Counter-reforms of Alexander III. National and religious politics

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1
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
FGBOU VO "BURYAT STATE UNIVERSITY"
HISTORY DEPARTMENT
DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL AND NATIONAL HISTORY

Course work

"National and Religious Policy of Alexander III".

Completed by: student of group 08130 s
Semiokhina Tatyana Nikolaevna
__________
(signature)
Scientific adviser: Doctor of History, Associate Professor
Palkhaeva E.N.

« __ »______________2016
______________ (signature)
UlanUde
2016

2
Content
Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………….……….3
Chapter 1. General characteristics of the national and religious policy of Alexander III
“Russian Tsar”…………………………………………………………………….…...……....7
Features of the policy of a multinational state
under Alexander III ……………………………………………………………….………………11
The main measures of religious policy. ……………………..……………….. 13
Peculiarities of Russification….……………………………………………………..…………17
1.1.
1.2.
1.3.
1.4.
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4. Militant nationalism on the outskirts of the Russian state …………....30
4.1. Establishment of Russian control over the Pamirs ……………..…………………….…..32
4.2. Rationale for Russian colonial policy in Central Asia ……………………..33
Chapter 5. Baltic States, Ukraine and Belarus …………………………………………………..…….37
Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………... 41
List of used literature and references …………………………………….……..…..…45

3
Introduction
The national question as a set of political, economic, territorial,
legal, ideological and cultural relations between nations, national groups and
nationalities in the Russian state since ancient times is one of the most acute
social problems.
The empire included many ethnic groups, and the social life of each of them flowed along
special customs and laws. Ethnic groups, of course, interacted, to a greater extent at the level
elites than at the level of peoples, but did not live a single life, common thoughts and moods, did not
existed as a single society.

4
In the book "Social History of Russia in the Period of the Empire"1 the author Mironov B.N. expresses
the opinion that “... the Russian Empire has never been a nation-state. Even
modern Russia is still not one. When you ask a modern
Russians of any age: what is your nationality? He will answer Karelian, Russian, Tatar,
a Jew, etc. Rarely will anyone say a Russian. If you ask the same question to a US citizen, he
the American will answer. This fact suggests that in a state where the population does not consider itself
united people, problems on the basis of national strife cannot but arise. But not only
ethnic self-identification of the peoples of Russia gives rise to a national
question. It is also largely influenced by the national policy of the state.
1The first generalizing fundamental study of the social history of Russia in world historiography
empire period from the end of the 17th century. until 1917. A wide range of problems is considered from a new angle:
geographic environment and colonization, territorial expansion and the national question, demographic
problems and the transition from the traditional to the modern model of population reproduction, the development of a small family and
democratization of intra-family relations, social structure and social mobility of the population, city and
the village in the process of urbanization, the dynamics of serf relations from the zenith to the sunset at the beginning of the 20th century,
the evolution of rural and urban communities, urban and noble corporations, the mentality of various estates as
an important factor in social dynamics, the evolution of Russian statehood from patriarchal to
constitutional monarchy, the formation of civil society and the rule of law, the interaction
societies and states as a driving force social change, a change in the type of dominant legal
relations in society and the dynamics of crime, modernization and welfare of the population. Study
is based on mass statistical sources and the application of interdisciplinary and comparatively
historical approaches, it widely used the work of foreign historians. The book is richly illustrated
contains as appendices: Chronology of the main events of the social history of Russia, Bibliography,
with over 4,000 titles, and a unique Statistical Supplement: Russia and the Great Powers in the XIX
XX centuries /.

