Foreign Policy of Alexander 2

In the last third of the 19th century, the policy of Alexander 2 was not very successful. Defeat in the Crimean War and the creation of the Crimean system, according to the conditions of the Paris world, weakened Russia's position, its influence on the countries of Europe. Petersburg was no longer a diplomatic capital.

For the fact that Alexander's foreign policy failed 2, the public laid the blame on Nesselrode. Then the emperor sent him to resign, and appointed Foreign Minister Gorchakov. A far-sighted man, inclined to make his own decisions, under Nicholas 1 he did not receive promotion. However, his abilities were noted and appreciated by Alexander 2. The foreign policy proposed by Gorchakov immediately after his confirmation to the post was fully approved by the emperor.

Gorchakov was forced to admit that at the moment the country in the military plan and in terms of the economy is very weak. He said that now Russia should focus on its internal affairs, as well as seek peace with other countries, seek allies to protect. The minister believed that Alexander's foreign policy should not be active for some time, it is necessary to establish relations with neighboring, nearby states.

The first thing Gorchakov decided to shake the Crimean system, getting close to France. And the two sides shared the common rejection of the policy of Austria. The result of the interaction between the French and the Russians was the emergence of a new state - Romania. However, due to the dispute over the status of the Black Sea, the Holy Places and the Polish issue, relations between the two countries have not been further developed.

After the reign of Alexander 2, the national movement of the Poles also revived. In 1861 in Poland the demonstration was dispersed. Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich, appointed there governor, instructed A. Welepolsky, a local aristocrat, to carry out a number of reforms in the country. Edicts were issued to hold classes in schools in Polish, to restore the University of Warsaw, to facilitate the life of the peasants. At the same time, Velopolsky announced the recruitment of young people from the politically unreliable. This decision provoked in 1863 a new uprising, an attack on military garrisons. An interim government was established and the independence of Poland was proclaimed. The reconciliation policy of the Grand Duke completely failed.

England and France felt that after the incident they have the right to intervene in the affairs of Russia. Napoleon 3 proposed to convene an international congress, grant amnesty to those who took part in the riot, and restore the constitution of Poland. Gorchakov rejected all proposals, because he considered the Polish issue to be Russia's internal affair and forbade Russian diplomats to even discuss it. In 1864, the uprising in Poland was suppressed definitively. And Prussia helped in this, which signed a convention with Russia, which provided for free passage across its borders if necessary.

In the late 60s of the 19th century, Alexander's foreign policy was aimed at solving the German problem. Now it was the main problem of many countries in Europe. O. Bismarck, Minister-President of Prussia, wished to solve this issue by active actions. Russia supported him and in 1870 a war broke out between Prussia and France. The victory of Prussia led, finally, to the fall of the Crimean system, the creation of the German Empire and to overturn the map of Europe, to the downfall of Napoleon's regime and the formation of the Paris Commune.

But not always foreign policy of Alexander 2 was in the interests of Russia. In particular, this concerns the declaration of the Russian-Turkish war in 1877. This decision of the emperor was provoked by the inability to solve the Eastern crisis through diplomatic methods and pressure from the leaders of the Slavic committees.