Russian History Essay question. HELP ?

Question

Alexander II tried to reform Russian institutions only because the Crimean War showed that Russia was no longer a great military power. Use pacific examples of Alexander’s reforms to show to what extent you agree with this assertion.

Answer 1

The embarrassing defeat of the Russian army happened through incompetence, corruption, and the use of uneducated and unmotivated serfs as soldiers. The Crimean War caused the realization that Russia was no longer a great military power. Russia's serf-based economy and army could not compete with the industrialized nations of Britain and France. As this event marked the beginning of his reign, Alexander’s goal was to improve the Russian army. He was going to accomplish this through these domestic reforms.

One of the main reforms that Alexander focused on to improve the army was the abolishment of serfdom, and the improvement of their lives including education and creation of Zemstvos. Judicial reforms, academic free speech, and relaxation of censorship and travel restrictions also were a part of these reforms.

One of Alexander’s most well known reforms was the abolishment of serfdom that earned him the title, Czar Liberator. Serfdom was the system in Russia at the time. Most of the population worked for little wages, if any, for the few nobility and landowners. The serfs did not own land; they just worked it for someone else. These serfs lived in rotten conditions with no education. There only desire was for land. The abolishment of serfdom came with the Emancipation Manifesto on March 3, 1861. The Emancipation Manifesto proposed 17 legislative acts that included the freedom of the serfs. Now, all peasants would be able to buy land from their landlords. The system worked through the advancement of money to the landlords and the recovering of it from the peasants in redemption payments. Alexander’s emancipation predated Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation by two years.

Another reform was the creation of Zemstvos. In 1864, Alexander announced that he was allowing each district to set up one. Zemstvos were local councils with powers to provide services such as roads, schools and medical. However, only the wealthy had the right to be elected as members. Other reforms introduced by Alexander included improved municipal government in 1870 and universal military training in 1874. He also encouraged the expansion of industry and the railway network. These reforms succeeded in building Russia as a better military power, and in the Russo-Turkish War, the Russians succeeded in defeating the Turks.

However, these domestic reforms failed in another sense. It improved foreign problems of Russia, such as the army, which was Alexander’s goal, yet it failed in the domestic problems. The emancipation didn't bring on any significant change in the condition of the peasants. In some regions it took peasants nearly 20 years to obtain their land. Many were forced to pay more than the land was worth. By 1900, around 85% of the Russian people lived in the countryside and earned their living from agriculture. The nobility still owned the best land and the vast majority of peasants lived in extreme poverty. As the country became more industrialized, its political system experienced even greater strain. Attempts by the lower classes to gain more freedom caused fears of anarchy and nihilism that were arising with people like Bakunin. As Russia became more industrialized, larger, and far more complicated, the inadequacies of autocratic Czarist rule became increasingly apparent. Liberals and radicals who wanted a parliamentary democracy and the freedom of expression that was enjoyed by most other European states were also not satisfied. In summary, Alexander’s reforms did improve the army, but the reaction from the different parties lead to severe rebellion and eventually death for him.

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