5
The author makes a rough estimate of the situation of Jews, Bashkirs and Russians in 1897,
which coincides with the year of the general census. United Nations Welfare Assessment
uses the Human Development Index2,
including three indicators longevity (average life expectancy),
education (adult literacy and the proportion of children enrolled in school) and
material well-being (gross product per capita); each indicator has
equal value for index. By the end of the XIX century. average life expectancy for
a newborn Jew was 39.0 years old, a Bashkir 37.3 years old, and a Russian 28.7 years old, i.e.
10.3 and 8.6 years less, respectively (I, 208). The relatively low mortality rate
higher rates of natural growth among Jews and Bashkirs in relation to Russians. Behind
17951897 the number of Jews increased from 750,800 thousand to 5,216 thousand by about 6.7 times.
2Welfare is a characteristic of the socio-economic conditions of life and the satisfaction of needs
population. According to the UN recommendations, well-being is a system of several elements: health, in
including demographic conditions, food, clothing, consumption and accumulation funds; working conditions, employment,
labor organization; education, incl. literacy; housing; social Security; human freedoms. For
international comparison of the standard of living (well-being) the UN uses the so-called "index
human development", including the transformed national income per capita,
life expectancy, education. The main element of well-being is the level and differentiation
income of the population. The level of income as a whole is the result of the development of the country's economy and the presence of natural resources in it.
resources. Income differentiation develops under the influence of economic, demographic and
social factors and is measured by the ratio of the level of material security of 10 percent of the most and
10 percent of the poorest groups of the population (decile ratio). One of the main characteristics
well-being of the population is the degree of conformity of cash income to the subsistence level. IN
"Declaration of the rights and freedoms of man and citizen" (part 2 of article 26) provides,
types of social assistance should provide a standard of living below the subsistence level established by law
minimum." The subsistence minimum is an indicator of the volume and structure of consumption of the most important material
goods and services at the minimum acceptable level, which ensures the conditions for maintaining an active physical
the state of the population. The subsistence minimum budget is a cost estimate of natural
a living wage set, and also includes the cost of taxes and mandatory payments. When studying
well-being is an acute problem of low income due to low income, low
qualifications, unemployment, dependency, etc. Welfare, along with income and consumption,
includes working and living conditions, the volume and structure of working and free time, indicators of cultural and
educational attainment, health, demographics and demographic and environmental situation. Most
countries with a market economy, the predominant part of spending on education, medicine, social service
covered by collective funding sources. negative impact on well-being
population inflation, which devalues ​​the income of the population. Negative consequences of inflation are neutralized
through an income indexation policy.
that “pensions, benefits and other

6
Not a single nationality in Russia knew such a growth rate of 1.9% per year. Thanks to this, in
19th century the share of Jews in the population of the country increased from 2 to 4.15%, despite the fact that Russia
Transcaucasia, Kazakhstan and Central Asia were annexed. At the end of the XVIII century. Jews were ninth
by the number of the people of Russia (after Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Poles, Lithuanians,
Latvians, Tatars and Finns), and at the beginning of the 20th century. fifth, ahead of the Finns, Lithuanians, Latvians and
Tatars. Until the solution of the Bashkir question at the end of the 18th century. share of Bashkirs in the population of Russia
decreased from 1.1% in 1719 to 0.5% in 1795 due to emigration and a decrease in the natural
growth; after the solution of the Bashkir question at the end of the 18th century. share of Bashkirs in the population of Russia
began to increase and amounted to 0.8% in 1857 and 1.0% in 1914, and the share of Russians continuously
decreased from 70.7% in 1719 to 44.6% in 1914 (1, 2526).
In 1897: the average life expectancy for Russians was 28.7 years, for non-Russians 35.4
of the year.
Literacy of the adult population among Russians was 20%, non-Russians 35%.
State income per capita in 30 Great Russian provinces was 7.39
r., and in 39 provinces with a predominantly non-Russian population 7.88 (1, 33). Second indirect
indicator of the well-being of the population body length of recruits for 1874-1883. Average height
recruits from 28 Great Russian provinces was about 1 cm below average height
recruits from the other 22 provinces populated predominantly by non-Russians (I, 350). So
Thus, they lagged significantly behind non-Russians, in terms of income, given the roughness of the estimate,
position differed little. In general, the human development index of non-Russians was higher,
than the Russians, and the position of non-Russians as a whole was more preferable.
The national policy of Alexander Romanov is characterized by Orthodox patriotism
and militant Russification. Negative assessment of solutions to the national question
penultimate emperor, indicates that it was Alexander III who became the author of the slogan
"Russia for Russians" and laid the foundations of nationalism in the country. The justification part is being built
to indicate that Alexander III was a real Russian tsar who tried to protect
national traditions and do everything to ensure that the rights of Russians are not infringed.
The relevance of the topic "National and religious policy of Alexander III", taken for
research in this course work is to search for truth in the activities of the Russian
ruler in relation to other peoples based on objective assessments of historical sources
and scientific research.
The chronological framework of the study is the reign of Alexander III: 1881
1894
The source base of the study was:

