For what reasons and with what results did Alexander II try to reform Russian institutions? The ascension of Alexander II coincided with Russia’s defeat at the hands of the British and French in the Crimean War. The defeat had exposed Russia’s weakness and backwardness in comparison with more advanced nations like Britain and France. This prompted Alexander to embark on a series of reforms to “modernize” Russia. This essay will identify the causes and consequences of this period of reform.
Premium Russia Russian Empire Alexander II of Russia
History Essay “Considering the difficulties he inherited‚ Alexander II of Russia should be praised not criticised for his reforms.” To what extent do you agree with this judgement? After the death of Nicolas I‚ the Tsar’s heir‚ Alexander II‚ rose to power in 1855 and led Russia to an era of changes. Considering the difficulties he inherited‚ Alexander II should be praised and not criticised for his social‚ judiciary‚ and military reforms as he successfully abolished serfdom overnight‚ implemented
Premium Russian Empire Russia Nicholas II of Russia
Alexander II became Tsar of the Russian Empire in 1855 following his late father Nicholas I. By the time of Nicholas’ death‚ Russia was in desperate need of change‚ as Russians’ way of life “differed very little from what it had been at the end of the fifteenth [century]” (Lincoln‚ 1990). Alexander was conscious of Russia’s situation and knew he needed to take action as soon as possible. But he was also firmly dedicated to maintaining the autocracy and his position as Tsar‚ a notion that was installed
Premium Russian Empire Russia Nicholas II of Russia
When Alexander II became the Tsar‚ Russia was in total disarray. Her once widely respected and feared army was humiliated on the battlefields in the Crimean Peninsula‚ 80% of the people were in poverty and illiterate. Russia was still stuck in the middle ages while the rest of Europe was steaming in through the Industrial Era. Alexander II saw this as a need for change‚ primarily in response to the Crimean War‚ however to be able to do this‚ he also had to change the Russian society‚ therefore in
Premium Russia Russian Empire Crimean War
Alexander II Nikolayevich became emperor of Russia in March 1855 after the death of his father Nicholas I. Regarded to many historians as the ‘Great Reformer’‚ Alexander II was believed to have transformed Russia and to because one of the greatest reformers in Russian history. He managed to emancipate the serfs and bring about reforms in education‚ military‚ justice‚ censorship and the economy. Despite all of this Russian society was unsatisfied‚ ultimately leading to the assassination attempts that
Premium Russia Russian Empire Alexander II of Russia
How successful was Alexander II in dealing with opposition to his regime? Judging by the fact that Alexander was assassinated in 1881 by People’s Will‚ one would assume that he failed – completely- to overcome opposition to his regime‚ however he ruled for over 25 years and managed to keep his opposition under control during that time using several different methods and measures which will be discussed in this essay. The first measure he took shortly after he came to power was to emancipate the serfs
Premium Russian Empire Government Alexander II of Russia
How far was political opposition to the Tsar divided in their aims and methods‚ 1881-1905? Political opponents of the Tsar were clearly divided in their aims and methods‚ and consequentially may have contributed to the survival of Tsarist Russia. The main parties were the Social democrats (Bolsheviks and Mensheviks)‚ Social Revolutionaries and Liberals (Octobrists and Kadets). Each of these radical parties had their own separate beliefs on what Russia needed and each aimed for some sort of change
Premium Democracy Liberalism Bolshevik
Nicholas II was the last tsar of Russia. He was deposed during the Russian Revolution and executed by the Bolsheviks. Nikolai Aleksandrovich Romanov was born near St Petersburg on 18 May 1868‚ the eldest son of Tsar Alexander III. When he succeeded his father in 1894‚ he had very little experience of government. In the same year‚ Nicholas married Princess Alexandra of Hesse-Darmstadt (a duchy in Germany). They had four daughters and a son‚ Alexis‚ who suffered from the disease haemophilia. Alexandra
Premium Nicholas II of Russia Russia Russian Empire
Did Alexander II deserve the title “Tsar Liberator”? Taking control of autocratic Russia in 1855‚ Alexander II was the successor to his father Tsar Nicolas I having been trained his entire life to take on the role. During his reign as Tsar‚ Alexander passed many reforms all of which varied in political‚ social and economic stance. His most famous reform was deemed to be that of the emancipation of the Serfs‚ gaining him the title ‘Tsar Liberator’ as many believed that his effort to free those who
Premium Russia Russian Empire Reform movement
In 1894‚ at the age of 26‚ Nicholas II became Tsar of Russia as a result of his father‚ Alexander III’s‚ passing away. When he acquired the throne he cried because he wasn’t ready to be king. Spoken by Nicholas himself‚ he said‚ “I am not yet ready to be Tsar. I know nothing of the business of ruling” (Lieven‚ 1993). However‚ ascending the throne was something that Nicholas had to do with no other choice in the matter. Before Nicholas became Tsar the people of Russia already disliked the Romanov
Free Russian Empire Nicholas II of Russia World War I