Abolition of serfdom

In Russia, by the middle of the 19th century, the agrarian and peasant question became an acute social and political problem. Of all the states of Europe, serfdom remained only in it, which created obstacles to social, political, economic development. The preservation of serfdom was associated with the peculiarities of the autocracy. Since the formation of the country and absolutism in it, the government relied exclusively on the nobility, and therefore it was obligatory to take into account all its interests.

Most public and state leaders agreed that serfdom in Russia was a disgrace to the state, placing it in the category of backward states. The theme of peasant liberation was constantly discussed by the public in the late 18th - mid-19th centuries. The abolition of serfdom occupied the minds of the Slavophils, Westerners, and Decembrists. The issue of peasant liberation was raised by some deputies of the Standing Committee - Chuprov, Maslov, Polezhaev. The abolition of serfdom excited both enlighteners and other radical public figures.

By the middle of the 19th century, factors that had conditioned the destruction of the feudal system were consolidated. It should be noted that this system has outlived itself, mainly from the economic point of view. Based on the work of serfs, the economy of the landlords fell into decay. The government was concerned with this state of affairs, since huge funds were spent to support the landlords.

The abolition of serfdom was necessary for the country. In the conditions of peasant dependence, the industrial modernization of the state was hampered. Serfdom was an obstacle to the accumulation of capital that was invested in production. In addition, it was very difficult to form a free labor market, increase the purchasing power of the population.

The abolition of serfdom meant giving peasants personal freedom and civil rights. The Manifesto was adopted in 1861, on 19 February. According to the new reform, the peasant could conclude deals, own immovable and movable property, act as a legal entity. From that moment, people were released from the guardianship of the landlord, could marry without his permission. Peasants were allowed to serve and study, to other estates (burghers and merchants).

Serfdom was abolished, however, the peasant's personal freedom was limited. Mostly, it affected the preservation of the community. Bourgeois development in the countryside was hindered by communal ownership of the land, by mutual guarantee, by the borders of allotments. Peasants at that time were the only social stratum that paid a per capita tax, carried a recruit's service and could be beaten as punishment.

The provisions of the manifesto on the emancipation of peasants regulated the allocation of land to them. However, in the process of resolving this issue, the allotments for the exempted were significantly curtailed. In addition, for the received allotment the peasant had to pay a ransom. Of course, he did not have any money. For a one-time receipt by landlords of ransom, the state was given to the peasants a loan for 49 years, amounting to 80% of the cost of allotments. However, in 1906 the peasants succeeded in abolishing these redemption payments. It should be noted that by that time they had given about 2 million rubles, which almost quadruples the real market value of land in 1861. Along with this, peasant payments to the landlord became long-term and gave birth to a so-called temporary-obligated condition, which was abolished only in 1881.

According to contemporaries, peasant reform was a great event. The Manifesto freed more than 30 million people, created conditions for the economic development of the country at that time. However, the abolition of serfdom was a difficult compromise between society and the state.