Why was Alexander III the most autocratic ruler?
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- Created on: 20-09-17 10:11
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- Why was Alexander III the most autocratic ruler?
- Alexander
III believed that for this to be unchallenged during his reign, the reforms of
Alexander II had to be withdrawn
- It was not possible to reverse the emancipation
of the serfs but it was possible to reverse the power of the zemstva (local
councils) and under Alexander III, their powers were distinctly curbed and
handed to the Ministry of the Interior.
- The Ministry of the Interior had to give its
permission if taxes were to be raised by the zemstva.
- In this way, the government tried to ensure that
its people held power at a local level and would do what they could to support
Alexander III.
- Minister of the Interior was also given the power to nominate peasants to the zemstva at a local level if the ones already there did not meet with the approval of the central government.
- In 1889, the minimal powers that the zemstva had
were removed; local justices of the peace were also removed and replaced by a
system of land captains who were directly appointed and answerable to the
Minister of the Interior.
- Only the Minister of the Interior could remove the land captains and at a local level each land captain was given draconian rights – sending offenders into exile, flogging and handing out the death penalty.
- In this way, the government tried to ensure that
its people held power at a local level and would do what they could to support
Alexander III.
- Minister of the Interior was also given the power to nominate peasants to the zemstva at a local level if the ones already there did not meet with the approval of the central government.
- The Ministry of the Interior had to give its
permission if taxes were to be raised by the zemstva.
- It was not possible to reverse the emancipation
of the serfs but it was possible to reverse the power of the zemstva (local
councils) and under Alexander III, their powers were distinctly curbed and
handed to the Ministry of the Interior.
- The
church was also used to extend the power of the tsar.
- From
1881 to 1905, the Procurator of the Holy Synod was Pobedonestsev.
- The
most important function of the Holy Synod was to preach obedience to the tsar;
spirituality came second.
- Untitled
- This obedience was meant to be transmitted from bishops to clergy in the villages.
- Traditionally,
what was said at confession was never divulged to a third party.
- Pobedonestsev changed this and information passed to a member of the church during confession was frequently passed on to the police and used as evidence against an offender.
- The
most important function of the Holy Synod was to preach obedience to the tsar;
spirituality came second.
- From
1881 to 1905, the Procurator of the Holy Synod was Pobedonestsev.
- In
a further effort to restrict what people could do, education was also reformed.
- The rights of universities to appoint their own professors was abolished and new legislation required the government’s approval for new syllabuses to be taught. No student was allowed to be taught History unless he had permission from the Minister of Education.
- The
reign of Alexander III did a great deal to extend the power of the tsar at the
expense of liberties taken for granted in Western Europe.
- However,
it needed a like-minded man keen to involve himself in the hard work of
government to succeed Alexander III if the reforms were to have a lasting
impact
- Nicholas
II was not this type of man.
- Alexander III was diligent, mentally strong and was willing to work for what he wanted.
- Nicholas was weak, lazy and willing for others to do the work for him.
- Nicholas
II was not this type of man.
- However,
it needed a like-minded man keen to involve himself in the hard work of
government to succeed Alexander III if the reforms were to have a lasting
impact
- He
was tutored by Konstantin Pobedonostev, a
firm upholder of autocracy and repression, who taught him that any concessions
would be indications of cowardice and failure on his part.
- Alexander had watched his father die and was so fearful of revolutionary activity that he lived in a fortified palace in Gatchina.
- Alexander was very strong, looked like an autocrat and had a commanding character.
- Alexander III believed:
- His power was undermined by western ideas and urban discontent.
- The solution was to turn back the clock and halt reform, even avoiding the ‘western’ St Petersburg.
- Concessions were a sign of weakness. Wasn't prepared to contemplate the dilution of autocracy by a system of representative assemblies (this can be seen as the influence of Pobedonostev).
- His power was undermined by western ideas and urban discontent.
- He was in the army until the death of his elder brother in 1865.
- Wanted
to re-assert the personal authority of the tsar.
- He began his reign by hanging those who were involved in his father’s death.
- Alexander
introduced new legislation to extend the powers of the police. The
Gendarmerie was
the uniformed security police
responsible for law enforcement and state security.
- The
Gendarmes investigated political and criminal cases, tracked down fugitives,
controlled riots and was staffed entirely by noble army officers who relied on
a network of informers.
- There
was also a drive to recruit spies, counter-spies and ‘agents provocateur’ who
would pose as revolutionaries to incriminate others.
- From
1882 any area of the Empire could be deemed an ‘area of subversion’ and police
agents could search, arrest, detain, question, imprison or exile those who had
committed a crime or were thought likely to
- •Arrested persons had no right to legal representation.
- From
1882 any area of the Empire could be deemed an ‘area of subversion’ and police
agents could search, arrest, detain, question, imprison or exile those who had
committed a crime or were thought likely to
- There
was also a drive to recruit spies, counter-spies and ‘agents provocateur’ who
would pose as revolutionaries to incriminate others.
- The
Gendarmerie operated around the country and the Okhrana was
based in St Petersburg, Moscow and Warsaw. They intercepted mail, checked up on
factories, army and universities and detained suspects, often resorting to
torture and executions.
- Communists,
socialists and trade unionists were particular targets of their investigations
but they also watched members of the government.
- From
1882 any area of the Empire could be deemed an ‘area of subversion’ and police
agents could search, arrest, detain, question, imprison or exile those who had
committed a crime or were thought likely to
- •Arrested persons had no right to legal representation.
- From
1882 any area of the Empire could be deemed an ‘area of subversion’ and police
agents could search, arrest, detain, question, imprison or exile those who had
committed a crime or were thought likely to
- Communists,
socialists and trade unionists were particular targets of their investigations
but they also watched members of the government.
- The
Gendarmes investigated political and criminal cases, tracked down fugitives,
controlled riots and was staffed entirely by noble army officers who relied on
a network of informers.
- Land Captains
- Recruited from the nobility and given wide-ranging powers, inculding the power to overrule the zemstva and ignore judicial process and overturn court judgments.
- Until 1904 they could publicly flog peasants for minor offences. In 1889 they were given the powers of magistrates.
- An
1885 decree re-introduced closed court sessions without juries for a number of
crimes.
- 1890
peasants’ vote in elections for the zemstva
reduced.
- Recruited from the nobility and given wide-ranging powers, inculding the power to overrule the zemstva and ignore judicial process and overturn court judgments.
- 1890
peasants’ vote in elections for the zemstva
reduced.
- Alexander
III believed that for this to be unchallenged during his reign, the reforms of
Alexander II had to be withdrawn
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