Serfdom, prevailing for many centuries in the Russian Empire, in the nineteenth century became a serious brake on the development of the country. And this fact in Russian society was then realized by many. The question was only one: how to abolish serfdom?
Peasant reform in serf Russia, according to historians and economists, has ripened about a century before the abolition of serfdom. Apparently, the monarchs themselves, who reigned all this time, also understood this. And such as Paul I and Alexander I even took some steps to solve this problem. But all their attempts were almost fruitless.
Preparation of peasant reform
In the fifties of the nineteenth century, the Russian government began to understand that if serfdom was not abolished with a royal decree and under any conditions acceptable to those in power, it would be abolished from below by the peasants themselves with unpredictable consequences.
Therefore, in 1857, a Secret Committee was established under the government, which was entrusted with the task of preparing the peasant reform. A year later, Emperor Alexander II announced in noble circles his decision on the upcoming abolition of serfdom and the Secret Committee was renamed the Main Committee. Provincial committees are being set up on the ground to develop peasant reform.
In early 1861, the government submitted to the Council of State for consideration the Regulation on the Liberation of Peasants. Without any delay, it is approved by the State Council and submitted to the emperor for approval. And on February 19, the Manifesto “On the All-Gracious Giving to Serfs of the Rights of the Status of Free Rural People” was signed by Alexander II.
