Alexander II Reforms
Why was inevitable that Alexander II would continue to reform in Russia after the Emancipation of
the Serfs in 1861?
There was the need to supply political structure after the removal of Serfdom which caused political
vacuum leading to further reform in several areas of Russian life
Local Government Reform
1st January 1864 new local councils – Zemstva’s were created
Role of Zemstva’s was…
To look after local matters including infrastructure, agriculture, medical care, prisons, schools,
local emergencies
Zemstva’s = in countryside
Zemstva’s were elected using a system of electoral colleges each societal group (nobles, peasants,
merchants, church families etc…) elected members of an ‘Electoral College’ to vote for them
This system weighted vote in favour of the nobility (made up 42% of population) as the
members of the Electoral College were often part of the upper classes and would vote for
nobility in the Zemstva’s
Zemstva members between 1865-67 = 42% Nobility & 38% peasants
Power = limited…
No control over state or provincial taxes
Still largely state controlled
Chairman had to be officially approved
Responsibility of law and order remained in hands of centrally appointed governor who
could overturn decisions of the Zemstvo (the people in the Zemstva’s)
Zemstva’s couldn’t act together to prevent them becoming too powerful and being able to
challenge autocracy
Whilst very limited in context of autocratic Russia = major reform:
Basic idea of representative
1870 reform was extended to towns where elected town democracy
councils called Dumas were set up All entitled to a vote
New level of government
Dumas = in towns that could deal with local
issues not had before
(famine relief etc…)
Before creation of local government = landowners were the only local government = very unfair and
unjust for Serfs needed reform
, Educational Reform
Alexander appointed Minister for Education (1862-67) Alexander Golovnin
Responsibility for education transferred from conservative Russian Orthodox Church to the
Zemstva’s
Universities could govern themselves
Primary & secondary education was extended new ‘Modern Schools’ set up at secondary level
for those who didn’t want traditional education offered in the gymnaziya (traditional secondary
schools)
Students from both gymnaziya and ‘Modern Schools’ could continue to university
Schools made open to all regardless of class or sex 1870: girls could attend secondary school for
non-vocational courses
Between 1856-80…
number of primary schools rose from 8,000 to 23,000
number of children in primary education from 400,000 to over 1million
by the 1870’s…
number of students at university increased from 3,600 to 10,000
impact of reform
GROWTH IN RADICAL THINKING
Exposure to new radical ideas which challenged autocracy led to radical organisations which
wanted change
Too successful for Alexander II’s liking = REVERSED SOME REFORMS AFTER 1866
Legal Reform
Needed as result of Emancipation Edict
Equality before the law established
Single system of local, provincial, and national courts separate set of volost courts = set to deal
with peasants
Accused = presumed innocent until proven guilty & were entitled to a lawyer if they wanted
Criminal cases heard before barristers and a jury, selected from a list of property owners
Judges = appointed by Tsar and were given improved training and pay
Courts = open to the public and press could report their proceedings
Local justices of peace were elected every 3 years by the Zemstva and were independent from
political control
Why was inevitable that Alexander II would continue to reform in Russia after the Emancipation of
the Serfs in 1861?
There was the need to supply political structure after the removal of Serfdom which caused political
vacuum leading to further reform in several areas of Russian life
Local Government Reform
1st January 1864 new local councils – Zemstva’s were created
Role of Zemstva’s was…
To look after local matters including infrastructure, agriculture, medical care, prisons, schools,
local emergencies
Zemstva’s = in countryside
Zemstva’s were elected using a system of electoral colleges each societal group (nobles, peasants,
merchants, church families etc…) elected members of an ‘Electoral College’ to vote for them
This system weighted vote in favour of the nobility (made up 42% of population) as the
members of the Electoral College were often part of the upper classes and would vote for
nobility in the Zemstva’s
Zemstva members between 1865-67 = 42% Nobility & 38% peasants
Power = limited…
No control over state or provincial taxes
Still largely state controlled
Chairman had to be officially approved
Responsibility of law and order remained in hands of centrally appointed governor who
could overturn decisions of the Zemstvo (the people in the Zemstva’s)
Zemstva’s couldn’t act together to prevent them becoming too powerful and being able to
challenge autocracy
Whilst very limited in context of autocratic Russia = major reform:
Basic idea of representative
1870 reform was extended to towns where elected town democracy
councils called Dumas were set up All entitled to a vote
New level of government
Dumas = in towns that could deal with local
issues not had before
(famine relief etc…)
Before creation of local government = landowners were the only local government = very unfair and
unjust for Serfs needed reform
, Educational Reform
Alexander appointed Minister for Education (1862-67) Alexander Golovnin
Responsibility for education transferred from conservative Russian Orthodox Church to the
Zemstva’s
Universities could govern themselves
Primary & secondary education was extended new ‘Modern Schools’ set up at secondary level
for those who didn’t want traditional education offered in the gymnaziya (traditional secondary
schools)
Students from both gymnaziya and ‘Modern Schools’ could continue to university
Schools made open to all regardless of class or sex 1870: girls could attend secondary school for
non-vocational courses
Between 1856-80…
number of primary schools rose from 8,000 to 23,000
number of children in primary education from 400,000 to over 1million
by the 1870’s…
number of students at university increased from 3,600 to 10,000
impact of reform
GROWTH IN RADICAL THINKING
Exposure to new radical ideas which challenged autocracy led to radical organisations which
wanted change
Too successful for Alexander II’s liking = REVERSED SOME REFORMS AFTER 1866
Legal Reform
Needed as result of Emancipation Edict
Equality before the law established
Single system of local, provincial, and national courts separate set of volost courts = set to deal
with peasants
Accused = presumed innocent until proven guilty & were entitled to a lawyer if they wanted
Criminal cases heard before barristers and a jury, selected from a list of property owners
Judges = appointed by Tsar and were given improved training and pay
Courts = open to the public and press could report their proceedings
Local justices of peace were elected every 3 years by the Zemstva and were independent from
political control