7
1) legislative acts in the field national policy: manifests; decrees;
2) correspondence of Alexander III and his personal diaries;
3) memories of friends, close people of Alexander III: Grand Duke Alexander
Mikhailovich;
4) memoirs of statesmen and political figures of Russia: an outstanding Russian
statesman S. Yu. Witte3, who during the reign of Alexander III was
a member of the government; teacher, long-term mentor of the emperor, and later ober
Prosecutor of the Synod K.P. Pobedonostsev.
Historiography devoted to the study of national and religious issues in the period from
1881 to 1894 is quite extensive. The problem of the national question in Russia is widely
3Sergey Yulievich Witte. The track record of S. Witte is quite impressive: Active State Councilor
(1899), secretary of state, honorary member of the Academy of Sciences, Minister of Railways (1892), Minister of Finance (1892
1903), chairman of the Committee and the Council of Ministers (1903-1906), member of the State Council (since 1903). By
Witte is a Dutchman, he received the Russian nobility in 1856. He had a higher education
Faculty of Physics and Mathematics of the University. S. Witte was distinguished by political far-sightedness, strove
implement reforms that were far ahead of their time. Being a monarchist in his views, he easily
caught new phenomena in the political life of countries, and it was he who owned the projects of many reforms,
carried out by the emperor. Not everyone was happy with his work. It is no coincidence that more than once Witte was disgraced
retired. But there is no doubt that S. Witte's contribution to the development of the country is enormous. On the initiative of S. Witte and his active
participation, the most important reforms were carried out in the country: the publication of the Manifesto on October 17, 1905, which granted
civil liberties, the creation of the State Duma, the transformation of the State Council (it became the top
chamber of parliament), the introduction of a new electoral law, changes in the Fundamental Laws of the Empire (Russia became
limited monarchy).

8
presented both in Russian and world scientific literature. general works,
the object of study of which was the reign of Alexander III, are the publications of the authors:
Zaionchkovsky P. A., Bokhanov A. I., Tolmachev E. P., Mayorova E. I., Tvardovskaya V. A., Richard
Wortman4 and others. All of them have their own view on the national policy of Alexander III, in
dependent on the ideology. One more direction
historiography presents a block of works exploring the problems of nationalism in the Russian
empire. These include studies by Miller A. and Dolbilov M5. The works of these authors
show the objectivity of the national policy of Alexander III, especially on
the national outskirts of the empire, trying to establish the historical causes of the contradictions
foreign policy of modern Russia.
4 Richard S. Wortman Scenarios of power. Myths and ceremonies of the Russian monarchy. T.2. From Alexander I to abdication
Nicholas II. Page 251
5
Richard S. Wortman Scripts of Power. Myths and ceremonies of the Russian monarchy. T.2. From Alexander I to abdication
Nicholas II. Page 251.

