Summary Russia and its Rulers Timeline of Events OCR A-level History

Russia 1855 – 1870

1855 : Alexander II 1856 : Preparations for 1862 : Start of Economic 1863 : Volost Courts 1864 : Judiciary Reforms
Reform Modernisation
 ‘Tsar Liberator’ = More  Judicial Reforms = All  Innocent before guilty =
liberal than his father.  Drafts for Emancipation =  Mikhail von Reutern = peasant trials managed by Fair and public trials.
 Legacy = Aimed to Alexander II asked nobility Finance Minister 1862 – elected board of peasants  Courts = Local,
reform Russia. to give suggestions. 1878. and Noble peace officer. provincial and national.
 Vasily Zhukovsky = A2’s  “it is far better that this  Treasury = Started  National Trials =
liberal tutor. should come about publishing budgets. Reported in government
 Influence of his views. from above, rather  Tax = Abolished tax press.
 Upbringing = Had travelled than below.” farming for indirect tax. 1863 – 64 : Education  Criminal Cases = Before
Russian Empire.  Aim to maintain  1863 = Import tariffs Reforms jury of property-owners.
 Empathised with autocratic power. reduced.  Democratic, by peers.
struggles of citizens.  1958 = Pro-Emancipation  Encouraged trade.  Alexander Golovnin =  Judges = Given extra
 Family = Many wanted to tour to persuade nobles.  By 1869 = State, Municipal Education Minister 1862 – training and pay.
abolish serfdom. and Savings Banks. 1866.  Still appointed by Tsar.
 Autocrat = Still wanted to  Private entrepreneurs  Zemstva = Controlled  Local Justices of the Peace
preserve his power. developed railways through primary and secondary. = Elected by zemstva every
 Believed reforms had to 1858 - 70 : Censorship gov investment.  More accountability. 3 years.
be made to do this. Reforms  6% Annual Wage  Open to All = Regardless of  Independent from
 Uprisings doubled 1844 – Growth. class or gender. political control.
1859 from serfs.  Restrictions Reduced =  Agriculture = Dominant.  Modern Schools = Created  Military and Church Courts
 Western Industrialisation = Domestic and foreign  1/3 budget repay debt. for less traditional = Excluded from reform.
Russia very behind. publications allowed (with  66% of revenue still from curriculums.  Western Provinces = Jury
 Pressure to reform gov approval) indirect tax.  University = Governed trials never established.
economically.  Press = Could comment on themselves.  Easier to suppress any
government policy.  Increase in literacy but nationalist rebellion.
 1855 – 1864 = 1020 - 1836 also rev ideas.
books published.




1855 : Summary of Russia 1856 : Treaty of Paris 1861 : Emancipation Edict 1860s : Tsarist Opposition 1863 : Polish Rebellion 1

 Political Control  Ended the Crimean War.  Crimea = Exposed need to  Nihilism = Rebellion against  Against Tsar = 200,000 
 Bureaucratic autocracy.  Russia defeated by reform economically. religious teaching. created underground gov,
 Orthodox Church had Turkey, GB and FR.  Legally freed serfs.  Liberals = Mainly through rebelled using guerrilla
power and intertwined  Russian warships could  Could buy land (but zemstva, wanted reform. warfare.
with the State. not use Black Sea in chosen by landowners)  Westernisers = Wanted
 Police State = Enforced peace time.  Redemption Payments = democracy and industry. 
by Third Section.  Political Impact Could not leave Mir until  Young Russia 1862 = Rev. 1864 – 70 : Local Government
 Economic Backwardness  Russia exposed as weak paid off. student group  Unis. Reforms
 Agriculture = Dominated against the West  Tied to land through tax  Chernyshevsky : ‘What is to

production.  Revolts = People against  Mir = Peasant community, be done?’ 1862  Zemstva = Elected councils