Russian History (A-Level) Timeline 1855-1917

Alexander II became Tsar of Russia after the fall of his father in the Crimean War. He was Assassinated by the People's Will

Alexander III becomes Tsar

Vyshnegradsky becomes the Minister of Finance, He follows a Hardline Policy of:
.Indirect Taxation
.Forced Grain Exports
.Import Tarrifs
These policies resulted in grain export increasing by about 20% and by 1892 the budget was in surplus.
However he also caused the Famine of 1891-92 which killed over 300,000

Witte becomes minister of finance and follows his 'Rapid Industrialization Programme':
.Interest rates raised
.Issued the Gold standard for the rouble
.Brought in foreign experts and workers
.relocate peasant to the un-farmed lands of Siberia
the results of this were:
.the number of workers in cities doubled
.only 750,000 peasant moved
.by 1897 Russia had the fourth largest industrial economy
. coal production increased from 3.2 million tonnes in 1880 to 25.4 million tonnes in 1910.

Stolypin was Prime Minister
In 1906 Stolypin introduced a repressive Courts Martial which resulted in over 60,000 people executed, exiled and imprisoned.

Censorship was transferred from church to the government + new regulations in 1956 reduced restrictions of publishing.

.Tax farming was abolished
.banks established
.subsidies offered to private companies
.annual divdends were offered to foreign investors.lowered trade tarrifs
results: growth of cotten and mining industries
tax system not changed kept peasants poor
unstable currency.

.Serfs given freedom to marry, own land + Business and Travel.
.Landlords gained government bonds as compensation
.49 year Redemption payments
.MIR: Freed serfs had to remain inside MIR until they has payed the redemption payments.
.Volost established to supervise MIR (Run by Nobles)
for 4 months after the reform there were over 600 peasant riots.

.The Zemstva took control of primary education
.free primary education open to all classes and sex
.Universities were made self-governing.
SUCCESSES AND FAILURES: the amount of students increase however the education was still based on religion.

.Better pay and training for Judges
.All classes judged equally before the law + open proceedings
.local courts under Magistrates for minor crimes.