9
To the works revealing the research topic “National and Religious Policy
Alexander III" and dedicated to the position of Jews, Poles, Finns in the Russian Empire,
can be attributed to the studies of such authors as Dudakov S. Yu., Shulgin V. V., A. I.
Solzhenitsyn and V.I. Lenin about the Jews in Russia.
The national question is an integral part of the social status of the population
country. It should be noted his study by Mironov B.N. in "Social History"
Russia in the Empire Period. With the help of the characteristics that the author gives to various
social groups living in the empire, you can establish differences in the position
peoples of Russia at the end of the 19th century.
Research methods are:
 Historical and genetic
(retrospective) method to show causal
investigative connections and patterns of development of a historical event
 Historical comparative method (in combination with the method of identification, analogies as
the logical basis of this method), which makes it possible to identify both general and special features in
development of various events, phenomena, structures.
 The principle of historicism. This method of studying phenomena in their origin and development, in their connection with
specific conditions involves the study of a phenomenon, taking into account specific
the historical situation of the corresponding era, in interconnection and interdependence
events.
 System principle. This principle is based on the study of objects as systems. He
focuses the study on the disclosure of the integrity of the object and the mechanisms that ensure it,
to identify the diverse types of connections of a complex object.
The purpose of the study: to identify the features of the national and religious policy of the period
18811894 and establish its causes.
Achieving this goal involves solving the following research problems:
Submit short review national and religious policy of Alexander III.

10
Consider the problem and solution of the Jewish, Polish and Finnish questions by Alexander
III.
Make a conclusion about the national and religious policy of Alexander III, determine it
features and historical significance.
The subject of research in this paper is the national and religious policy
Alexandra
Chapter 1 Alexander III. General characteristics of national and religious policy.
1.1 "Russian Tsar"
Alexander III Alexandrovich Romanov (February 26 (March 10) 1845 (Anichkov Palace,
Saint Petersburg October 20 (November 1), 1894, Livadia Palace, Crimea), Emperor
All-Russian, Tsar of Poland and Grand Duke of Finland since March 1 (13), 1881. Honored
special epithet in pre-revolutionary historiography Peacemaker.
Not being the heir to the throne by birth, Alexander Alexandrovich was preparing for
military activity. Became Tsarevich in 1865 after the death of the elder brother of the Grand Duke
Nikolai Alexandrovich, from that time began to receive a more extensive and fundamental
education. Among the mentors of Alexander Alexandrovich were S. M. Solovyov (history), Ya.
K. Grot (history of literature), M. I. Dragomirov (military art). The greatest impact on
the crown prince was provided by a teacher of jurisprudence K. P. Pobedonostsev.

11
In 1866, Alexander Alexandrovich married the bride of his late brother, a Danish princess.
Dagmar6 (1847-1928; in Orthodoxy Maria Feodorovna). The couple had children: Nikolai
(later Russian Emperor Nicholas II), George, Xenia, Mikhail, Olga.
Alexander Alexandrovich was the chief ataman of all Cossack troops, occupied a number
military posts (up to the commander of the troops of the St. Petersburg Military District and
Guard Corps). Since 1868, a member of the State Council and the Committee of Ministers. IN
Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878 commanded the Ruschuk detachment in Bulgaria. Together with
Pobedonostsev participated in the creation of the Volunteer Fleet (joint-stock shipping
companies) to promote the foreign economic policy of the government. After death
Alexander II at the throne, a struggle unfolded between the liberals and the guards Leaders
guards K.P. Pobedonostsev7 (from 1880 the chief prosecutor of the Holy Synod) and journalist M.
6
ai
oi
(Fe is good
) (at birth Maria Sophia Frederica Dagmar (D gmara
Marya Feodorovna
Frederikke Dagmar; November 14 (26), 1847, Copenhagen, Denmark October 13, 1928, Widöre Castle near Klampenborg,
Denmark) Empress of Russia, wife of Alexander III (since October 28, 1866), mother of Emperor Nicholas II. Daughter
Christian, Prince of Glücksburg, later Christian IX, King of Denmark. Was originally a bride
Tsarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich, the eldest son of Alexander II, who died in 1865.
), date Marie Sophie
aa
7
oi
Constant n Petr vich Pobedon stsev
ai
(May 21, 1827, Moscow March 10, 1907, St. Petersburg)
Russian jurist, statesman of conservative views, writer, translator, historian
church; active privy councillor. The main ideologist of the counter-reforms of Alexander III. In 1880-1905 occupied
Post-Berprocurator of the Holy Synod. Member of the State Council (since 1872). Taught jurisprudence
oi

