Although many policies were tweaked and changed, the extensive power of the autocracy was unaffected by the reforms. The government reform established by Alexander II consisted of local governments that divided the country into provinces and districts, each province and district of which was then placed under the control of government systems called zemstvas and dumas. This strengthened autocracy by allowing Russia to exert more organized control over the country. Although this reform, and many others, improved not only public health, but also literacy and mortality rates. However, due to the overwhelming power of the autocracy, the reforms do not change the simple fact that the Tsar can overturn any decision made anywhere within the government. The Orthodox Church, during the reigns of Alexander II and Alexander III, had a special relationship with the autocracy, allowing it to use the Church to manipulate and influence the public. The Orthodox Church acted as a process used by the Tsar to influence loyalty to the Tsar through preaching. Alexander II, one way or another, had to implement reforms, his reforms were ultimately aimed at modernizing as little as he could. Alexander II realized that a certain reform was necessary to strengthen nationalism and to somehow satisfy all groups of the population, all