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  • Essay / The different approaches of Alexander II and Alexander III to ruling the Russian Empire

    Alexander II versus Alexander IIIDespite the fact that they are father and son, the approach of Alexander II and Alexander III to govern the Russian Empire was very different, but both share the similarity of wanting what is best for their country. Alexander II was by nature a liberalist. His famous reforms and policies earned him the title of “Liberator Tsar”. In contrast, Alexander III was a conservative, believing in the ideology of absolute autocracy and becoming known as a "peacemaker" for his non-involvement in wars or other foreign conflicts. The death situations of the tsars underlie the differences between their reigns: Alexander II was shot during the eighth assassination attempt on him, while Alexander III died in his bed from kidney disease at age 49 years old. To approach the power and control of the Russian Empire, the two tsars helped it prosper economically, promoting its development, so that Russia would be in the state it is in today. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Both tsars contributed to the industrialization of the Russian Empire, shaping it into the form Russia is in today. Politically, Alexander II and Alexander III had a different approach, but in the economic field, they modernized and expanded the Empire's economy. At first it became clear that the Russian Empire needed economic progress after its defeat in the Crimean War. Serfdom was blamed for the backwardness of the economy, as it did not allow the creation of industries and hindered the free movement of labor; even Nicholas I, Alexander II's more conservative father, called serfdom a "gross evil." The proposed solution to the problem, liberation from serfdom, directly correlated with the liberal view of Alexander II; thus, the Emancipation Manifesto was implemented on March 3, 1861. However, the emancipation attempt had little or no effect on the economy, since the peasants were still tied to the communes and the Mir, managing their affairs financial, and they fell into debt. with the redemption fees that they were unable to pay. The economy was still agrarian, but the peasants, who made up the workforce, had only the worst third of all soil, most of which was unsuitable for cultivation. However, despite slow industrial development, the total workforce increased from 860,000 to 1.32 million in 1887. Under Alexander II's finance minister, Mikhail Ruetern (1862–1878), the construction of the roads of iron began. Railways would open up Russia's vast territories, increasing resource exports, allowing the establishment of industries along the route, and the construction itself would create many jobs. Under Alexander III, industrial development accelerated, with Russia becoming the 4th most important country. powerful economy on the world by the end of his reign in 1894. Alexander III continued his father's reforms, also focusing on railway construction. Under its first new Minister of Finance, Nikolai Bunge (1881-1886), the Peasants' Land Bank was established in 1883 to help peasants in their business, allowing them to purchase land for cultivation at affordable prices, as well as eliminate unpaid redemption payments. During the reign of Alexander III, with the construction of railways, exports of minerals, oil, textiles, etc. increased significantly under Finance Minister Ivan Vyshnegradkiy (1887-1992), who also.