12
N. Katkov opposed plans for changes in state structure proposed
Minister of Internal Affairs M.T. LorisMelikov. At the insistence of Pobedonostsev, Alexander
III issued on April 29, 1881 a manifesto "On the inviolability of autocracy", which led to the resignation
Loris Melikov and his supporters.
Alexander Alexandrovich adhered to strict rules of morality, was very devout, distinguished
frugality, modesty, hostility to comfort, spent his leisure time in a narrow family and
friendly circle. He was interested in music, participated in home concerts, playing the
French horn and "bass", painting, history, was one of the initiators of the creation of the Russian
Historical Society and its first chairman.
It soon became known that the new heir openly sympathized with the idea of ​​a Russian
national policy and bestows with its special location the main conductors of the named
ideas of Katkov and Aksakov8. Such views of the heir greatly disturbed the so-called
to the heirs to the throne, Nikolai Alexandrovich (the eldest son of Emperor Alexander II), the future
emperors Alexander III and Nicholas II, who enjoyed great respect. Along
with M. N. Katkov is considered the "gray eminence" of the government of Alexander III.
8
Aksakov consistently pursued in his journalism the idea of ​​the need for the evolution of the Russian Empire in
Russian national state: “... Russia is Russia only because it is Russia, a living, whole body, and not
mosaic assembly of infidels and foreigners. Other folk personalities can cling to this body and
bodies, can be transformed into its organic essence or only enjoy its protection, but the whole meaning of being,
all strength, reason, historical vocation lies precisely in holy Russia ... The Russian state is only up to that
time and to the extent firmly and strongly in which it is imbued with the spirit of the Russian people, as long as it remains true

13
Westerners who surrounded Alexander II, they anxiously thought about the future. Heir
The Tsesarevich, who sympathized with the idea of ​​Slavism9, strongly disagrees with his
parents. Yes, and in the characters of father and son there was a big difference.
This feature of views and characters is manifested by the crown prince in his state
activities both as chancellor of the Finnish Alexander University, and in
features as the head of various military units from the smallest to the most
large, including the command of the troops of the St. Petersburg Military District.
Promoted liberalization outside parties social activities: canceled
kneeling before the king, allowed smoking on the streets and in public places, etc.
folk Russian principles, as long as it is Russia ... The Russian Sovereign is the Russian Sovereign, and only, and not Polish,
German, etc. If other nationalities are under the protection of his mighty power, then only on the condition that
so that this protection does not contradict the benefits, happiness and prosperity of the Russian people. ”Russianness was determined
Aksakov religiously, Orthodoxy seemed to him "the essential content of the Russian national
type ":" What does the expression Russian Catholic mean? .. It means: Russian, denying Orthodoxy ... What
will remain with the Russian, from his Russian nationality, outside this principle, which he rejects? .. Language,
physiological signs, loyalty? But is this only nationality? Where
its spiritual elements? How can there be a commonality of spiritual national interests between a Latin and
Orthodox Russian? Russians of the Latin, Moiseev, Mohammedan laws are good, who cannot name
Russia Holy Russia, as it was called by the Orthodox Russian people who created it!” Somewhat later, through the mouth of M.N.
Katkova declared herself a civilian version of Russian nationalism, which the publisher of Moskovskie Vedomosti
detailed in a number of articles in 1864. The main nerve of these works is the assertion of a few simple theses:
1) civilized state = nation state; 2) in the nation-state, only one is possible
nation; 3) in Russia, only the Russian nation can be such a nation; 4) membership in the Russian nation is not closely related
ethnic or confessional criteria, but is based on linguistic and civil assimilation.
9

