Throughout the entire 19th century, questions about the introduction of the constitution and the abolition of serfdom were most relevant. Each emperor had his own vision of them, but all of them were united by the realization that the peasant question was the most urgent. The decree on the obligated peasants is one of many projects for its solution.
In the historical context
The ascension to the throne of Nicholas I was marked by the Decembrist uprising. Their testimony during the investigation revealed that, along with many political demands, the movement's participants most of all fought for the abolition of serfdom. At the same time, weighty arguments were given for economic, and civil, and spiritual reasons about the reasons for the need to make the peasants free as soon as possible. Strictly speaking, Alexander I first set such a state task . But due to internal political conflicts, active foreign policy and discontent on the part of large landowners, peasants received personal freedom only in the Baltics. The decree on the obligated peasants is one of many during the reign of Nicholas. He did not raise the issue for general discussion, but acted by the method of secret committees. For 30 years there were ten of them, but all their decisions concerned private issues.
Committees on the peasant question
Nicholas the First conducted a conservative policy, but, as is known, even conservatives are on the path of reform, when it is necessary to preserve the existing system. The first peasant secret committee was established already in 1826, it included such well-known figures of the Alexandrov era as MM Speransky and VP Kochubei. 6 years of his work became the theoretical basis for further committees, but nothing changed in the situation with serfdom. The following committee drafted a draft of the abolition of the serf system by 1835, in effect, with the complete de-occupation of the peasantry. This state could not go to this country, since the peasantry remained the main taxpayer. The result of the work of the next committee was a decree on the obligated peasants (1842). Subsequent secret institutions dealt with private matters about households, the possibility of serfs to acquire land and others.
Features of Decree
Firstly, it should be noted at once that the decree on the obligated peasants provided for non-binding implementation, and recommendatory. That is, he gave the opportunity, and how to act as landlords is at their discretion. As a result, out of ten million serfs were transferred to the obligated, but free from twenty-five to twenty-seven thousand people. This is called in everyday life "a drop in the ocean." Secondly, the decree on the obligated peasants tried to take into account the interests of all parties. The peasants received civil freedom, the state received normal taxpayers, and landowners remained owners of the land. Thirdly, this decision to some extent opposed the well-known decree "of free farmers", which gave liberated peasants land for ransom. The land was to be fixed strictly as the property of the landlords.
Contents of Decree
The decree on the obligated peasants allowed the landlords to let the peasants free, having signed a preliminary contract with them. It indicated the amount of land that is transferred to the use of the peasant, as well as the number of days of corvée and the amount of quitrent that the former serf owner of the land, that is, the landowner, owes. This agreement was approved by the government and did not change afterwards. Thus, the landowner could not demand more from the peasants for renting land. At the same time, the decree on the obligated peasants left the nobles with the right of the patrimonial court and all police functions. The latter meant that power in the villages, as well as before, belongs to the feudal lord.
Consequences of decree
Despite the expectations of the government, the publication of the decree on the obligated peasants had very minor consequences. Although the landowners left the land and received duties for it, and retained power in the village, they did not now have the opportunity to increase their obligations or to reduce the peasant land. Therefore, most of them did not hurry to take advantage of the right to transfer serfs to the status of obligated. The life of the obligated peasants has not changed significantly, but the aristocratic arbitrariness has become less, therefore, there is more chance for development. A small number of those released under this decree indicates its minimal impact on the existence of serfdom. Strictly speaking, Nikolai understood that this problem exists, but believed that it is very dangerous to touch it and it is necessary to act carefully.
Solving the problem of serfdom
The adoption of the decree on the obligated peasants was a minor concession to social influence and the pressing tasks of Russia's development. The Crimean War, which Russia lost, showed the need for reforms. The emerging revolutionary situation affected the upper classes, who creakily, but finally agreed with the government that the peasants must be made free. At the same time, the basis of the reform was to free the peasants necessarily with the land, but for a cash ransom. The size of allotments and amounts of redemption varied depending on the regions of Russia, not always the peasants received enough land, but still a step forward was made. Special merit in this belongs to Alexander the Second, who managed to bring the case to the end in an environment of general criticism from both left and right forces. In addition to the abolition of serfdom, they carried out other important reforms that contributed to the development of capitalist relations. In history he entered as "Liberator".