Successes and Failures of Alexander II

                     Alexander II, known today as the “Tsar Liberator”, had a vision of a Russia that was a major world power, a Russia that was westernized, industrialized, and educated. Alexander II was the best prepared and equipped Tsar to bring about these changes and in the 1960’s his vision was on its way to becoming a reality. However, his reforms did not go so smoothly and many attempts to take his life were made throughout his reign. Unfortunately he was assassinated before he completed his reforms in March 1881.

The abolition of serfdom was one of the first reforms made by Alexander II. Serf riots were rising in occurrence and Alexander thought that, “it is better to abolish serfdom from above, than to wait for it to abolish itself from below.” Alexander also believed that if Russia were to become a modern state, it would need to abolish serfdom. Serfdom was causing Russia to be left behind while the more modern European countries were industrializing, it prevented the free flow of labor and reduced the incentive for mechanizing as they was an abundance of labor that was controlled by the land owner.

                     When the serfs were freed, they were allowed to marry, own property, and set up businesses. After it was serfdom was abolished the privately owned serfs received a plot of land from their landowner that they could use to build their homes and plant crops. When the serfs received this land they were expected to pay redemption taxes to the State, and when these taxes were fully paid the serf was recognized as the legal owner of their land.

                     Alexander II also reformed local government with the establishment of the Zemtvas and Mir. The Zemtvas were local parliaments that were set up in each county and were elected by an electoral college. Transportation, health, selection of jury candidates, education, poverty relief and encouraging agriculture and industrialization were the responsibilities of the Zemtvas. The Mir, which was also known as the village commune, was established after the abolition of serfs to collect their redemption taxes in the local area, and also the taxes of the citizens who were not newly abolished slaves. The Mir also had the ability to grant passports to the serfs, and dealt with court cases in which serfs were involved.

The legal system was also reformed by Alexander II. Prior to the reforms the accused were presumed guilty until proven innocent and lawyers and juries were absent from the court. Judges, however, were present but they were often influenced by bribes and other methods of injustice. Alexander aimed, “…to establish in Russia courts of justice that are swift, fair, merciful, and equal for all our subjects, to raise the authority of the judiciary, to give it the independence that befits it.”1 Juries were introduced in criminal cases and established a different ladder of courts ranging from the Magistrates’ Court to the Senate. Judges also received better salaries to make them resistant to bribes.

Russia’s defeat in the Crimean War lead to the reform of the Russian army. At the time of the war serfs made up the majority of the army and were forced to serve for 25 years. The army was also very poorly equipped and lacked proper training. Conscription was introduced and all men medically fit men over the age of twenty were responsible to serve. The time the soldiers had to serve was reduced to 6 years, with 9 years in the reserves, and a following 5 years in the militia. The method of conscription increased the amount of soldiers in the reserve, and also made the solider training more effective and efficient.

Alexander the II’s reduction of censorship went hand in hand with the reforms in education. Before censorship was reduced all published works would have to be approved by a censor. After the reform, however, the Ministry of Interior became responsible of censorship and created guidelines for writers and editors to ease the approval of their works. The reform of censorship led to the growth of private schools. Since private schools were often thought of as dangerous as the state had limited control on what they taught, they were made to follow a common curriculum. Universities were also reformed with expanded curriculums and increased opportunity to study abroad. Financial aid was also provided to student who could not pay their school fees.

Though Alexander reformed many things and tried to create what he envisioned as a better Russia, his reforms were not without their faults. Although the serfs were emancipated, they had less land and the redemption tax they had to pay was often more than what the land was worth. Serfs also had little reason to invest in their land, as part of it could later be taken and redistributed to other serfs when the population expanded. This also lead the serfs to become less willing to use newer methods of farming, as their land did not belong to them until they finished paying their redemption tax. Many of the serf riots continued after the emancipation because they felt that it was not true freedom that was given to them. Not a lot changed after they gained their freedom, the serfs lived on small plots of land that did not yet belong to them and had to farm to provide for themselves.

Another aspect that is often ignored by both Alexander II’s critics and supporters is that the long term effects of the reforms are unknown, as Alexander II’s successor Alexander III undid almost all the things that Alexander II tried so hard to achieve. Though Alexander II’s success is debatable, the greatness of his vision and his passion and courage to achieve it undeniably makes him a great leader. Although many people criticized the effects of his reforms, there are seldom examples of change that were brought without sacrifice. The disadvantages the serfs faced after their emancipation were faced by all emancipated serfs across the world.  Therefore, I conclude that Alexander II’s reforms were successful. Although Russia was not modernized at the time of his assassination, Alexander II took the necessary steps to achieve that modernization. Russia however was a divided nation at the time, and though Alexander II was looking for the good of all Russia, his opposition reacted very strongly against his reforms and took his life before his work was complete. The loss of Alexander II’s leadership was a step backwards in Russia’s struggle to modernize.

Sources

1.      Lowe, Norman. Mastering Modern World History. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005. Print.