14
reforms of his father Alexander III saw the negative aspects of the growth of government
bureaucracy, the difficult financial situation of the people, imitation of Western models.
He had a dislike for liberalism and the intelligentsia. His views were reinforced
impressions from the life and customs of the higher spheres (the long-term relationship of his father with Princess E. M.
Dolgorukova, corruption in government circles).
The political convictions of the king were deeply conservative, which clearly affected
meetings on the fight against the revolutionary movement and on the direction domestic policy in 1880
year. He spoke out for the inviolability of unlimited autocracy, as
the primordial foundations of Russian life, and for organizing the struggle against revolutionary currents under
aided by widespread repressive measures.
The beginning of the reign of Alexander III was characterized by a tightening of administrative
police repression and censorship (Regulations on measures to protect the state
security and public safety, 1881; Provisional rules on the press, 1882). TO
mid-1880s, the government managed to suppress the revolutionary
Alexander III was a national Sovereign and in all respects he recognized himself as a Russian. For what
Empress Catherine II aspired, then Alexander III, really realized and was the first monarch,
who, after Peter cut a window to Europe, opposed the flow of Western European culture
national Russian aspirations and ideals.

15
movement, first of all, "Narodnaya Volya". At the same time, measures have been taken to facilitate
the financial situation of the people and mitigating social tensions in society (introduction
mandatory redemption and reduction of redemption payments, the establishment of the Peasant Land
bank, the introduction of factory inspection, the phased abolition of the poll tax, etc.).

Minister of Internal Affairs N. P. Ignatiev10 tried to crown the policy of “people’s
autocracy" by convening an all-estate Zemsky Sobor, but this was sharply opposed
Katkov and Pobedonostsev. In May 1882, Alexander III replaced N. P. Ignatiev with a convinced
supporter of the reactionary policy of D. A. Tolstoy11. Supported by Alexander
10
N.P. Ignatiev served the Fatherland as an envoy in Beijing (1859-1860), an ambassador in Constantinople (1864
1877), Minister of the Interior (1881-1882). Count Ignatiev rose to the rank of general adjutant (1878). At the beginning
In 1856, he participated in the Russian delegation to the Paris Peace Conference. First notable
Ignatiev's step in the diplomatic field was the case of the delimitation of lands in Bessarabia,
considered at the conference: Austria, supported by England, wanted to take advantage of an oversight
our diplomats and, if possible, move Russia away from the Danube and the Prut, including in the
the space of Bolgrad, Komrad and as many Bulgarian colonies as possible. In January 2008, a very important thing happened
event: President of Russia V. Putin and President of Bulgaria G. Parvanov unveiled a monument to Count N.P. Ignatiev.
11
ai
oi
Count Dmitry Andrevich Tolst
Russian statesman and historian: Chief Prosecutor of the Holy Governing Synod (23
March 1823, Moscow April 25, 1889, St. Petersburg)
ei
(1

16
III D. A. Tolstoy and his successor I. N. Durnovo pursued a policy of restricting liberal
transformations of 1860-1870s12. University charter 1884
d. curtailed autonomy high school. It was difficult for children from lower grades to enter the gymnasium.
estates ("Circular about the cook's children", 1887). Peasant self-government since 1889
was subordinated to the zemstvo chiefs to officials from local landowners, who united in
in their own hands judicial and administrative power. Zemsky and city regulations (1890,
1892 d) tightened the control of the administration over local self-government, limited the rights
voters from the lower strata of society.
During the coronation in 1883, Alexander III announced to the volost foremen: “Follow
advice and guidance of your leaders of the nobility. This attitude was reflected in
June 1865 April 23, 1880), Minister of Education (18661880), Minister of the Interior and
chief of the gendarmes (18821889). Also a member of the State Council (since 1866), a senator. Under Alexander II was known
as an energetic reformer, and under Alexander III as a conductor of counter-reform policy. as minister
education, Count Tolstoy carried out a reform of secondary education in 1871, which, according to
, in an introduction to high-volume curricula
according to the authoritative historian A. A. Kornilov
mathematics, along with a significant increase in the teaching of Latin and Greek in gymnasiums, and
only pupils of classical gymnasiums were granted the right to enter the university; former
real gymnasiums were transformed into real schools (1872)

