Tsarist Russia Research Paper

Tsarist Russia: Reform and Reaction 1855 - 81
Q. Explain why Alexander II’s policies became more reactionary after 1866 (12 marks)
The year of 1866 can be seen to have been a turning point in the Tsar’s policies becoming more reactionary and reversing many of the changes his reforms had brought. The reforms had been put in place in an attempt to propel Russia out of its increasingly backward state; as much as reforms such as the emancipation of the serfs, greater freedoms and opportunities in education and relaxation of censorship occurred with good intentions, much opposition arose. This came alongside the Tsar’s own personal problems, accompanied by increasing pressure from both events of the time and individuals.
April 1866 came with
the Tsar’s first assassination attempt and the fact that it was from a ‘pure Russian’ left the autocrat both shocked and shaken, only feeding the growth of his increasing discomfort and deterrence from more reforms due to the negative, and threatening, reaction. Although the public put on a show of support and rejoice at his survival, it was more and more apparent that the Russian public were not pleased with the reforms with opposition forming, from the newly freed serfs to the now less powerful nobles. Stricken and lacking further confidence as a result of the assassination attempt and suffering from his own domestic troubles – his eldest son having died and his wife following soon after falling ill with tuberculosis, withdrew from public life, distancing himself from those who had influenced his liberalist reforms, giving more influence to conservative ministers.
In his indecisive and weak-willed state, Tsar Alexander II hence was easily persuaded by the newly appointed Dmitrii Tolstoy in executing many reactionary policies.
Tolstoy was extremely conservative and alongside other ministers, convinced the Tsar that his reforms were undermining the autocracy and the church, weakening the very foundations of the monarchy and Russia. As much as Alexander wanted to reform and improve his nation, he too was very much intent on keeping a firm hold of his autocratic position and so became more reactionary in order to secure his position and control over the people. Tolstoy too was able to use his strong pressure on the Tsar to reverse many of the educational reforms, reducing the apparent threat of the emergence of radical and liberalist thinkers that the education system was producing; the curriculum was reduced back to only traditional subjects and no extracurricular groups were
permitted.
Other events across Russia were also being considered as a threat and used as reasoning to make policies more reactionary, one of these being the case of Vera Zasulich, and numerous failed show trials.
Russians liberalists were able to gain huge amounts of publicity as the ‘Trial of 50’ and ‘Trial of 193’ were given in open courts, where majorities of defendants were acquitted, having made strong defence speeches, reported by the now relaxed press. This only encouraged more liberalists to follow suit in their activities as Russian law and order was made a fool of. Unsurprisingly, censorship was tightened once again in a bid to re-navigate control, yet another reactionary policy. Furthermore, the Polish revolution in 1863 was believed to be an example of what could potentially occur in Russia should Alexander’s reforms keep
coming.
Overall, despite the few reforms which were not countered, it is apparent that the Tsar’s policies did become more prominently reactionary after 1866. This can be argued to be as a result of numerous pressures, from both individuals and situations alike. His indecisive nature was manipulated at a time when he was vulnerable and weak after the scaring experiences of losing loved ones and nearly losing his own life. Pressure from strong reactionary ministers faced no rejection from him in his then state and their highly conservative policies were what overrode the reforms. Growing concern as to the stability of control in Russia, as well as an emphasis of outside influences too led the Tsar to push his policies to being reactionary in a bid to maintain his autocracy over an increasingly disorientated Russia.