Russian Agriculture 1855 - 1907 Flashcards
Reforms under Alexander II
1861 Emancipation of the Serfs: gained right to own land
1864 Introduction of the Zemstva: first representation of a democratically elected council showing any political power, Peasants get the vote (which is not as heavy as the nobility)
1864 Eduction reforms: number of school places rose and provisions improved
Negatives of the reforms under Alexander II
Redemption payments meant that peasants could only own land once this way payed back, however only 55% by 1870 had started to redeem land. 6% interest over 49 years, on top of the rural poll tax increase of 80%.
Serfs: lost right to use land, 75% were given 4 dessyatinas when the average needed was 7 and minimum was 5.
Peasants were exploited by the military and population growth was exacerbating the land hunger experienced.
Mir continued to be a nuisance
suppression of national feeling e.g. Poland in 1863
Reforms under Alexander III
1883 Creation of the Peasant Land Bank: provided funds so peasants could buy land
1886: Abolition of the Poll Tax
Negatives of the reforms under Alexander III
1889 Introduction of the Land Captains: tightening of authority in rural areas
low investment into agriculture; land hunger was increasing so that by 1900 52% were unable to survive on the land
1891 Great Famine: 17/39 provinces were affected, and 350 000 dead.
Reforms under Nicholas II
1905 November Manifesto: Redemption payments were phased out early and resources increased for the Peasant Land Bank. Also an end to Peasant Passports - peasants were recognised as citizens
Alexander introduced the Duma: Gave the peasants limited influence over national politics
1906-1911 Stolypin’s Reforms: no more collective farms
1917 Decree on Land: all land of the nobility and the church belonged to the peasantry
Negatives of the reforms under Nikolas II
Duma system was worsened further by the changes to electoral law in 1907
Mir remained despite Stolypin’s reforms, and the newer class of peasantry were unsatisfied by his reforms
1897 and 1901: Famine
Average land allotted to peasants fell from 35 acres to 28 from 1887 to 1905. Productivity of land continued to decline.
What are some of the characterisations of the peasants under the Tsars?
Generally, the tsars did not make the countryside a priority, and peasants were viewed mainly as a source of taxation to fund their greater priority of industrialisation.
Periods of agricultural reform were generally prompted by political crisis.
Peasant suffering was generally the result of government neglect rather than deliberate government policy.