12
ai
ai
oi (1

March 1834, Kaluga province May 29, 1903, near Berlin)
Ivan Nikolayevich Durnov
Russian statesman, Minister of the Interior (18891895), Chairman of the Committee of Ministers (1895-
1903). In 1870, Durnovo was appointed governor of Yekaterinoslav. In 1882 he was appointed comrade
Minister of the Interior Count D. A. Tolstoy. In 1885 he was granted the secretary of state. In 1886 Durnovo
also headed the 4th department of his own imperial office, through which16
charity. In this post, Durnovo won universal sympathy; they were given more
500 new institutions.

17
measures to protect the class rights of noble landowners (the establishment of the Noble Land
bank, the adoption of the Regulations on hiring for agricultural
work), strengthening administrative guardianship over the peasantry, the conservation of the community and a large
patriarchal family. Attempts were made to increase the social role of the Orthodox
churches through the spread of parochial schools, repressions against
Old Believers and sectarians. On the outskirts, a policy of Russification was carried out, limited
the rights of foreigners (especially Jews).

18
1.2 Features of the policy of a multinational state under Alexander III
In the second half of the 19th century, the borders of the Russian Empire were finally established.
After the Russian-Turkish war of 1873-1874, Georgian and Armenian
land, as well as South Bessarabia. Territories of Turkestan possessions were determined
Russia in Central Asia, delimited territories between Russia and China in the Far East.
In 1875, the rights to Sakhalin were recognized for Russia13.
13
In the face of the prospect of a new war with Turkey, which could again be supported by the Western powers,
the Russian government was interested in a speedy resolution of the Far Eastern problems. 25
April (May 7), 1875, a document was signed in St. Petersburg, which remained in
history entitled "Treatise concluded between Russia and Japan on April 25, 1875, with
additional article signed in Tokyo on August 10 (22), 1875. According to him, the rights to the whole of Sakhalin
Russia received, and all the Kuril Islands passed into the possession of Japan. Although the treaty of 1875
often referred to as an exchange, in reality it was not about the exchange of one territory for another, but about
the surrender of the Kuriles in exchange for Japan's formal recognition of Russia's rights to Sakhalin. Should be paid
Special attention to the fact that Russia donated its territory, which was officially, in
including in terms of international law, recognized as such by the treatise of 1855, and "exchange"
Japanese rights to Sakhalin had no legal formalization. Therefore, the statements
the Japanese side that the Petersburg Treaty of 1875 "was truly equal
treaty" are valid only for Japan. Russia, as in 1855, for the sake of good neighborliness with
Japan again made significant territorial concessions with serious consequences. "From
exchange of the Kuril Islands for Sakhalin,” one of the tsarist diplomats said, “Russia not only
benefited, but, on the contrary, got into a mess, because if Japan arranges a strong port on
some of the Kuril Islands and thereby stop the communication of the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bOkhotsk with the Sea of ​​​​Japan, Russia
will lose access to the Pacific Ocean and find himself, as it were, in nets. On the contrary, if she continued to own
the Kuril Islands, the Pacific Ocean would always be open to her.”

