The Crimean War (waged between 1853 and 1856) and the death of Emperor Nicholas I in 1855 enforced a number of reforms concerning governing of the state as well as a reform of the judiciary. The vast majority of the reforms took place during the first decade of Alexander II’s reign. They resulted in the modernization of the Russian Empire and in fundamental social changes in the country. They stemmed from the granting of personal freedom to peasants as well as from the introduction of local (Russian zemstvo) and municipal government. The reforms also pertained to higher education institutions which obtained autonomy as a result. An unsuccessful attempt on the life of Alexander II on the 4th of April 1866 caused the pace of changes to slow down. Also, the importance of the conservative forces in the emperor’s surroundings was increased.
Source: Szpoper D. (2019) Russia after the Crimean War in the first decade of the reign of Alexander II (until 1866). Czasopismo Prawno-Historyczne. № LXXІ. Is.1: 11-39
Source web-site: https://pressto.amu.edu.pl/index.php/cph/article/view/19753/19465
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