Changes

Alexander's reforms eventually caused his downfall. Like Russian leaders since [[Peter Ithe Great]] Alexander was forced to struggle with the paradox that as he reformed his nation, he lost his power to reform (this is a lesson that would be seen again under [[Nicholas II]] and [[Mikhail Gorbachev]]). Starting in the mid 1870s several terrorist groups sought his downfall as they feared his reforms would either end the prospect of revolution, or that they would end short of where they needed to go. Several assassination attempts were made on his life including blowing up his apartments in the Winter Palace (the official residence of the tsar). These attacks led to a crackdown on many of his reforms and with suppression came more acts of terror. In the most ironically tragic turn of events Alexander was killed by a bomb on Sunday March 1^st (O.S), 1881 just hours before he was going to sign a proclamation declaring rule by an advisory council (a rudimentary parliament) and a constitution.<ref>http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/RUSalexander2.htm</ref>

Alexander's legacy was the abolishment of [[serf]]dom and the dawn of the age of Revolution that would culminate in the downfall of Russia's monarchy in March, 1917 and the birth of the Soviet State in November of that year. Abolishing the system enabled his grandson [[Nicholas II]] to greatly grow the Russian economy from 1907-1914 as well greatly expand the literacy rate. His reforms ultimately toppled the Russian Monarchy much like Gorbachev's reforms would topple the Soviet regime some 100 years later.