19
Under Alexander III Russian empire was 120 million people,
which included more than 200 nations, nationalities and diverse ethnic
groups. The huge difference in the levels of development of the peoples living in the country significantly
complicate the conduct of national policy.
Considering the policy of Alexander III, one must take into account the personal qualities of the king. By
in character and mentality the tsar was a Russian man. Like a Russian
identified the Orthodox faith. For Alexander Romanov, religiosity meant something
more than obedience to the ritual requirements of the church. He loved church service and
prayed earnestly. Religion gave him an emotional connection to both his dead brother and his mother.5
Russianness was the feature that first of all caught the eye of everyone who
met with the emperor. He was raised in the Orthodox faith by his mother, Empress
Maria Alexandrovna. His teachers and educators were people who deeply loved
Russia: historian S.M. Solovyov and philologist F.I. Buslaev. an important role in shaping it
personality was played by the famous lawyer K. Pobedonostsev. Writer I. Turgenev, who wrote after
meeting in Paris with Tsarevich Alexander Alexandrovich in a French magazine
article "Alexander III", noted: "All that can be said about him is that he is Russian and only
Russian. He even provides a wonderful example of the influence of the environment according to Darwin's theory:
barely a few drops of Russian blood flow in his veins, and yet he has become so merged with it
people, that everything in it is language, habits, manners, even the very physiognomy is marked
the hallmarks of the race. Wherever they saw him, everywhere they would call his homeland.
Alexander III knew and loved Russian history well, highly honored and preserved Russian
traditions and customs. Under him, in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, all office work and
correspondence began to be conducted in Russian. All these facts indicate that the king was
real Russian patriot. For the tsar, Russian meant native. He always spoke
in Russian, preferred Russian food to overseas delicacies, was a Russian
nationalist. The formation of a nation, its spiritual and moral self-determination in all countries
at certain stages of history led to the triumph of the national idea and national
leaders. In Russia, such a time is the second half of the 19th century.
There was also a tough national policy, which is usually denoted by the motto
“Russia for Russians”14 (the term “Russian” meant not only ethnic Russians, but
14

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and everyone, especially representatives of other Slavic peoples adhering to
Orthodox denomination).
At the same time, it was not about the fact that all non-Russians should be either expelled or
forcibly "transformed" into Russians. Nobody set such goals and could not set them. essence
Russification was formulated quite differently: to ensure priorities for the Russian
(Orthodox) element, to ensure that Russians and Russians become the first and
main.
The existence of the slogan back in the 60s of the 19th century is confirmed
quote by M. N. Katkov in article No. 264 of the Moscow News of 1867,
devoted to the issue of colonization of the Southwestern Caucasus, the author points to
the existence of the slogan and agreeing with it, requires the colonization of the region
exclusively with the help of the Russian population (instead of colonization by the Germans,
Armenians and Greeks): “Recently, one newspaper proclaimed with animation:
Russia is for russians! Here is the Caucasus with its mineral wealth, with its
almost tropical vegetation, finally with its sea coast,
which has become an integral part of Russia: for whom is the Caucasus? The authorship of the slogan is often
attributed to W. A. ​​Gringmuth, the author of the oldest publication since
using this slogan: "Russia is for the Russians" - this is the slogan of the Russian
The monarchist party, which clearly understands that if Russia is given
foreigners, gentiles and foreigners - then not only in Russia there will be no
Autocratic Monarchy, but there will be no Russia itself. The slogan became central
idea of ​​the Black Hundreds. According to other versions, the slogan appeared during the period
reign of Emperor Alexander III. There is a version that the emperor himself
said: “Russia must belong to the Russians, and anyone who lives on this
land, is obliged to respect and appreciate this people. According to
General A.N. Kuropatkin, the tsar chose "Russia for the Russians" as his motto, because.
considered it necessary to satisfy the popular feeling, according to which Russia
should belong to the Russians, free Russia's foreign policy from guardianship
foreign powers, streamline and consolidate the internal system of government,
to develop the spiritual and material forces of the Russian people. Some believe
that the author is General M. D. Skobelev, who is credited with the words: “I want
write on your banner: "Russia for Russians and in Russian", and raise this banner
as high as possible! The slogan "Russia for the Russians!" was in tune with F.
Dostoevsky, who wrote that "the owner of the Russian land is one
only Russian (Great Russian, Little Russian, Belarusian - it's all the same)")