What was the historical significance of the Tsar Alexander IIs assassination?
Alexander felt that Russia’s backwardness was the major reason that they lost the Crimean War. The British & French were able to re-supply their troops far easier than were the Russians, and the war was on Russian territory. He set about reforming Russia to try to compete with the other European powers. In agriculture he freed the serfs – well, almost – as they had to buy their freedom over 50 years. And he consolidated the position of the Mir – the village council / court and land distribution agency. He brought in political reforms in the cities and in the provinces to increase participation in political life. He began a programme of industrialisation to build up the resources needed for a modern military power – textiles for uniforms, iron and steel for guns and railways and new railway lines to connect the country together. He also liberalised some of the harsh laws on political groupings. His assassination made his successor, his son Alexander III reign in the reform programme, cl
