Why did Alexander II introduce a program of reforms at the beginning of the 1860s? To what extent were his reforms successful?

by shaanti (student)

International Baccalaureate History

Shanti Naidoo-Pagé

Grade 11.

History: Essay 1.

Why did Alexander II introduce a program of reforms at the beginning of the 1860s? To what extent were his reforms successful?

Alexander II was pronounced King during a major crisis in Russia: the Crimean War -where his father, Nicolas I of Russia, died. His ascension to the throne in 1855 led to him playing a key role in the formation of a new Russia. Having been educated from an early age, he was now in a position to implement his vision of rebuilding Russia’s honour and power as it once was. Through a series of reformation programs, he intended to amend Russia’s modernisation and redirect his empire’s development trajectory. One can follow the influencing factors of these sudden decisions, the manner in which they were enforced to finally conclude on the effects they incurred.

Foremost, it is essential to know that the main cause of Alexander’s decision to enforce reforms was decided after the Crimean War. He realized that Russia was not a major military power and that Russia’s serfdom economy could not compete with western coutries’ industrialization (Like France or England). This then led to the thought of abolishing serfdom. Most powerful Nobles did not agree but Alexander said ‘It is better to abolish serfdom from above than to wait for the time when it begins to abolish itself from below’. Hereinafter, the Emancipation of the Serfs was implemented; the serfs would have to pay to be free. Another reason that Alexander II had, behind this Emancipation was to free up the workers so they could move to industrial Centers or the urban area. Because of their lack of money, this would then move Russian industrialism forward with the increasing numbers of workers. Concerning the education reform, Alexander hoped to decrease the massive illiteracy present in Russia; this was making Russian technology and machinery fall behind the other European powers with an insufficient number of scientists or engineers. As for the judicial reform, in 1864, it brought equality to all before the law and also a jury was pronounced to judge accused citizens in court as an equal trial for all. Regarding the local government, the Tsar noticed that immense numbers of citizens were now populating the countryside and he then elected a local government - the Zemstvos- to take care of the organization of country towns. Also concerning military reforms, Alexander decided to establish an ‘all class conscription’ in 1874, where anyone could go in the army and reach any level of commandment. Indeed, now it was not only based on the social background, but the education and skill level. At last, Alexander II economically made plans for Russia. He massively invested in Railways and commerce routes, hoping to bring in money in Russia to then use it to make more machinery to increase the modernization of Russia. Accordingly, Alexander II began all these reforms in a hope of modernizing Russia by increasing its industrialism. He wanted to move Russia forward but also make the people want to make it happen.

It is on February 19 1961 that Alexander II issued the Emancipation Manifesto. He clearly stated that the serfs would now be free citizens in Russia. What he did not plan well was the fact that the now newly-peasants did not have the money to pay lands from their landlords. So the Tsar was asking people that had lived, cultivated and grew on a land for generations to pay for it so they could be ‘free’. Indeed, peasants were enraged to see that they had to pay what was rightfully theirs, but they had no choice; they had to pay ...

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It is on February 19 1961 that Alexander II issued the Emancipation Manifesto. He clearly stated that the serfs would now be free citizens in Russia. What he did not plan well was the fact that the now newly-peasants did not have the money to pay lands from their landlords. So the Tsar was asking people that had lived, cultivated and grew on a land for generations to pay for it so they could be ‘free’. Indeed, peasants were enraged to see that they had to pay what was rightfully theirs, but they had no choice; they had to pay in forty-nine years (redemption payments that past on generation to generation). So the land was not given to them, it was at first property of The Mir –the village council- that made sure everyone paid their share. They also divided the land accordingly to the ones in greatest need. The Zemstvos were also emplaced; they were local councils with power to provide schools, medical service and routes to the main cities. These members were first elected in 1864 and only the wealthy could elect them. On another side, education was becoming more present in lives of local peasants. Indeed, schools were now available for everyone. Illiteracy decreased and more people (especially nobles that sold their lands to move to the city to work) studied in superior schooling. Colleges and Universities sprang up and Alexander encouraged them to read texts from all over the world (i.e. Marx, Tolstoy…), thus creating this new generation newly aware of what was happening in the world. In link with education were the military reforms that were emplaced. They arose from the building developments of technology, the emancipation of the serfs and the quality of education of soldiers. Indeed, Russian armies reduced in size, going from more than a million and three hundred thousand men to under seven hundred and fifty thousand men. During 1862 to 1864, fifteen military education districts were spread out. Higher military education was open to the soon to be soldiers, which meant that the roles and levels of commandment were not based upon social backgrounds anymore, but on the quality of education and skills. Thus this made possible for members of all social classes to be chosen to draft for military services. There was another kind of change in Russia that concerned commerce and exchange, which was: industrialism. There was about 32 000 kilometers of railroads and 1.4 million workers in 1890. This meant that the industrial growth was significant and the most industrial region was Moscow and the central regions of European Russia.

So we can see that Alexander II went trough a lot to have his reforms emplaced. He changed the whole economy with the emancipation, forcing freedom upon serfs. He made a completely new military force and education system. The enforcement of these reforms was quick and strongly emplaced.

At first the Emancipation was strongly rejected by Nobles; they did not want to lose their land. When the serfs realized what they had to pay to be free, they panicked. Revolts, rebellions led to chaos in some regions. Wanting to keep his goal in mind, Alexander continued his enforcements; he was going to reach Russia’s modernization. In a way this was successful because masses of peasants started to go work in urban areas, mines, railways or roads, so this fast-forwarded industrialization. To pay taxes, peasants had to sell their grains to the state, which then exported it to other countries, thus building a commerce route for Russia. Furthermore, the military was finally at a top point in Russian history; it was turned into a mass army of bourgeois type. Skills and abilities were expanding; battles were being won like the Russo-Turkish war in 1877-78. But on the other hand, families lost their lands; they were almost forced in labour to live. These revolted citizens were starting to anticipate a change in the country. This with the newly educated younger generation, a revolution was then starting to be formed. University students were reading books about democracy, about other political regimes that worked in other countries in Europe. The workers wanting more rights, the students questioning the power, formation of secret societies and revolutionary agitation began. Alexander was chocked to see that what he had given them made them turn against him. Wanting to restrain them, the Tsar had no longer the power to reverse it, knowledge ran in the heads of the younger revolution, revolts sprang up from the workers. The Russian revolution was starting. The power was shifting from the Tsar to the people.

Thus, Alexander’s reforms had immense consequences on Russia. His goal of reaching an industrial age was going to succeed, but all that came with it, was not expected. There were revolts, rebellions, people were outraged, they demanded more but the industrialization had started, they were finally arriving to modernization. Alexander’s goal to get back the honour and respect of Russia succeeded but not like he wanted, not with imperialism, not with him on top of everyone.

The visionary Alexander II was confronted with a decaying Russian social fabric, and stagnation of the economy when he acceded to the throne. The fatal commitment of a leader, blinded by prideful ambition for an ideal; a Russia honoured and inevitably awed upon. Industrialism, commerce, great military power and overall recognition around the world were the markings of his leadership. But other unexpected consequences happened. Reforms stimulated liberal reformers with a thirst for political change. Alexander desired knowledge for his people at their own expense, and in this displayed the characteristic moral flaw of such types. Flaw in the approach of nation building, which led Alexander II to the logical path of modernization, yet implemented in a way which could only have unstable and unequal outcomes. Was this reckless planning or a necessary phase in Russia’s history? In any case, the repercussions were felt through the Russian revolution and certainly are directly linked with the following Global conflict – links which one could expose.

Announcement to Nobles from Moscow after he signed the peace treaty for the Crimean war in 1856.