Paper 1 : Autocracy and Revolt in Russia, 1881 - 1914 : The Reign of Alexander III

Autocracy and Revolt in Russia, 1881 - 1914

The Reign of Alexander III





Points in blue represent the specification point according to Edexcel History.


Points written in red represents the main point.






The Reign of Alexander III

Became Tsar after Alexander II's assassination in 1881.
Cancels father's plans to introduce a representative assembly and had no intention to limiting his autocratic prowess.
During his reign, Russia was not involved in any wars.
Because of this, he was dubbed peacemaker of Russia.
He was much more conservative - he believed autocracy was better than democracy.
Reversed all of his father's reforms.
Impact of his father's death made him
- reverse his father's reforms, realised it did not work since his father was assassinated due to population discontent.
- blame the Jews for his father's assassination.
- believed that autocracy was better than democracy.


Main policies on...

All policies =

Impact of the assassination of Alexander II.

Alexander III, Pobedonostsev and reaction.

Restoration of autocracy, censorship, and the policy of Russification.





1. Autocracy

Tsar took repressive measures to uphold his autocratic rule.
Tsar passed the Temporary Regulations to deal with the "Will of The People."
populists, professional revolutionaries, supporter of political struggle against the autocratic rule.
Anybody who threatened public order were arrested by police. (harsh security measures)
As a result :
- It eliminates political opposition. (only a few revolutionaries remain)
- Terrorism and "Will of The People" died down.

In 1884, Tsar passed a new University Statue.
This statue abolished university autonomy and banned students' political activities.
Secondary schools were "advised" to give more attention to teaching of classical languages.
Raised tuition fees. This made is difficult for lower classes to obtain education.
Working class and peasant children were forbidden to study in secondary schools.
This meant that only the upper class could be educated further than the core education.
This would then expand the gap between the rich and the poor that already exists in Russia.
Increased Russia's illiteracy go up to 79%.
Severe restrictions and censorship of press.


Introduction of the "Land Commandants"
Had to be of the local nobility. - nobility overruled the zemstva.
Reduced urban assemblies.
They held a wide authority over the peasant communities.
"Justices of Peace" were transferred to them.
Exercised (omnipotent - meaning having unlimited powers.) administrative and judicial authority in the Russian countryside. (such as increasing tax for zemstva)
Local officials feared the Land Commandants because they could be dismissed by them.
Zemstva powers were limited. (due to fear and social hierarchy)
The Land Commandant encourages the idea of a social hierarchy. It represents the upper-class/nobilities as richer and of higher rank.
As a result :
- Peasant delegates and westernised intellectuals were reduced.
- Representation of nobles were increased.
- Land captains were automatically members of the zemstva.
- Zemstva decisions were subject to review by the provincial governors and the minister of the interior. (no authority)
- In 1892, the municipal government also raised property requirement in order to limit the right to vote of the radical intellectuals and the lower classes.


2. Russification

He believes strongly in Russian Orthodox Church. (believed that it was superior)
Russian Orthodox Church :
A christian denomination where it has slightly different beliefs from the Roman Catholic Church. Its leaders were appointed by the Tsar and it was preached that the Tsar was appointed by God.
The Jews :
Were used by scapegoats for the Polish rebellion of 1863.
Blamed for Alexander II assassination.
Hated because the religious beliefs they hold are too difficult to russify.
Jews were different which created suspicion.
This encouraged pogroms.
Pogroms = mob attacks that were semi-supported officially by the government.
Sometimes officials helped to initiate pogroms.
This encouraged people to go out and round up Jews for murder.
No Jews were allowed to settle in rural areas, even within the Pale Of Settlement.
Pale of Settlement = an area of the Russian empire in which Jews were invited to stay (Poland, Belarus)
Jews were forbidden to work on Christian Holy Days.
Quotas for Jews in schools and universities never rose above 10% even in heavily Jewish areas.
Russification angered a lot of people who had previously been loyal to the empire.
Zionist Movement began = A movement that began in Russia around 1897 with the aim to make homeland for the Jewish people is what is now Israel.
Jews formed revolutionary movement called the Bund.
Bund = Jewish socialist party found in Russia. It is a response to the anti-semitic policies.