AQA · A-Level · History
Course version: 7042 · Version from Sept 2017
Political authority and attempts at reform: Alexander II; emancipation of…
Full specification wording
1H Tsarist and Communist Russia, 1855–1964 – Trying to preserve autocracy, 1855–1894: Political authority and attempts at reform: Alexander II; emancipation of the serfs and attempts at domestic and military reform
Alexander II attempted to reform Russia from above to preserve his autocratic political authority.
Checked against the AQA 7042 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 2 of 6
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Alexander II attempted to reform Russia from above to preserve his autocratic political authority. The centrepiece was the 1861 Emancipation of the Serfs, which freed peasants from ownership but burdened them with 49-year redemption payments and tied them to the mir (village commune). Domestic reforms followed to replace the nobility's lost local authority, including the creation of elected local councils (zemstva) in 1864, and an overhaul of the judiciary introducing trial by jury. Military reforms, led by Milyutin, reduced conscription terms from 25 to 15 years and modernised training. While these reforms significantly modernised Russian society, they were ultimately designed to strengthen the autocracy rather than pave the way for a liberal democracy.
What earns the marks
- Analyse the motives behind Alexander II's reforms, focusing on the desire to strengthen autocracy and prevent revolution from below.
- Evaluate the terms of the 1861 Emancipation Edict, including the role of redemption payments and the continued control by the mir.
- Assess the significance and limitations of domestic reforms, such as the introduction of the zemstva and the 1864 legal reforms.
- Explain the military reforms implemented by Dmitry Milyutin, including changes to conscription length and army organisation.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Claiming the Emancipation Edict gave peasants free land.
Put it right by explaining that peasants had to pay long-term redemption payments for their land allocations.
Stating that the zemstva were a form of national parliament.
Put it right by defining them strictly as local government councils with limited powers over regional affairs.
Assuming Alexander II wanted to create a democracy.
Put it right by emphasising that his reforms were intended to secure and modernise the autocratic system, not dismantle it.
Exam tips
- Evaluate the success of the Emancipation by contrasting the legal freedom granted with the economic hardships and restrictions imposed by the mir.
- Connect the military reforms directly to the failures of the Crimean War to show continuity and cause-and-effect in your essays.
- Discuss the limitations of the zemstva, noting that they were still dominated by the nobility and could be overruled by provincial governors.
Try the lesson
The start of the 1H Tsarist and Communist Russia, 1855–1964 – Trying to preserve autocracy, 1855–1894: Political authority and attempts at reform: Alexander II; emancipation of the serfs and attempts at domestic and military reform lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which major domestic reform was introduced by Tsar Alexander II in 1861?
Listen
Alexander II attempted to reform Russia from above to preserve his autocratic political authority. The centrepiece was the 1861 Emancipation of the Serfs, which freed peasants from ownership but burdened them with 49-year redemption payments and tied them to the mir (village commune). Domestic reforms followed to replace the nobility's lost local authority, including the creation of elected local councils (zemstva) in 1864, and an overhaul of the judiciary introducing trial by jury. Military reforms, led by Milyutin, reduced conscription terms from 25 to 15 years and modernised training. While these reforms significantly modernised Russian society, they were ultimately designed to strengthen the autocracy rather than pave the way for a liberal democracy. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Analyse the motives behind Alexander II's reforms, focusing on the desire to strengthen autocracy and prevent revolution from below. Evaluate the terms of the 1861 Emancipation Edict, including the role of redemption payments and the continued control by the mir. Assess the significance and limitations of domestic reforms, such as the introduction of the zemstva and the 1864 legal reforms. Explain the military reforms implemented by Dmitry Milyutin, including changes to conscription length and army organisation. A common slip: Claiming the Emancipation Edict gave peasants free land. Instead, explaining that peasants had to pay long-term redemption payments for their land allocations. Exam tip: Evaluate the success of the Emancipation by contrasting the legal freedom granted with the economic hardships and restrictions imposed by the mir.
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