What were the problems facing Alexander the III in 1881
The Problems facing Alexander III in 1881
When Alexander became Tsar, Russia was in crisis following the assassination of Alexander II. Supreme political authority was still in the hands of the Tsar, but there were immense challenges facing Alexander III as he suddenly became Tsar of the world’s largest country, covering a quarter of the world’s land surface. Although known as the ‘Russian’ Empire, it compromised a large number of ethnic groups, with the Russians making up only half the population. It was the Russians, however, who completely dominated the political and economic system.
Alexander III faced the problem of keeping this large multi ethnic empire together. At the same time, he needed to maintain his own supreme political power – which was difficult, because his father, Alexander II, had begun reforms which raised expectations of major change within Russia.
Russia was also one of Europe’s Great Powers; and Alexander III faced pressures from some of his advisors to reform his empire and to make it more like western and central Europe. This would involve reforming the autocracy, allowing an elective parliament to share political power with the Tsar. People who held these views were known as ‘Westerners’. Other advisors, known as Slavophiles, suggested that Russia develop along its own unique lines. They wanted the Empire to be autocratic and dominated by the Russians because, they believed, it was the authority of the Tsar that held this large and diverse Empire together.
How could Alexander III restore order, and set Russia on a course of political, social and economic stability?
Part of Alexander’s problem was the legacy left by his father. The assassination of the father horrified Russian society – and appalled his son. Throughout most of his adult life the future Alexander III had not been involved in political. However, he had made it known that he did not approve of his father’s modernising policies, and in 1881, when he became
When Alexander became Tsar, Russia was in crisis following the assassination of Alexander II. Supreme political authority was still in the hands of the Tsar, but there were immense challenges facing Alexander III as he suddenly became Tsar of the world’s largest country, covering a quarter of the world’s land surface. Although known as the ‘Russian’ Empire, it compromised a large number of ethnic groups, with the Russians making up only half the population. It was the Russians, however, who completely dominated the political and economic system.
Alexander III faced the problem of keeping this large multi ethnic empire together. At the same time, he needed to maintain his own supreme political power – which was difficult, because his father, Alexander II, had begun reforms which raised expectations of major change within Russia.
Russia was also one of Europe’s Great Powers; and Alexander III faced pressures from some of his advisors to reform his empire and to make it more like western and central Europe. This would involve reforming the autocracy, allowing an elective parliament to share political power with the Tsar. People who held these views were known as ‘Westerners’. Other advisors, known as Slavophiles, suggested that Russia develop along its own unique lines. They wanted the Empire to be autocratic and dominated by the Russians because, they believed, it was the authority of the Tsar that held this large and diverse Empire together.
How could Alexander III restore order, and set Russia on a course of political, social and economic stability?
Part of Alexander’s problem was the legacy left by his father. The assassination of the father horrified Russian society – and appalled his son. Throughout most of his adult life the future Alexander III had not been involved in political. However, he had made it known that he did not approve of his father’s modernising policies, and in 1881, when he became