Reforms of 1860s-1870s, which came down in history as the Great Reforms, were a broad range of transformations affecting all spheres of Russian society life. The main was the Emancipation Reform of 1861 abolishing serfdom, which evidently was dragging country development. Moreover, the other reforms were issued concerning finance (1860–1870), promoting university education (1863), promoting local self-government through the zemstvo system and reorganizing the judicial system (1864), reforms on censorship (1865) and military service (1860–1870).
Inconsistency of Alexander II political policy annoyed both right-wing and left-wing. This partly explained terrorist acts against the Emperor. After 7 assassination attempts in 15 years, Alexander II was fatally wounded on March 1st, 1881 on his way to government session about a new project of Russian Empire organization named Loris-Melikov Constitution.
Issuing the Manifesto on Unshakable Autocracy on April 29th, 1881 and Statute on State Policy Measures on August 14th 1881 were the government reaction on public disorders in the end of 1870s - beginning of 1880s. Under new policy repressive measures towards press reinforced, university autonomy abolished, rights of self-administrations in villages and towns restricted. Some ethnic groups were discriminated. Economical support measures for the upper class were initiated. At the same time the Peasants' Land Bank was founded, redemption payments reduced, capitation tax abolished, and established an obligatory repurchasing of the peasants, who kept paying render.
