Secret Constitution of Alexander II
~ written by Matt Thompson
By the beginning of 1880, Alexander II was in trouble. The results of the Russo-Turkish War at the Congress of Berlin caused rebellions in Russia reasoned behind the incompetence of the Czar. The results of the Congress of Berlin made things worse in that the liberals fervently increased their efforts for a constitution while radicals gave up all hope in the Czar and published his “death sentence.” The need for a constitution was inevitable. One of the groups that was creating pressure was Land and Liberty, a group influenced by Bakunin. They established a policy of terror called the People’s Will. By creating a constitution, Alexander would be able to separate the liberals and radicals. The idea was to give the liberals their goal and isolate the radicals. The People’s Will claimed they would call off their campaign of terror if a constitution was considered. In their idea, the constitution would provide free elections and the end to censorship. In February of 1880, the Czar announced he was considering the constitution and placed Loris Melikof, the Minister of the Interior, in charge of drafting a constitution that would appease the reformers, but keep the powers of the autocracy. In January of 1881, Melikof presented his draft to Alexander. The constitution included reforms such as the expansion of the powers of the Zemstvo which would include the power to create legislation. Alexander was concerned about the amount of power and placed a committee to sort out details in February. He eventually signed the document on March 13, 1881. This was Russia’s first constitution and the first time in recent history that the government was not ruled by an autocratic despot. However, the failure to announce details of the constitution lead to the frustration of the People’s Will and the plot to assassinate the Czar was confirmed despite advancements in making the constitution. They succeeded on the same day Alexander signed their constitution. He was wounded by a bomb that evening on his way to the Winter Palace and died shortly after. With him died the constitution.