Siberia for forced labour. The relative stability of the 1890s led to a
lower profile for the Okhrana.
Control and Censorship:
Under his reactionary rule, censorship increased, with officials pre-approving written material
and shutting down certain newspapers, journals, and educational institutions.
The army:
Russification under Alexander III led to the army having an enhanced role as a
peace-keeping force and regulator of regional frontiers. This aggressive stance sought to
unify the Empire under Russian dominance, suppressing minority cultures and languages.
Economy and society
Industry:
Although the sweeping social reforms of the 1860s did not immediately spur general
economic growth, the reigns of Alexander Il and Alexander III marked a period of overall
industrial development in Russia. This development, however, was uneven and subject to
fluctuation. In the 1860s, challenges such as the emancipation of the serfs and the cotton
famine resulting from the American Civil War were significant hindrances. By the 1870s, the
Alexander III was a military man who believed strongly in autocracy. His period of rule is
often seen as one of reaction and repression in response to the more relaxed liberal period
of governance under his father. He was intent on returning stability to Russia and on
ensuring that social unrest and opposition to tsarism did not get out of hand. His reign
proved to be relatively peaceful and some very positive economic reforms were carried out.
Opposition such as the People's Will was ruthlessly suppressed, and many of the changes
instigated by the previous tsar were reversed. This 'Reaction' was heavily influenced by
Pobedonostsev, who argued that constitutional government or 'parliamentarianism' was
unworkable.
Structure of government:
The assassination of Alexander II ended the careers of his more liberal ministers and their
policies. Mikhail Loris-Melikov was replaced as Minister of the Interior by Nikolai Ignatiev,
who was later succeeded by Dmitri Tolstoy. The new policy aimed to restore the Russian
nobility to its pre-emancipation strength and influence.
In July 1889, the office of justice of the peace in local government was abolished, and a new
office, that of Land Commandant (Zemsky nachalnik), was established. This position
required noble membership and held senior administrative and judicial power locally,
overriding the authority of the Zemstva. The partly elective zemstvo became a prime target
for reactionaries, with a revival of a zemstvo union. Laws in 1890 and 1892 revised the
franchise in rural and urban assembly elections to restrict the popular vote, reducing the
electorate in St. Petersburg from 21,000 to 7,000.
The assemblies' proposals were frequently obstructed by a government fundamentally
opposed to elected assemblies.
Dealing with opposition:
Alexander III utilised the Okhrana as a tool for spying on, arresting, imprisoning and/or
exiling opposition to Siberia for forced labour. The relative stability of the 1890s led to a
lower profile for the Okhrana.
Control and Censorship:
Under his reactionary rule, censorship increased, with officials pre-approving written material
and shutting down certain newspapers, journals, and educational institutions.
The army:
Russification under Alexander III led to the army having an enhanced role as a
peace-keeping force and regulator of regional frontiers. This aggressive stance sought to
unify the Empire under Russian dominance, suppressing minority cultures and languages.
Economy and society
Industry:
Although the sweeping social reforms of the 1860s did not immediately spur general
economic growth, the reigns of Alexander Il and Alexander III marked a period of overall
industrial development in Russia. This development, however, was uneven and subject to
fluctuation. In the 1860s, challenges such as the emancipation of the serfs and the cotton
famine resulting from the American Civil War were significant hindrances. By the 1870s, the
