Alexander II (Alexander Nikolaevich) was one of Russia's czars. He succeeded his father Nicholas I. In 1861 he freed Russian serfs from centuries of slavery. The freed serfs gained a few political rights and were allowed to keep their homes and tools instead of receiving land. Alexander II was known as the "Czar Emancipator" for peacefully freeing twenty-million serfs in 1861. The peasants and serfs had to buy land at high prices. Most of the peasants still lived in terrible poverty.
The serfs and peasants didn't think that the reforms went far enough. These Russians formed a lot of public and secret organizations. Revolutionary groups wanted socialism, some wanted a constitution, and some wanted a republic. The serfs thought it was "too little, too late" because they were slaves for centuries. These people plotted a revolution against Alexander II.
Alexander introduced new reforms. He encouraged the building of schools, relaxed censorship, and improved health care. He began developing railroads and organizing a banking system. He promoted reforms in education, reduced controls on the press, and introduced a jury system and other reforms in the courts. He also established forms of self-government in the towns and villages.