Westerners wanted to reform autocracy , giving the elective parliament to share political power with the Tsar. Russia was on its way to modernise passing the stage of industrialisation, which meant that it would stand on the same position as Austo-Hungary and Germany. The emancipation of the serfs and creation of zemstvas gave a hope that Russia is modernising. Also educational reforms made a new class called “intelligencia” who shared western liberal views. As well as there were extremist groups that felt the only way for Russia to change was eradication of the monarch, they did not have clear aim what to do after. Alexander understood that and he launched strong repressions to preserve stability of monarchy, he believed that they were main threat and problem of Russia. Together with Pobedonoscev he produced Manifesto that declared Tsars absolute rule.
The other problem that faced Tsar was extremist “Peoples will”, so the way that Alexander replied to that is creating with the government Stature of State Security. There were special government courts to deal with the political rivals. Their power gave them a possibility to arrest the political enemies without a trial and execute them or exile them to Siberia. Thousands were repressed and mainly they did maintain political stability and destroyed “Peoples Will”. Even though the aim was achieved and the main threat facing the Tsar did not exist anymore, they stayed until the end of monarchy in 1917.
Tsar felt that there was the rapid spread of radical and liberal movements and it created another problem for him in his view. So he took the control of the press, its freedom was restricted. Fourteen major newspapers were banned from 1882-9 for displaying liberal ideas. Okhrana the secret police that Tsar created to do the practical job in preserving the stability also censored all foreign material that Russia imported. They made sure that such political ideologies as democracy and parliamentary government did not reach citizens mind.
Even though Alexander thought that he destroyed extremist “Peoples Will” there was a strong underground movement existing still. They made attempts on assassinating the Tsar again. It was another challenge from opposition which Tsar took care of by having them arrested and executed by Okhrana.
Pobedonoscev also saw that zemstvas could be a threat to autocracy. So they took control of that elected body by having Land Captains who were appointed by the Interior Minister himself. They made sure that the local laws did not create another problem that Alexander needed to face. Doctors and teachers could not run for the elections anymore, because mainly they were part of “intelligencia” which therefore meant that they might be liberal. Also university students had their education filtered so their young minds won’t be corrupted. Schools were controlled by Land Captains , so children of peasants had religious education and could not enter the secondary school. Knowledge makes people think and Tsar did not want peasants seeking more freedom as “Peoples Will “ wanted them to. Government got involved into juridical system Vera Zasulich was a bright example when she was executed, public disliked Alexanders repressive policies, the reaction of Tsar was to choose juries himself so there will be “fair” trial now.
There were also nationalist that created opposition to the Tsar, so he focused on that too. Poland was remarkable at that time because they seek their national independence. Tsar also found a way to deal with that. He introduced policy of Russification. Which made all the minorities to learn Russian and get religious studies no meter of their nationalities. Muslim and Jewish children were forced to convert to Orthodox religion. A lot of Jews were educated which was another problem that Tsar needed to face. Being part of “intelligencia” they created a threat and were too liberal, in Belarus known as “Jewish Pale” there was number of pogroms made by “black hundreds” members who were notoriously known to exterminate Jewish people.
To state that opposition was the main problem facing Alexander would be very controversial. Russia was rapidly industrialising and its population doubled for thirty years. The economy still remained agrarian and the number of peasants grew which made economical improvement very relative. The fact that they needed to pay incentives to the government, which were harsh and that majority of Russian land did not give harvest yearly proves the economical instability. Workers had grim conditions and industries were only developed in Urals and textiles in main city. The Tsar did not cope with those main problems because it was important and possible for Russia to maintain same results as Germany and Austro-Hungary. But Tsar was focused on repressions and he thought it was his main problem. He did achieve short-term success in destroying the opposition , but long term effects were more horrifying. The spread of ideas did not stop and the dissatisfaction of the people grew which made his son Nicholas to face it. Also for instance, his repression of Jewish people led to their escape from Russia and create Jewish organisation the Bund, which joined Bolsheviks and made them more powerful. Arresting Lenin and sending him to Siberia for fourteen months made Ulyanov find a lot of supporters and start to create a plot of how to destroy monarchy. Femines and land issue seemed like a bomb that soon would explode, people did tolerate Tsar but to certain extent when they can at least feed their family. Focusing on opposition made Tsar forgetting about other issues in Russia and even though he thought that it was the main problem facing Tsardom he was mistaken.
by
alansisanovic (student)
