Vasilii Surikov, Morning of the Execution of the Streltsy (1698) (painting done in 1881). Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Surikov_streltsi.jpg.

Ilya Repin, “Religious Procession in the Province of Kursk” (1883). Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kurskaya_korennaya.jpg.

Vladimir Makovsky, “The Tea Party” (1897). Source: http://www.tretyakovgallery.ru/en/collection/_show/image/_id/200

Vasilii Perov, “A Governess Arrives at a Merchant’s Home” (1866). Source: http://www.tretyakovgallery.ru/en/collection/_show/image/_id/2614

Alexander II and the Great Reforms

“Homage from the Imperial Family to Alexander II” (1856)By Mihály Zichy

Alexander II

• ruled 1855-1881

• became Tsar during the Crimean War when his father, Nicholas I, died

• known as the “Tsar-Liberator” for the emancipation of the serfs in 1861

• implemented the Great Reforms in state and legal administration

• assassinated in 1881

Emancipation of the Serfs (1861)

“Haggling: A Scene from Serfs’ Way of Life. From the Recent Past” (1866)By Nikolai Nevrev

• Need for military reforms after the Crimean War

• winning over the nobility and the “scenario of love” (Richard Wortman)

• to emancipate with land or without land?

• reform devised over the years 1856-1861

• decree on the abolition of serfdom: February 19, 1861 (March 3, 1861)

• Redemption Payments: money peasants repaid the state over 49 years for loans to get land from former landlords