History of Russia (1855-1881
The Reign of Alexander II and the Great Reforms
I Alexander II (1855-81) realized that reforms were necessary. Alexander II was 36 years old when he acceded to the throne. The Crimean war had brought the country to the point of collapse. He was set upon reform from the start, and had a conviction that his mission was to alleviate the suffering of his people. He was supported in his desire for reform by his brother, Grand Duke Constantine. Only the emancipation of the serfs could create the conditions for economic growth and the modernization of the armed forces. He was opposed by “vested interests”; nonetheless, in the opinion of Lionel Kochan & John Keep, in The Making of Modern Russia “the emancipation of the serfs [was] arguable the greatest piece of socio-economic legislation attempted anywhere in the world hitherto.” But this is an assessment that is open to criticism. Conclusion of the Crimean War Prior to his death, Nicholas I had agreed to attend a conference in Vienna to discuss peace terms. Alexander decided to attend it, and it opened in March, 1855. It was proposed that the Russia should lose its protectorates of Modavia, Wallachia and Serbia; that all powers should be permitted to navigate the Danube; that the Dardanelles should be closed to warships of all nations; and that Russia not be allowed to maintain a fleet in the Black Sea. However, the closure of the Dardanelles to warships of all countries was objected to by the other Powers, and the conference closed without agreement. Alexander II decided to order the defence of Sebastopol. The Russian troops were commanded by Gorchakov, but in September he was forced to evacuate the town with losses in total of 100,000 killed or wounded. The Tsar visited the theatre of war himself, and on returning to St. Petersburg accepted that peace would be necessary, especially as Austria and Prussia were now both threatening to intervene. In February 1856 a peace conference was held at Paris. Russia agreed to cede
I Alexander II (1855-81) realized that reforms were necessary. Alexander II was 36 years old when he acceded to the throne. The Crimean war had brought the country to the point of collapse. He was set upon reform from the start, and had a conviction that his mission was to alleviate the suffering of his people. He was supported in his desire for reform by his brother, Grand Duke Constantine. Only the emancipation of the serfs could create the conditions for economic growth and the modernization of the armed forces. He was opposed by “vested interests”; nonetheless, in the opinion of Lionel Kochan & John Keep, in The Making of Modern Russia “the emancipation of the serfs [was] arguable the greatest piece of socio-economic legislation attempted anywhere in the world hitherto.” But this is an assessment that is open to criticism. Conclusion of the Crimean War Prior to his death, Nicholas I had agreed to attend a conference in Vienna to discuss peace terms. Alexander decided to attend it, and it opened in March, 1855. It was proposed that the Russia should lose its protectorates of Modavia, Wallachia and Serbia; that all powers should be permitted to navigate the Danube; that the Dardanelles should be closed to warships of all nations; and that Russia not be allowed to maintain a fleet in the Black Sea. However, the closure of the Dardanelles to warships of all countries was objected to by the other Powers, and the conference closed without agreement. Alexander II decided to order the defence of Sebastopol. The Russian troops were commanded by Gorchakov, but in September he was forced to evacuate the town with losses in total of 100,000 killed or wounded. The Tsar visited the theatre of war himself, and on returning to St. Petersburg accepted that peace would be necessary, especially as Austria and Prussia were now both threatening to intervene. In February 1856 a peace conference was held at Paris. Russia agreed to cede