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QR Challenge: How far did Alexander II ignore the needs of the minorities in the Russian Empire?

QuestionAnswer
Alexander II is seen as Tsar Liberator of Russians and Bulgarians in Bulgaria as he ‘liberated’ them from the Ottoman Turks in the Russo-Turkish war in 1877.Bulgarians
The upper class people of Latvia and Estonia (also called the Baltic Germans) were dealt with liberally. There were rising nationalism in both states in the middle classes. They campaigned for social and economic equality between all Estonians but their newspaper, Sakala, made it clear they supported the tsarist regimes in Russian.Balkans
Alexander II allowed some Jews to love outside the Pale of Settlement. (merchants and doctors)Jews
In 1876 an official commission was set up to investigate separatist activity in the Ukraine.Ukraine
1863 forbade publications and imported books in Ukrainian.Ukraine
This had been a rebellious part of the empire since the 1830s.Poland
Russian artillery squads based in Poland were not directly issued with shells to prevent them from getting in to rebel hands.Poland
1863 Revolt - Poles wanted freedom as they saw the Emancipation of serfs in Russia. Wielopolski PM of Poland 1862 seen as a Tsarist lapdog, reforms on the basis of Polish national identity with Russia's approval. There was an attempted assassination including him and his viceroy, the Grand Duke Konstantin.Poland
The new recruits failed to cooperate and fled into the woods to make rebel groups. Guerrilla warfare, supported by Land and Liberty and Russian military officers. Jaroslaw Dabrowski was an officer trained in the Russian army. He became the rebel leader.Poland
The rebellion did not have the support of the peasants. The countryside faced some disruption and destruction. The Russian army had to step in and regain control. They captured and executed rebel leaders.Poland
Gorchakov (Foreign Minister) wanted Poland to be ruled by Polish aristocracy under the Tsar. Milyutin (War Minister) wanted Polish gentry to be purged and Russian officials to be brought in Wielopolski fled the country and Milyutin in charge.Poland
Peasants were given the freehold rights to their land when they were emancipated and then made payments through a tax system. This put them in a better position than the peasants in Russia. All landowners had to pay tax, not just the peasants.Poland
Rural councils (similar to zemstva) were set up and there were representatives from all sections of society.Poland
Russian became the official language of governance and administration. It was taught in schools.Poland
The Catholic Church was not allowed to communicate with the Vatican as it was believed that a number of bishops were sympathetic to the rebels.Poland

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