How would you describe the Tsar's political power?

What was the "nobility"? Why were they so important to the Tsar?

Explain the terms "Slavophiles" and "Westernizers".

What was serfdom? Why did Tsar Nicholas I reject the idea to replace serfdom with something else?

On March 2, 1855, tsar Nicholas I died. He was succeeded by his son Alexander II. It was during the Crimean War (1853-1856), in which Russia was defeated by the Western powers. Why was Russia defeated?

Why did Alexander II want to abolish serfdom:
ECONOMIC REASONS

Why did Alexander II want to abolish serfdom:
FEAR OF REVOLUTION FROM BELOW

Why did Alexander II want to abolish serfdom:
THE POWER OF IDEAS

Why did Alexander II want to abolish serfdom:
MILITARY REASONS

Why did Alexander II want to abolish serfdom:
TSAR WANTED TO STRENGTHEN TSARDOM

Why did the plans to reform the army affect the institution of serfdom?

To emancipate the serfs without giving them land would have been impossible. The problem was that the land was owned by the nobility. How did they solve this problem?

Account for the terms of the Emancipation reform.

How great a reform was the emancipation? (Assess the reform).

Who owned and distributed the land to the peasantry?

Explain the term Zemstvo. Was it an important political change?

How did Alexander react when delegates suggested a "national zemstvo" = a Duma?

Describe the other reforms which Alexander initiated:
LEGAL SYSTEM

Describe the other reforms which Alexander initiated:
EDUCATIONAL REFORMS

Describe the other reforms which Alexander initiated:
ARMY REFORMS

Does the Tsar deserve the title "Tsar Liberator", according to you?

Poor Alexander. He tried to enjoy the best of two worlds: he wanted to reform and modernize Russia and he wanted to strengthen the regime (the autocracy). Consequently, he "became trapped in a crossfire of criticism." Why did conservatives, liberals and peasants criticize him?

What was the Polish Revolt in 1863? How was it solved?

The radical opposition is interesting, because it "paved the way for the philosophy of the 1917 revolution." What do we mean by nihilism?

What did Lavrov's populists (Narodniki) do in the countryside between 1874-1875?

Land and Liberty was another very important populist group. After a split in 1879, the People's Will was founded. This group advocated terrorism as the trigger to general revolution. Who was the main target?

Why did terrorism, according to our textbook, fail to destroy Tsardom?

In March 1881, Alexander II was assassinated by the "People's Will". What had Alexander and Melikov planned to do just by the time for the assassination?

Account for the economic development during Alexander II and Alexander III and notice the development in railway building.

Historiography: What do Soviet Marxist historians think of Alexander II and what does Hugh Seton-Watson think?

Explain the chain reaction theory of Alexander II's reforms.

NOTICE! Best of both worlds.